Joi Brooks: Mastering Solopreneurship with Email and Coffee
Welcome to another BizStack Solopreneur Spotlight interview. Today, we’re thrilled to share the inspiring story of Joi Brooks, founder of Email and Coffee, a platform that combines the art of email marketing with the power of narrative through podcasting.
Joi’s journey is one of resilience, introspection, and transformative evolution, both personally and professionally.
Introducing Joi Brooks
Joi describes herself as a retired email marketer, podcaster, and mastermind facilitator. She approaches all roles with humility, aiming to make a significant impact on her clients, listeners, and mastermind participants.
A Week in the Life of a Solopreneur
For Joi, there’s no such thing as a typical day. Her routine is punctuated with diligence and moments of joy: starting her day at 7 am, organizing her vast array of activities with a journal and digital calendar, and taking her dogs on 4-mile walks twice a day.
After the passing of her husband three years ago, Joi redefined her life around her passion projects, leading to her retirement but to an even deeper dive into meaningful work.
The Toolkit for Success
Joi’s diverse array of projects requires an equally diverse toolkit. From essential software on her desktop to subscribing to a variety of services, her toolset includes, but is not limited to:
- Email marketing service providers (ESPs)
- Time and project management tools
- Graphic editors, HTML editors, and text editors
- Spreadsheets, rendering engines, and podcast production tools
- Membership management, data management, and CRM systems
Joi emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and ready to pivot to new tools as projects and client needs evolve.
Growth Strategy: Align and Sustain
When asked about her growth strategies, Joi emphasizes the importance of alignment with your mission and goals.
She recommends regularly reviewing your business to ensure that while strategies might pivot, the core mission remains steadfast.
Productivity Unlocked
As a solopreneur, Joi believes brutally honest self-reflection is critical. She points out the necessity of discipline to manage schedules, clients, health, budget, and personal life.
Her experience has taught her when to listen, when to act, and how to balance the two.
Navigating Challenges
One of Joi’s significant challenges was embracing change and making pivotal decisions entirely on her own. She underscores the importance of initiative and the personal responsibility that solopreneurship demands.
Achievement and Connection
Joi views her podcast, Email and Coffee, as one of her most significant achievements. Not inherently social, she found the podcast an ideal medium to connect with industry professionals and share those connections with her audience, thus creating a community around shared knowledge and experiences.
Advice for Aspiring Solopreneurs
For those considering the solopreneur path, Joi offers sage advice: solopreneurship is a confidence journey that requires sacrifice and an introspective strength to seek and find answers on one’s own.
It’s not for those who fear self-reliance or are hesitant to face tough questions head-on.
A Call-to-Action
If Joi’s story resonates with you or sparks curiosity about the intersection of email marketing and authentic storytelling, she invites you to subscribe to Email and Coffee.
It’s an opportunity to explore professional insights, personal journeys, and the unique blend of business acumen and creative narrative that Joi so masterfully balances.
Joi Brooks’s Lightning Round
In this lightning round, I asked Joi Brooks to answer 12 rapid-fire questions:
What’s something that’s in your pocket right now, besides your phone?
I’m wearing pajamas, and probably won’t change into day clothes until lunch.
Artificial intelligence: hope or dread?
Hope. And dread.
Your favorite place to think big?
Dog walking.
If you were out of business tomorrow, what job would you pursue?
Are you trying to give me nightmares? The reason I am a solopreneur is because I don’t ever want to be out of business. I create my own.
One object from your childhood you could never throw away?
Photos.
One feature you wish your phone had?
The phone is just fine as it is. I’m a less-is-more person.
Your favorite mobile app?
I think I just answered that. The phone rings; I say hello. And that’s a beautiful thing.
The book that most influenced you?
Both “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey“
Messy desk or clean desk?
Organized mess
One thing you always have in your fridge?
Light cream
Your favorite time-saving hack?
Focus
Best movie ever?
Books… not movies.
Staying Connected
For those eager to follow Joi’s ongoing journey and projects:
- Instagram: joi.brooks
- YouTube: Email and Coffee
The story of Joi Brooks is a testament to the transformative power of solopreneurship. Through her journey of self-discovery, resilience, and unwavering commitment to her passions, Joi has crafted a fulfilling life post-retirement, touching lives and inspiring many along the way.
Her story beautifully illustrates that regardless of where you are in your professional or personal journey, it’s never too late to discover new paths and redefine success on your terms.
I’m founder of BizStack at Cagri Sarigoz LLC and a passionate advocate for entrepreneurs.
With over 14 years in tech, marketing, and AI, including my role as Head of SEO at CitizenShipper and co-founder of TaleBot at Intale AI, I’m dedicated to sharing genuine, useful product insights and tips.
At BizStack, I aim to cut through the digital noise to provide clear, actionable advice.
And more than all else, I’m a father to a (always) little girl and a husband.
Contact me at [email protected] for assistance.
