Reader — A quick reminder of what we’re doing here, since these Thursday emails are new: instead of sending you more information (because frankly, you’re past that), I’m sending you one REALLY good question to help you get you into your CEO brain, challenge your assumptions, and break through confusion and indecision. My question for you this week is: are you delegating things you shouldn’t? Common wisdom says that we should delegate or outsource all lower-level tasks. But there are often a...
13 days ago • 1 min read
Reader — I’ve been working on a project recently behind the scenes that has helped me to fully appreciate the value of really good questions. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve always been a fan of good questions. One of the reasons I adore having Tonya on my team is because she’s full of them. And my clients often say the same about me. But what I’ve come to appreciate recently is how a really good question at the right time can change everything about how you think and feel about your business. With...
16 days ago • 2 min read
Reader — A quick reminder of what we’re doing here, since these Friday emails are new: instead of sending you more information (because frankly, you’re past that), I’m sending you one REALLY good question to help you get you into your CEO brain, challenge your assumptions, and break through confusion and indecision. And now, the question: How’s your time feeling these days?There are lots of different methods for managing your time and activities. What’s working for you? What’s not? And for...
20 days ago • 1 min read
There's a time and a place for gathering information: when you're new at something. When you want to develop expertise in a specific subject. And when you're answering a specific question.But when you're doing something complex and personal like running a business, more information is actually the opposite of what you need.(And aren't we all just so tired of the ever-present "insights" and "analysis" that flood our inboxes?)That's why I'm going to start doing something a little different.Each...
27 days ago • 1 min read
Reader — Last week, Tonya and I went behind the scenes on what sustainable success really looks like when you practice what you preach. Our LinkedIn Live conversation about a full year of podcasting without burning out revealed something important: Planning for imperfection is what makes the difference. We don't plan as if everything will go perfectly. We plan for travel conflicts, sick days, and technology failures. We stay 4-6 episodes ahead so when life happens (and it always does), we're...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Reader — I'm kicking off something new this week — a LinkedIn Live interview series called What It Takes, where I'll be talking with business owners about what it really looks like to build sustainable, profitable businesses on your own terms. But first, I'm starting with a practice round: Today, 2 p.m. PT → Tonya and I are going live to share what it's taken to build and maintain The Business You Really Want podcast for a full year without burning out. Consider it our behind-the-scenes...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Reader — In just two weeks, The Business You Really Want podcast will celebrate its first anniversary. What started as a simple but bold premise — you don't have to burn your business to the ground to build something sustainable — has grown into 52 episodes of real talk about what entrepreneurial success can mean. Today, episode 52 drops. In it, Tonya Kubo and I reflect on what we've learned in our first year of co-hosting. But we're not just looking backward. For the next month, we're...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Reader — That choice you're second-guessing? The one keeping you up at night? It's probably not the disaster you think it is. Too many entrepreneurs get paralyzed thinking every business decision is permanent. They agonize over choices, convinced that picking the wrong path will doom them to failure. But that’s a myth. Fact: You can always make a different choice. For example, I decided this week to push pause on our Small Biz Book Club. A year ago, monthly conversations focused on business...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Reader — Hope you had a restful long weekend. If you're like most of my clients, you're probably easing back into work mode today. And maybe feeling that familiar tug of overwhelm as you look at everything on your plate. Here's a question I want you to sit with: What if the business you're returning to isn't actually the business you want to be running? I know that sounds dramatic, but hear me out. Recently, I've had several conversations with successful business owners who all said some...
5 months ago • 3 min read