Friday rant: Essential Oils

I am deeply sick.

Like… “haven’t slept in days because #CoughingNonStop, sinus pressure from hell, questioning my life choices” sick.

I originally blamed losing my voice on talking way too loudly at the firehall Christmas party last weekend (always fun… always requires recovery).

But nope. Not this time.

This is a full-blown respiratory virus from hell. And even with deadlines looming before the holidays, I’ve been forced to cancel client calls because my voice (when I do have one) sounds like a chain-smoking frog.

Also, I did NOT think I'd find a GIF for that image placeholder I had in mind... but alas, I did LOL

So when I saw a post in a local moms group asking:

What’s your household’s go-to for cold and flu season?
(Also noting they’d consult a pharmacist)

…I was genuinely excited to read the comments.

Because surely (surely) someone would say something useful.

Instead, it was immediately: “Rub this essential oil on your spine.”

“Two drops internally.”

“Message me if you want to buy some of mine ❤️

”Girl. If oregano oil could bring me back from the brink of death, Big Pharma would be out of business. Also... the cedar comment? What?!

Wait.. I have a Christmas tree up right now, should I rip the branches off, boil them (I think it's fir, though not cedar), and then proceed to drink said concoction? It's giving... a certain orange politician suggesting bleach. Remember that? mmmmmk.

Here’s the part that got me (besides my fever-induced rage):
The original poster was VERY clear.
She mentioned pharmacists.
She mentioned OTC options.
She was not asking for a woo-only solution.

And yet… people ignored the actual question and jumped straight to their one thing.

Sound familiar?

Because this is exactly what happens in marketing.

I constantly see marketers, VAs, and “experts” jump into comments or DMs with:

“Just post consistently.”
“Just start an email list.”
“Just run ads.”
“Just use this one tool.”

With zero clarifying questions.

No:

• What are you selling?

• Who is it for?

• What’s not working right now?

• What have you already tried?

• What are you actually asking for help with?

They’re not diagnosing or looking at UNDERLYING CAUSES.
They’re prescribing blindly.

And look… I love a little woo.

My desk has crystals on it.
I’ve made moon water more times than I can count.
I am not anti-magic... I pull Tarot cards daily for my entrepreneur focus group, for Pete’s sake.

I even convinced my biz bestie to do a lil’ magic spell when she was trying to sell her house… and honestly? It might’ve been the thing that worked.
I’ll let her tell that story though 😉

But vibes do not replace fundamentals.
And peppermint oil does not fix pneumonia.

If someone doesn’t pause to understand your problem before offering a solution, one of three things is happening:

• They’re desperate to be seen

• They’re pushing their own agenda

• Or they genuinely don’t know better

None of those are people you want touching your business.

So here’s your Friday reminder:

If your marketing or website person doesn’t ask clarifying questions…
If they ignore what you actually said you need…
If their advice sounds like “just do this one thing”…

🚩🚩🚩 run the other way, my friend.

Because good strategy starts with listening.
Not lavender.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be over here actually taking medicine.
And maybe making moon water.
Because balance. ✨

-Brittany