Behind-the-scenes with successful women (and one big Houston announcement!)


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 not scrambling.

But here's what surprised us most after a full year: we still genuinely enjoy working together. As Tonya put it, "I wasn't sure we'd still like each other."

Turns out, sustainable partnerships — like sustainable businesses — are built on honest communication and realistic expectations.

What It Really Takes: Real Conversations About Real Success

I’m committed to highlighting the behind-the-scenes reality of business because I’m tired of hearing highly successful women convinced they’re falling short by “hustle harder” culture.

Along those lines, Nicole Serena shared her transformation from solo consultant to agency owner without losing her sanity.

Her biggest insight?

"Don't do it all yourself."

She recommends finding advisors and accountability partners, not just hiring task-doers. She also revealed the power of transferring trust and why some people who got you here won't get you to the next stage of where you want to be.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 27) at 10:15 a.m. Pacific — Abigail McMurray, the paper artist behind YEIOU Paper Objects, joins me to discuss sustainable success as a maker. She's built a creative business that honors both her artistic vision and her need for work-life balance. Every creative who’s ever been told you can’t make a business from your art should tune in. RSVP here.

Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 12:15 p.m. Pacific — Ashlee Berghoff will share her story of building a successful 7-figure operations agency, then recognizing it needed fine-tuning to better align with her original goals of freedom and more time with her children. RSVP here.

These are all honest conversations about what it really takes to build something sustainable. Join us live on LinkedIn or catch the recordings afterward.

Big Houston News

Speaking of what it really takes — I'm heading to Houston this October to teach at International Quilt Market. On Saturday, Oct. 4, I'll be leading "Creating an Open-to-Buy: How Much to Spend and When to Spend It."

If you own a retail shop and find yourself with inventory that consistently doesn't move or you're selling most products at a discount, this workshop is for you. Open-to-Buy isn't just a fancy retail term, It's your key to ensuring profitability while making your product easier to sell.

Tune In: The Business You Really Want

August continues our celebration of one year of real talk with fresh takes on our most popular episodes:

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Tonya and I would like to thank Mallory W. for her five-star review, calling the show “sage business advice for women.” It’s always a treat to see longtime business associates validate my core belief that context matters in both life and business.

The business you really want isn't built by following someone else's blueprint. It's built through honest conversations about what's really working (and what isn't) and the courage to make changes that fit your actual life.

— Gwen

PO Box 1133, Merced, CA 95341
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Gwen Bortner | Everyday Effectiveness

Gwen Bortner is a business advisor who provides outside perspective and unwavering accountability. She’s also the one to ask the hard questions others won't. After four decades of working across 47+ industries, Gwen has learned that marketing and sales have built-in feedback loops — you know quickly if they're working. But the behind-the-scenes engine that runs your business? That's where the blind spots live. That's where successful businesses secretly start breaking down, even when everything looks fine from the outside. Gwen's monthly newsletter provides tips to help you identify bottlenecks others miss so you can build a business that performs well without consuming your life.

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