131. How a former teacher built two businesses from scratch, and what she'd do differently - Shannon Pruitt
Shannon Pruitt built not one but two businesses from scratch — the first while teaching full-time, the second with a six-month-old in her lap. After nearly selling her wedding planning business for six figures, Shannon found herself at a kitchen table with her husband, a newborn, and a blank slate. And that was how Sunday Muse was born, a brand strategy and design studio that fits her lifestyle, and that she runs roughly three hours a day around motherhood.
In this episode, Shannon and Andrea dig into what it really takes to build a personal brand, why your story matters infinitely more than your logo, and how to figure out what you actually want before you post a single thing. They also get into the shift that changes everything, in business and in life: you are not the hero. Your client is. And the sooner you internalize that, the more magnetic your brand becomes.
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Intro
(05:51) Who is Shannon Pruitt? Brand strategist, creative director, mom of an almost 5-year-old, wife, and woman trying to do all the things without burning out
(07:56) Shannon's origin story: teaching full-time while building a wedding planning business
(10:13) The business grew fast, and so did her life
(11:51) The moment Shannon decided to sell, and how COVID derailed everything
(13:36) Closing the wedding business four months postpartum and starting over
(14:00) The kitchen table conversation with her husband that sparked Sunday Muse
(17:40) The financial reality of starting a business with a newborn at home
(21:35) Working in 3-hour windows — and becoming very, very efficient
(23:38) The guilt of loving your work too much (and Shannon's voice note trick)
(24:14) Why letting your kid watch you build something matters
(26:39) Personal brand 101: before you post a single thing, ask yourself why
(29:51) The difference between building a personal brand internally vs. monetizing one
(33:17) The case study: the corporate SaaS director who wants out in two years
(38:48) How algorithms vs. content resonance affect what's actually working
(39:47) Where to start when you have a dream but no direction
(42:12) Why you don't need a logo to get your first client (from a brand designer, no less)
(45:42) How the words you say — out loud and in writing — shape your entire brand
(48:10) Andrea's moment of clarity: stop calling yourself chaotic
(50:09) The StoryBrand principle: you are not the hero, your client is
(51:02) Shannon's tagline: "Every brand has a muse. Around here, that's you."
(52:31) What's next for Sunday Muse — a brand recalibration for 2026
(57:00) What Shannon is still figuring out
KEY TAKEAWAY
Your personal brand is about being clear on your message, knowing who you're actually serving, and having the courage to just start before everything is figured out.
About Shannon Pruitt
Shannon Pruitt is a brand strategist and creative director based in South Carolina, and the founder of Sunday Muse. She works primarily with women-owned businesses to build their brands, websites, and marketing so they can show up confidently in the world — without having to think about it. Shannon brings a unique background as a former English teacher and wedding planner to every project, blending sharp copy instincts with a designer's eye.
Connect with Shannon Pruitt
Website | https://www.sundaymusedesign.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/sundaymusedesign
Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonroyalpruitt/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/sundaymusedesign
Threads | https://www.threads.com/@sundaymusedesign
Pinterest |https://www.pinterest.com/sundaymusedesign/