If Q1 was about mapping the terrain with grants, surveys, big visions, and budget spreadsheets, then the MarkED4 Q2 update is where things get real. And by “real,” I mean both exciting and, at times, downright overwhelming. This is the part of the journey where the dream stops floating and starts asking for feet. Real people, real tools, and real decisions.
If I Were My Own Client
Any time I start a new project, I ask myself a hard question: If I were my own client, what would I tell myself? For the MarkED4 platform, I always knew I couldn’t do this alone. The challenge was figuring out how to fund the support and when exactly to bring them on.
Building a team isn’t just smart, it’s essential. Not just for efficiency’s sake, but for the emotional, creative, and logistical weight of what I’m trying to bring into the world. MarkED4 isn’t just a product. It’s a perspective shift. A reframing of how overwhelmed service-based entrepreneurs see themselves, their value, and their voice. And it deserves to be built with intention.
So, I began making calls. I brought on a graphic designer to help me translate the learning experience into visual form. Something that feels like a playground than a syllabus. I hired a freelance marketing assistant to start documenting this journey publicly with warmth and clarity. And I partnered with a third-party assessor to help test the proof of concept with fresh, critical eyes.
Big Strides in a Short Time
Throughout Q2, we made progress that feels small on paper but massive in impact. First up, we finalized our visual design strategy. These are anchored in six principles designed for clarity, accessibility, and delight. I also passed Adobe Captivate certification, which opens the door to creating dynamic, responsive learning environments.
I also began outlining the content, mapping out the storyboards, and building the modules in Adobe Captivate. Captivate will be used as the prototype for the proof of concept. It’s a cool program, but it does have some limitation. While the perfectionist in me wants it to be stellar from the beginning, a constant truth rang in my head: don’t let perfect get in the way of progress. The built-in widgets Captivate provides forced me to adjust some of my plans, and in the end we have surprisingly strong prototype. Solid enough to test, tweak, and learn from.
Making it Make Sense
It’s an interesting exercise to design a program that feels cohesive form start to finish. This is what excites me most about instructional design. I used this to develop a visual metaphor anchoring the dense content. One that grows and evolves alongside the learner. Early modules are clean and structured (think: Bauhaus simplicity), while later ones become more abstract and intuitive (Mid-Century Modern tones), reflecting the user’s growing confidence and autonomy. It’s a small detail, but we want this program to align with the user’s mindset, not just look polished.
Of course, not everything was smooth. We had moments of decision fatigue, scope creep, and tech headaches. There were days I doubted the whole thing. But every time I shared a test activity or explained the framework to someone new, I saw the light bulb flick on. The aha. The “wait—this actually makes sense” moment. That’s what keeps me going.
Recentering While Looking Ahead
Anytime I feel a bit overwhelmed in the process, I try to remember why MarkED4 exists in the first place. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly half of new businesses don’t survive past year five. Not because the founders lack passion but because they lack accessible, structured, and emotionally intelligent support.
That’s what we’re building: a space for reset. A marketing education system designed not just to teach skills, but to help business owners see themselves differently. With clarity, confidence, and capacity.
As we move into Q3, our focus is squarely producing an incredible proof of concept experience for the participants. If all goes well, we’ll have the first raw data showing the program’s impact. We’ll use this information to apply for funding and bring this to market.
MarkED4 isn’t polished yet, but it’s no longer just a concept. It’s becoming real with prototypes, people, and proof that we’re building something that truly matters.
