If you’ve ever sat there thinking, “Maybe one day I’ll do something different”… this is your sign to pay attention.

Because for Jo Williamson, founder of Story Rangers in Stourbridge and Dudley, that “maybe one day” turned into a fully booked, fast-growing business in less than 12 months.

And it didn’t start with a big leap.

It started with a question.

The Moment Everything Changed

Jo spent 11 years as a primary school teacher. She loved working with children, loved teaching, but something wasn’t quite right anymore.

“I loved the job, loved teaching, loved being a teacher and working with children, but it just wasn’t really the right match for me and my family anymore.”

Like so many in the class-based sector, it wasn’t about leaving children behind. It was about finding a way to keep doing what she loved, in a way that actually worked for her life.

At the time, Jo was already attending Story Rangers classes as a parent. So when friends encouraged her to ask how it all worked behind the scenes, she did.

“I just asked the question… how do you go about doing something like this?”

And as it turned out, the timing couldn’t have been better.

From “Not a Risk Taker” to Business Owner

Jo is the first to admit she wasn’t someone who chased change or took big risks.

“I wouldn’t say I’m someone who likes change… I was quite happy to just keep doing what I was doing.”

But when the opportunity to join Story Rangers came up, something clicked.

“It felt too good of an opportunity to not take that risk.”

What’s powerful here is that Jo didn’t jump blindly. She built her confidence step by step:

• She shadowed existing sessions to understand delivery
• She tested the market with summer launch events
• She started small with just two classes and one nursery
• She focused on getting good before scaling

This wasn’t chaotic growth. It was intentional growth.

And that’s exactly why it worked.

Building Momentum (Without Burning Out)

Instead of trying to do everything at once, Jo took a slower, smarter approach.

“I was very conscious of making sure I didn’t go in too hard… I wanted to make sure I was doing a good job of it.”

From those first few sessions, things began to build:

• More parent-and-child classes
• Nursery contracts
• One-off special events to attract new customers
• Consistent “drip, drip, drip” growth

Fast forward to now?

“It’s like I’m really, really busy now… to the point where we’re even talking about employing another teacher.”

That shift – from starting out to considering hiring – happened in under a year.

Not because she got lucky.

Because she stayed consistent.

Learning the Skills That Actually Grow a Business

One of the biggest turning points for Jo was recognising that passion alone isn’t enough.

She knew she needed to learn how to market and sell her classes.

“Marketing was something I’d never had to do before… but actually, I’ve learned to really love it.”

Through training, challenges and support, she developed a clear understanding of:

• Who her ideal customer actually is
• Where to focus her marketing efforts
• How to position her offer effectively
• What makes her business different

And that clarity paid off quickly.

“I made almost £900 in a week… and I sold pretty much all my places before Christmas.”

That result didn’t just bring in revenue. It gave her breathing space.

“To know by Christmas that I didn’t have to worry about what was coming after the holidays… that was amazing.”

“I Don’t Have the Time” – The Reality Behind the Excuse

This is where Jo’s story becomes even more powerful.

Because she was asked the exact question so many business owners are thinking:

What if you don’t have the time?

Jo was juggling young children, a new business, and everything that comes with both.

And yet, her answer was clear.

“Yes, it can be tricky to manage that time, but once you’ve invested in it, you know… I’ve got to make this worthwhile.”

Instead of waiting for time to magically appear, she created it.

“I scheduled in just a little bit of time to work on it… knowing it would pay off.”

And crucially, that time wasn’t wasted.

Because she wasn’t guessing anymore.

“I’m not just giving it a go and guessing. I know I’m targeting the right people… I’m not wasting time.”

That shift – from guessing to knowing – is where growth really begins.

From Investment to Income (and Then Some)

For many business owners, investing in support feels like a risk.

For Jo, it became a turning point.

“It was completely worth every penny… I’ve earned that back and more.”

And the results speak for themselves:

• Working weekly with five different nurseries
• Regularly selling out special events
• Building a loyal base of returning customers
• Growing a strong personal brand in her area

But perhaps the most unexpected outcome?

A whole new skill set.

“I’m now freelancing doing the marketing for all of our Story Rangers pages.”

That’s the kind of ripple effect most people don’t see coming.

What starts as “I need help with marketing” becomes “this is now one of my strengths”.

Why Taking Action Early Changes Everything

There’s a moment in this conversation that cuts through all the hesitation.

“It’s easy to say you can’t afford it… but you can’t afford not to.”

Jo didn’t wait until everything felt stable or certain.

She recognised the gaps and chose to fill them early.

And because of that, she didn’t spend months or years:

• Guessing what might work
• Posting randomly on social media
• Undervaluing her offer
• Struggling to fill spaces

Instead, she built momentum quickly, confidently, and with direction.

Confidence Comes From Doing, Not Waiting

If there’s one thread that runs through Jo’s entire story, it’s this:

Confidence didn’t come first.

Action did.

“It’s given me that confidence to grow in marketing and grow my business.”

That belief wasn’t something she started with.

It was built through:

• Taking opportunities
• Learning new skills
• Surrounding herself with the right people
• Putting things into practice quickly

And now?

She’s not only running a thriving business, she’s scaling it.

“I’m struggling to manage all the people that want to work with me… because the message we’re putting out there is really getting across now.”

What This Means for You

If you’re sitting on the fence right now, telling yourself:

• “I don’t have the time”
• “I can’t afford it yet”
• “Maybe later when things are more settled”

Jo was in that exact position.

And she made a different decision.

One that didn’t just grow her business, but changed how she shows up in it.

Because sometimes, the biggest shift doesn’t come from doing more.

It comes from doing things properly.

Watch the Full Interview

Want to hear exactly how Jo built her business so quickly, the strategies she used, and how she turned marketing into one of her biggest strengths?

Watch the full interview on YouTube and take notes – this is one of those conversations that could genuinely change how you approach your business.