For the quiet rebels.

The thoughtful builders.

The overthinkers with big ideas.

I’m so glad you’re here.

My name’s Sam. I’m a business mentor, strategist and life coach – building a writing-led business part-time around naps, nursery, and the occasional sea walk on the south coast of England.

You’re reading Strategy with Soul – a Substack with over 1,200 subscribers, regularly featured as a Rising Bestseller in Business.
It’s become a quiet home for thoughtful business owners who are tired of the noise and ready to do things differently.

This space is for those of us who want to grow something real.
Something sustainable.
Something that actually fits who we are – not just what we’re told a business should look like.

✦What you’ll find here

Every Monday, I share a full-length, strategy-rich post to help you make calm, confident business decisions – without burning out or selling your soul.

It’s part thought leadership, part business therapy, part strategic mentorship.

Sometimes there’s a Notion planner. Sometimes a voice note or a set of journaling prompts.
Always: I’m writing for the emotionally intelligent entrepreneur who wants to grow without the noise.

You’ll also find me midweek in Notes – shorter reflections, honest moments, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into what it really looks like to run a part-time business with full-time intention.

My work follows the rhythm of the astrological calendar – not in a woo-heavy way, but as a gentle structure that brings meaning, momentum, and seasonal clarity to how we grow.
Each zodiac season anchors a new theme, helping us reflect, realign, and take action from a deeper place.

✦ Why I’m here

After over a decade of coaching, I realised I needed a business model that supported me, not just my clients.

Substack became the home I didn’t know I needed – one that values writing, depth, and sustainable growth.
This isn’t just a newsletter. It’s a writing-led membership for thoughtful business owners who think deeply, care deeply, and want to build something that lasts.

If traditional business advice never quite fit – this space was made for you.

✦ My two core frameworks

I work with clients through two structured mentorship models:

Idea-to-Income Model™

For new founders turning ideas into viable, values-led businesses – from structure to strategy, offers to income.

Clarity-to-Action Model™

For established entrepreneurs ready to refine, expand, or simplify – with practical steps and mindset tools to create real momentum.

These aren’t cookie-cutter templates. They’re frameworks shaped by lived experience, psychology, and sustainable business strategy and you’ll see both of them show up in my writing and tools for paid members.

✦ What qualifies me to guide you

Before this, I spent 15+ years in global retail – leading departments and developing teams across business development, recruitment, and marketing.

Since going solo ten years ago, I’ve:

• Logged over 1,500 hours of coaching

• Helped 30+ people start businesses from scratch

• Worked with 50+ founders to grow and restructure – including opening new locations, raising prices, and landing dream clients

• Seen my clients go on to collaborate with brands like Gucci, M&S, John Lewis, and Liberty and have TV segments on This Morning, Saturday Kitchen and others.

I’ve also been featured in The Telegraph, Stylist, METRO, Drapers, Psychologies Magazine, BBC Breakfast, and Channel 5 News, and spoken at events including MODA, Pulse, Top Drawer, and Pure London.

I hold qualifications in:
✦ NLP, EFT, CBT, and Positive Psychology
✦ Emotional Intelligence and Inner Child Work
✦ Human Design, Jungian Archetypes, and Energy Psychology

… and I’ve been reading tarot and oracle cards for over 20 years – because intuition has always had a seat at the table.

✦ What subscribers get

Everyone now gets access to full-length Monday essays.
But only paid members can access the tools that turn insight into action.

Free subscribers get:
▸ The full weekly essay every Monday
▸ Occasional bonus essays and reflections

Paid members (£10/month or £75/year) get:
▸ Full access to the growing Members Toolkit Library – with Notion planners, journaling prompts, audio reflections, and more
▸ Strategy tools that build calm, consistent momentum over time
▸ Exclusive workshops and mini-trainings (coming soon)
▸ Priority booking and discounts on 1:1 mentoring

This isn’t just content. It’s structured support to help you build a business that actually fits.

You can upgrade or cancel anytime – but most members tell me they wish they’d joined sooner.

✦ Results that speak for themselves

Clients and members say things like:

“Sam helped me find the clarity I needed and the energy to act on it. She’s part business therapist, part strategy genius.” – Jo, wellness brand founder

“Her insights cut through the noise. I finally feel in control of where I’m taking my business.” – Emily, brand designer

“Being a member means I don’t have to overthink anymore. I just open Monday’s post and follow the steps.” – Lydia, creative coach

“Sam’s tools are better than most paid courses. This membership is wildly underpriced.” – Arun, business consultant. (Thanks for the pricing nudge Arun!)

I also have 40+ five-star reviews on Google – and they’re not from people I bribed with cake.

See you inside!

✦ A few things you might like to know

✦ I’m a Manifesting Generator (3/5), INFJ, and a Gemini Sun, Libra Moon, Virgo Rising
Which means: I think and feel deeply, move quickly, and have very strong opinions about how things should be organised.
✦ I’ve rebuilt my business three times. Each version was truer than the last
✦ I once deleted a growing and profitable Substack because it didn’t feel like me anymore
✦ I’ve coached clients from Cornwall to Canada – from florists to founders
✦ I trust my gut more than any algorithm
✦ My best ideas arrive mid-shower or mid-walk – rarely mid-meeting
✦ I use astrology to plan my year and anchor my content – not to predict the future, but to work with rhythm, meaning, and momentum.
✦ I don’t listen to podcasts – even though I host one
✦ Most of my strategy sessions start with: “So what’s really going on?”
✦ I'm obsessed with Notion but still write half my to-do lists on paper
✦ I like my strategy honest, my writing a bit messy, and my mornings quiet
✦ I love laying in the sun, sea walks, and a hot drink in silence

✦ Official Bio (for press/collabs)

Sam Burgess is a business mentor, strategist and life coach who helps emotionally intelligent entrepreneurs build sustainable, values-led businesses. She blends strategy, psychology, and energy work through her signature models: the Idea-to-Income Model™ and the Clarity-to-Action Model™.

She’s been featured in The Telegraph, BBC Breakfast, Stylist and Metro, and has spoken at some of the UK’s biggest trade shows including MODA, Pulse, and Pure London. She holds certifications in NLP, CBT, Positive Psychology and more – and believes the best business advice is honest, practical, and deeply human.

Follow Sam on Instagram or check out her work here.