How A Breakdown in Pajamas Became The Blueprint For My Ai-Powered Comeback

By Starr Hall  

Publicist & Creator of TESS

There I was, sitting on the floor of my office with a lukewarm coffee, wearing pajama pants and a “CEO” sweatshirt I bought off Etsy. My inbox was empty, my ideas felt stale, and I had just watched yet another internet stranger go viral for pointing at words in a reel while promising to make $100K in three days.

Meanwhile, I was a publicist with 28+ years of experience, a bestselling author, and the kind of entrepreneur who could pitch a rock and make it a brand, but I felt like I was drowning in digital noise. I had built empires for others, but somehow, I forgot to build a clear, scalable system for myself.

Cue the moment: I opened a blank doc and wrote one question to myself- “What would I build if I stopped overthinking and just downloaded everything I know?”

And then I did exactly that.

That’s when TESS was born- The Entrepreneur’s Secret Sidekick. Not just an AI-powered tool, but a digital embodiment of everything I’d ever taught, coached, and cheered on in others. Clarity, confidence, content prompts, PR strategy, mindset rewires- it was all in there. I basically downloaded my brain (and my occasional sass) into a system entrepreneurs could use without paying a $10K retainer or crying over their Canva account.

With TESS as my sidekick, my business is on track to cross the $2M mark in the next six months, and I’ve never felt more aligned, strategic, or unapologetically unstoppable.

That moment, the pajama-clad existential spiral turned business birth, reminded me that my purpose isn’t just building brands. It’s pulling people out of chaos and into clarity. I don’t just help people get seen, I help them remember who they are, what they’re here to do, and how to say it out loud.

Now, I show up differently. I lead from that place of “been-there, breakdown-turned-blueprint” energy. I created a platform that doesn’t just teach, it walks with you. And the best part? I get to help other people find their pivotal moment… without needing a total meltdown to get there.

This whole journey led to my latest project: Conversations with TESS- part memoir, part business breakthrough guide, which is being published later this year. It’s honest, funny (so I’ve been told), occasionally spicy (just like me), and packed with what I’ve learned about rebuilding your voice and vision from the inside out. The TESS app officially launches in July, and right now, it’s in final beta testing with a crew of brilliantly blunt entrepreneurs who are making it even better, one brutally honest piece of feedback at a time. Partners and sponsors are already on the sidelines, ready and waiting for the official release, because they see what I see: this isn’t just another app. It’s a movement.

So if you’ve ever wished your business came with a sidekick that delivers clarity, direction, and a pep talk on demand, your moment’s coming. And don’t worry if you’re still wearing pajama pants and a sweatshirt that says “CEO.” Turns out, mine didn’t stand for Chief Executive Officer after all, it now means Creator of Epic Outcomes, and that’s exactly who I became the moment I stopped pointing at words and started writing my own damn story.

Because let’s be real, building a business shouldn’t require a ring light, a viral dance, or pretending you're totally fine while crying into your third cup of reheated coffee. It should start with clarity, be fueled by courage, and maybe, just maybe, include a sidekick who knows when to serve strategy and when to serve sass. TESS was built for the version of you who’s done almost everything right… except give yourself the tools you actually need. And it’s not just guidance, it’s scalable strategies, done-for-you tools, and step-by-step support to grow your visibility and your revenue. Pajama pants optional. Becoming unstoppable? Non-negotiable.

With clarity, sass, and scalable strategy,

Starr Hall

Publicist & Creator of TESS (a.k.a. your soon-to-be favorite sidekick) 

Connect With Starr

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