Daily Inspiration: Meet Lindy Chaffin Start

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindy Chaffin Start.

Hi Lindy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Unstoppable Start Studios wasn’t born from a grand plan — it was born from necessity.

In 2016, the agency I’d been freelancing for lost its biggest client, and just like that, the work dried up. I gave myself a month to wallow, because if we’re being honest, sometimes you need to sit in the mess before you can see the path out. Then reality hit: I was a single mom with a mortgage. So I did what moms do — I figured it out.

With a few thousand dollars to my name, I filed for my LLC, took a few small business courses, and decided to bet on myself. I had years of experience in graphic design and advertising — back from the pre-AOL days when you faxed ads to newspapers — and I knew how to make brands come alive. That’s how Unstoppable Start Studios began: one woman, a laptop, and a whole lot of grit.

Fast forward to today, and we’ve grown into a small but mighty team of four, generating a decent revenue. I’ve stayed intentionally boutique because I want to know my clients — really know them — and help them build brands with personality, depth, and staying power. Our mission has always been simple: to give small businesses the kind of strategic, creative support that feels like having your own marketing director right there on your team.

Living “on purpose” has become my guiding philosophy. I’ve learned that success isn’t just about hustle — it’s about harmony. I don’t feel guilty leaving early for dinner with my now 18-year-old daughter or cocktails with my fiancé, and I don’t apologize for starting my day after a walk or a workout. When I take care of myself first, I can give my clients everything I’ve got.

My story is about the courage that grows quietly out of necessity. It’s proof that you can start with nothing, stay small by choice, and still build something unstoppable.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth? Not exactly — but I’ve learned that “smooth” doesn’t make for a very interesting story.

The truth is, being in marketing means I’m constantly surrounded by noise. Every day, I see ads from people who claim they’ve “cracked the code” or found the perfect way to do X, Y, or Z. It’s easy to fall into that trap of comparison and start wondering, Am I doing enough? But when I step back and look at the reports — the real numbers, the growth my clients experience month after month, year after year — I’m reminded that my team and I are doing exceptional work. We might not shout the loudest, but our results speak volumes.

My biggest internal struggle has always been giving myself credit — and learning to say “no” when a project or client doesn’t feel right. That’s a hard one for entrepreneurs, especially the ones who built something from nothing. When you’ve had to fight for every win, saying no feels risky. But I’ve learned that trusting my gut is part of what’s kept me and my business healthy.

And when the self-doubt creeps in? My family, my stubborn streak, and a good sense of humor always pull me through. I’ve learned to laugh, pivot, and keep moving — because that’s what being unstoppable really looks like.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to call Unstoppable Start Studios “the little agency that could.” We’re a boutique creative team that does everything pillar to post for small businesses — from branding and web design to content creation, marketing strategy, and social media. What sets us apart is that we approach every client relationship with honesty, authenticity, and heart. I’m not here to sell snake oil or marketing gimmicks. I’m here to build brands that feel human — brands that sound like you.

We work across a wide range of industries — culinary, aesthetics, health and wellness, and construction are just a few of the spaces we serve right now — but we’re always learning and expanding. That’s one of my favorite parts of this work: diving into a new world, learning its language, and figuring out how to make people fall in love with what you do.

What makes me proudest isn’t an award or a revenue goal. It’s loyalty. Some of the same clients who started with me back in 2016 are still with me today. That’s the kind of success I measure — not just growth on paper, but growth in relationships. I don’t lose clients unless they retire or close up shop, and that’s because we become part of their team.

And if you ask what clients say about us most often? It’s usually, “I can’t believe you got that done so quickly!” We move fast, we care deeply, and we never lose the personal touch that got us here in the first place.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Funny you should ask — just yesterday, one of my original clients, Tinita Simmonds with iCan Think Positive Counseling and Coaching, reached out and asked if I’d mentor a young woman in her care. Kayla had just graduated with a marketing degree, and Tinita wanted her to learn the ropes of SEO and strategy from someone in the field.

This morning, I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with Kayla, walking her through everything — from developing a marketing strategy to the multiple touchpoints Google looks for when recognizing your business online. She was curious, sharp, and full of questions. And it reminded me how much I love mentoring. Because no matter how much the industry changes, the foundation stays the same: curiosity, patience, and persistence.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone just starting out, it would be this — marketing isn’t immediate, free, or easy. That includes marketing yourself. Most small business owners (myself included, once upon a time) think brand recognition happens overnight. It doesn’t. It takes either a lot of time, a lot of money, or a steady balance of both. So, gird your loins — it’s a long game, but it’s worth every lesson.

When the overwhelm hits — and it will — walk in gratitude. Literally. Take a walk and thank God or the universe for every little thing: this hot cup of coffee, this breath, this hour to reset. Gratitude shifts the energy, every time.

And finally, never stop learning. I told Kayla this morning — take a class, online or in person. Get a MasterClass subscription. Learn from experts. Even if you’re not learning the how, listen to their why. Hear how they achieved something, what questions they asked themselves, and how they grew from it. Success isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about staying curious enough to keep learning.

Pricing:

• Brand Strategy & Identity Packages: Starting at $1,500
• Website Design & Development: Starting at $2,500
• Social Media Management: Starting at $850/month
• Monthly Retainers: Starting at $1,000/month

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.unstoppablestart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindystart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnstoppableStartStudios/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ckRky_NGuBgAXqIUUjTSA
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/UnstoppableStart/

Image Credits
Photography and Branding, Kash LaHue