Meet Sara Entzel

We were lucky to catch up with Sara Entzel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sara, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

For me, confidence came from a hard but powerful realization: nobody was coming to save me.
After a few really tough years in both business and life, I understood that it was up to me—and only me—to define my happiness and take responsibility for my mental state.

I learned that confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build through practice—by showing up, stepping outside your comfort zone, and doing the thing even when you’re not 100% ready. Every time you keep a promise to yourself, your confidence grows.

Daily habits have been a huge part of that process for me. I start each morning by making my bed—it’s a small win, but it sets the tone. I journal for at least five minutes and set my intentions for the day based on how I actually feel: how I slept, my motivation level, and my emotional and physical capacity. Because let’s be real—those things fluctuate daily. Learning to meet yourself where you are instead of forcing perfection is everything.

I also write down what I’m grateful for every morning and work from just three main action items during my workday. Keeping it to three makes everything feel more doable—and I’ve found I actually get more done without burning myself out.

That mindset and structure ultimately led me to write She’s the Strategy—a business mindset vibe guide for female entrepreneurs. After publishing the book, I knew I wanted to create a space where women could continue doing this work together, which is how the Aligned AF Inner Circle was born.

Aligned AF is a monthly membership that includes mindset and business trainings, hot-seat coaching and Q&A sessions, new workbooks and guided prompts each month, a private Facebook community, workshops, surprise bonus sessions, and a full library of trainings. But more than anything, it’s about connection—women supporting women, no matter what level they’re at.

Because at the end of the day, the only person you’re competing with is yourself.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

At my core, I’m a strategist, creative, and mentor for women who are ready to stop shrinking themselves and start owning who they are—personally and professionally. But this work didn’t come from a highlight reel. It came from living through a season where everything I thought I had built was quietly falling apart.

There was a time when I was running numerous businesses completely alone—working 16-hour days, glued to my laptop, faking smiles while trying to be a good mom, a good wife, and a good business owner. The truth is, I was failing at all of it. I’d cry in the closet just to get the emotions out, then wipe my face and go cook dinner like nothing was wrong. I felt invisible, unsupported, and completely disconnected from myself.

I was overweight, overworked, and under-joyed. I barely recognized the woman staring back at me in the mirror.

And life has a way of shaking you awake when you’re not listening.

When everything finally fell apart—my marriage, a business partnership, and my sense of safety and security—I was forced to face a hard truth: no one was coming to save me.

So I did the hardest and bravest thing I’ve ever done. I started saving myself.

I got honest about what I wanted. I put boundaries in place. I hired help. I stopped trying to prove my worth through overworking. Little by little, I rebuilt my confidence, my business, my body, and my life.

That transformation led me to write She’s the Strategy™, a business mindset vibe guide for female entrepreneurs. The book is designed to help women get real with themselves, rebuild confidence from the inside out, and create structure and clarity without losing who they are. It blends mindset, self-awareness, and practical strategy in a way that feels approachable and sustainable.

After publishing the book, I knew I wanted to reach women who were in the same place I once was—exhausted, overwhelmed, and quietly wondering where they went. That desire to create connection and ongoing support is what led to the Aligned AF Inner Circle, a monthly membership community for female entrepreneurs.

Inside the Inner Circle, members receive monthly mindset and business trainings, hot-seat coaching and Q&A sessions, new workbooks and guided prompts each month, workshops, bonus sessions, and access to a private Facebook community and a full library of trainings. More than anything, it’s a space where women can be honest, supported, and challenged—without comparison or judgment.

What excites me most right now is watching women reclaim themselves. Seeing them set boundaries, follow through on their goals, and realize they’re far more capable than they ever gave themselves credit for is incredibly powerful. I’m focused on continuing to grow the She’s the Strategy™ ecosystem through workshops, coaching, and community-driven experiences that help women build lives and businesses that feel aligned, intentional, and unapologetically theirs.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, there are three things that changed everything for me—and none of them involve a perfect plan or a magical overnight breakthrough.

First: Radical self-awareness.
I had to stop lying to myself about what was working and what wasn’t. I paid attention to my patterns, my energy, and the stories I was telling myself on repeat. Confidence doesn’t come from pretending you’re fine—it comes from clarity and honesty.
My advice: slow down and actually listen to yourself. Journal it out. Get uncomfortable. Awareness is where real change starts.

Second: Unapologetic authenticity.
This was a game-changer. The moment I stopped trying to be everything to everyone (enter Everclear song here!) and started showing up as myself—fully and unapologetically—my business finally clicked. I aligned my work with my values and the type of clients I actually wanted to work with. The right people leaned in, the wrong ones bowed out, and honestly? Thank God.
My advice: build a business that fits you, not one you have to perform for. When you’re real, you attract clients and opportunities that feel aligned instead of exhausting.

Third: Personal accountability paired with simple, sustainable habits.
I stopped waiting for motivation or perfect circumstances and took ownership of my life and business. That meant simplifying—focusing on a few priorities, creating routines that matched my real capacity, and following through consistently without burning myself out.
My advice: stop doing all the things. Do the right things. Consistency beats chaos every single time.

If I could tell anyone early in their journey one thing, it would be this: you don’t need to become someone else to be successful. You just need to trust yourself, stay aligned, and keep showing up—one honest, intentional step at a time.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

My biggest area of growth has been learning not to give my energy—or my confidence—to opinions that don’t deserve a seat at the table.

I’ve stopped taking feedback from people who are committed to misunderstanding my vision or tearing it apart before it’s even built. I’m absolutely open to constructive criticism—but only from people who have actually done the work, taken risks, and understand what it takes to show up and try.

What I’ve learned is this: the loudest critics are usually the ones who have never built anything themselves. It’s easy to judge from the sidelines. The people who’ve been in the arena don’t do that—they know the grit, the uncertainty, and the courage it takes to even begin.

Over the past year, I’ve gotten ruthless—in the best way—about protecting my vision. I filter feedback carefully, trust my instincts, and surround myself with people who challenge me to grow instead of shrink. This doesn’t just pertain to business either, it is deeply woven into my personal life as well.

That shift has changed everything. When you stop needing everyone’s approval, you create space to move faster, think bigger, and build something that actually feels like yours.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alignedafinnercircle.com/home, https://www.shesthestrategy.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shesthestrategy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-entzel-334442393

Image Credits

Casa Bay Photography