My Sales Workshop Didn't Sell. Here's What I Think Went Wrong
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
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I’m going to say something out loud that most marketing strategists quietly avoid admitting: Not everything I create sells the way I hope it will.
Recently, I hosted a small, low-cost sales planning workshop for equine entrepreneurs. And, it didn’t sell well. Instead of glossing over that or pretending it was “all part of the plan,” I want to walk you through what I learned. Because if you’re building a horse business, this will happen to you at some point, too.
And when it does, how you respond matters.
Let’s start with what I believe went wrong. And then I’ll share three practical things you can do this week to plan your sales rhythm for 2026.
3 Reasons My Sales Workshop Didn’t Sell Well
1. I Stopped Selling It
This one is simple.
As I was writing the emails and content to promote the workshop, I felt internal tension. I was coming off a bigger launch for The Business Barn Collective the month prior, and instead of fully committing to promoting the workshop, I consciously pulled back.
I made a small mention in my newsletters, but that’s it.
No consistent emails.
No “2 days left” reminders.
No momentum.
Here’s the truth: even great offers don’t sell themselves. When you stop talking about something, people assume it’s no longer important or even no longer available.
2. My Audience Was Burned Out
This wasn’t about my energy; it was about theirs.
I had just asked my audience to pay attention, show up, and invest during a larger launch of The Business Barn Collective. I’d been emailing more. Posting more. Selling more.
Then I asked them to switch gears and buy again without much breathing room.
Even the most supportive audience has a limit. When selling becomes constant without intentional pacing, people stop listening. It’s usually not because they don’t trust you, but because they’re tired.
That’s on me to manage better.
3. Alignment Was Off
This was the trickiest piece to unpack.
The workshop content itself was strong. I truly believe it could help equine entrepreneurs make more money and feel more grounded in their sales planning.
But alignment isn’t just about what you’re offering.
It’s about:
Audience alignment — where people are mentally and emotionally
Offer alignment — how the offer fits into the bigger picture
Goal alignment — whether the timing and delivery match your current priorities
In this case, the offer didn’t match the season my audience was in, even if the content itself was valuable.
Now, because I know there is a very good chance you weren’t on the sales workshop call, I want to give you a taste of what we did because I believe it’s still something every equine business owner could benefit from.
So, let’s flip this into something useful for you.
If you want to feel more confident heading into 2026, here are three simple, strategic steps you can take right now.
3 Things You Can Do This Week to Plan Your 2026 Sales Rhythm
1. Map Out Your Key Offers & Prioritize What’s Profitable
Before you start choosing launch dates or promotion ideas, list all the offers you plan to sell in 2026.
Then ask yourself:
Which offers bring in the most profit?
Which ones give you energy instead of draining it?
Which are actually sustainable to deliver?
Action step:
Choose 2–3 priority offers for 2026. These should be the backbone of your sales plan. Everything else should support them, not compete with them.
2. Block Out Personal and Professional Capacity First
Your calendar is not just a sales tool, it’s a life tool.
Before you schedule promotions, block out:
Horse shows
Kids’ school breaks
Planned travel
Rest days
Action step:
Open your 2026 calendar and block real life first. Build your sales plan around your capacity, not in opposition to it.
3. Decide When You’ll Actively Promote Each Offer
Not everything needs a full launch, but nothing should be left to chance.
Even evergreen offers benefit from intentional promotion windows.
Action step:
Choose at least two promotion seasons for each priority offer in 2026.
Include:
A warm-up period (about 2 weeks)
A clear promotion window
A buffer for prep and follow-up
This creates momentum without burnout.
Remember: When something doesn’t sell well, it doesn’t mean you failed.
It means you’re learning.
Sales planning isn’t about perfection. It’s about awareness, alignment, and making thoughtful adjustments instead of emotional decisions.
And if you want support turning that plan into action, that’s exactly what we do inside Take the Reins, where strategy meets clarity, and you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Listen to the full episode to hear Megan’s honest, inspiring, and practical insights — especially if you’re ready to do what you do best and build a brand around it.
Ready to build a business that meets your definition of success? Take the Reins 1:1 Coaching will give you a step-by-step roadmap to get there.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
The Business Barn Collective: Growth-focused coaching circles for equestrian entrepreneurs ready to leave striving behind and build from a place of purpose.
Take the Reins: 1:1 Business Coaching for Equestrian Entrepreneurs
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