Enough is Enough: Why I Stopped Pouring Into Platforms That Don’t Pour Back

If you’ve ever felt like enough was enough, I’ve been there. In fact, I stayed there for quite some time.

Back in 2024, I realized that posting every single week — and even bi-weekly — on YouTube made no difference. Whether I posted four times a month or twice a month, the results were the same. Same views. Same subscribers. No shift.

At first, that might sound “fine” — at least I was consistent, right? But to me, it was disheartening. It showed me that more is not always better. It also showed me something harder: that the support I needed just wasn’t showing up.

I was stuck.

Later, I learned the truth: YouTube was simply not going to push my content.

And I honestly feel for the person who’s just starting now, who never got to experience what it was like when YouTube would just share your content fairly. They’ll struggle for years, pouring out their heart, thinking if they just work harder it will break through — and never realizing there’s a better way. That’s why I share this, because it’s valuable to know that even the people you might look up to struggle, too.

And here’s the thing: I’ve never liked social media. I’m an introverted introvert and an empath. It drains me. But I also understood it’s part of the game when you’re starting from zero — you’ve got to put yourself out there to find people.

So, I told myself maybe if I just tried harder, it would change.

• Maybe if I changed my thumbnails.

• Maybe if I changed the style of my videos.

• Maybe if I made them shorter.

• Maybe if I changed the topic.

And I justified it by saying,

After all, I have young children, and I’m taking hours away from them every week just to create free education — education that took me over a decade to obtain.

After all, I’m the only one showing up to actually teach people how to make formulas, how to make protocols, how to think like a self-sustaining herbalist.

I wasn’t out here serving up trendy recipes or telling people to “detox” just to pitch them my detox blend. I was giving something tangible, something that could change their whole practice.

Shouldn’t people resonate with that?👇🏾

But instead of growth, I got even less traction.

And at that point, I had to face the question:

Do I just learn to play the game better, or do I finally say enough is enough?

I chose enough is enough.

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Shift #1: Serving Students Who Are Invested

I shifted my model completely. Instead of grinding to produce videos for people who don’t even take the time to like, comment, or share…

now my focus is clear:

• I create content for my Student Membership Vault — where people are actually invested.

• I build paid workshops and challenges for those who want results.

• I pour into making my courses sharper and more valuable.

• I network, collaborate, and build with other businesses.

I stopped fighting the consumer game and shifted my focus to B2B and committed students.

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Shift #2: Multiplying Through Licensing & Books

The second shift was changing how I think about my work altogether.

Instead of chasing reach through algorithms, I started creating products that carry weight and multiply my message on their own.

• My latest textbook? I decided to go hardcover only — because the work deserves to be treated seriously.

• I didn’t stop at the physical tedxtbook. I created a course version of it.

• And now, we’re licensing it — first to my current students, and then to schools.

Because if I can reach not only my students, but also empower other schools to teach my frameworks, isn’t that worth so much more than shouting into the void on social media?

Licensing doesn’t just expand my impact. It puts me in front of people who have already raised their hands and said, “I want to learn.”

That’s time well spent.

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Shift #3: Building Beyond My Original Vision

Then I realized something else: my business had become bigger than my original vision.

Yah’s Apothecary is no longer just a school. It’s becoming media — not just social media, but our own magazine.

YahZine is a free community magazine, full of recipes, case studies, African herbal traditions, and student features. But here’s the reality: it takes weeks and months of work from me and my team to put it together.

Why? Because I have a servant’s heart. I wanted it to be free.

But in today’s society, people don’t always value free.

Most don’t support, they won’t share, and they often don’t appreciate REAL education until it’s too late. What they value is entertainment, often negativity in the now. That’s disheartening — but it’s also why we keep building systems that last.

And Yah’s Apothecary isn’t just media.

It’s becoming publishing. 

Not only my books, but eventually publishing and labeling for others.

This means the conversations now are about rapid growth:

• Do we take on funding?

• How do we structure business credit?

• How do we scale fast enough to meet the call?

These are things you don’t even realize you’ll face until you’re in them.

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And this shift isn’t just about YouTube — it’s happening everywhere in my business. I used to spend so much time trying to create the perfect Canva graphics, and picture-perfect presentations.

Now? I’ll open a Google Doc, write out the teaching, and deliver it straight to the people — quicker, faster, and with more impact.

And what did I find?

It works.

After refining my message and listening to what people actually want, it’s easier than ever to put out a post and see real responses, or to send a personalized email and know it hit home. I’ve become a believer that you can build a business your way. You don’t have to conform to the grind or the trends. And honestly, that’s what this whole movement was about for me from the very beginning.

So, you’ll be seeing me less on social. Maybe once (or twice) a month.

Not because I’m not consistent — but because I’ve chosen to be consistent in the things that matter.

And now, it’s your turn to decide:

• How will you spend your time?

• What is your true vision?

• And how serious are you about building it?

Because if you don’t ask those questions now, you’ll keep giving your pearls to places that will never value them too.

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👉🏾 If you want the full story — the behind-the-scenes details of how I made the switch, the numbers that forced my hand, the way licensing is being built out, and the real business conversations we’re having now — that’s the kind of raw, unfiltered teaching I only share inside the Herbal Business Vault.

That’s where you’ll hear the personal side of these pivots, and how you can apply them in your own business without wasting years the way I did.

Come join us inside the Vault.

Your time and energy are worth protecting too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I grow my herbal business without social media?

You don’t have to live on Instagram or YouTube to succeed. In fact, most of my business growth now comes from offline strategies: email marketing, licensing my books and courses, and creating resources for paying students. These channels are more consistent and profitable than chasing an algorithm.

What is licensing and how can it help my business in 2025?

Licensing means you take your work — whether it’s a book, course, or framework — and give other schools, practitioners, or businesses the right to use it. Instead of creating new content every week, your work keeps earning as others teach it. This is one of the biggest growth opportunities for herbalists right now.

Can you really make money offline as an herbalist?

Absolutely. Many of us were trained to believe social media is the only way to grow, but that’s not true. You can build a profitable herbal business through memberships, workshops, student programs, books, publishing, and B2B partnerships. These are steady, proven models that don’t depend on likes or shares.

Why do people value entertainment more than education?

It’s part of the culture right now — quick entertainment gets rewarded more than depth. But when you focus on committed students and paying clients, you find people who do value the education and will invest in it. That’s where your pearls belong.

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What’s Next: Our Fall Releases

If this post resonated with you, you’ll want to keep your eyes on what’s coming this Fall.

We’re not just talking about ideas anymore — we’re putting tools directly in your hands.

This season, I’m releasing new resources designed to help herbalists stop spinning their wheels and start building real, sustainable businesses. From books to courses to licensing opportunities, every release is about giving you structure, clarity, and systems that work in 2025 and beyond.

👉🏾 Don’t wait until you see it on social media.

Make sure you’re on my email list and inside the Herbal Business Vault, so you don’t miss the announcements and early access.