Stop. Think. Grow.


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 that new perspective comes hope, clarity, and results.

And that’s why I’ve introduced a new weekly email series. If you’re reading this, you already got a taste of the series last week. Every Friday, I’m sending out a single reflection question designed to help you think differently about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.

If you know other business owners who could benefit from a weekly opportunity to pause and reflect on their business, they can get the next email here. You can forward this email to them, or share the direct link. Whatever is easiest for you (and them).

Worth Noting…

Here’s what else is going on:

→ Enrollment to the Weekly Course of Action is now open. Join the waitlist here, or book a call with me to discuss your options.

→ I’m teaching at International Quilt Market in Houston this weekend. If you’re going to be there, check out my workshop, "Creating an Open-to-Buy: How Much to Spend and When to Spend It,” on Saturday.

→ Want mine (and Tonya’s) brains on your business? Join us from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Pacific on Oct. 22 for the Business Reality Check. Tonya and I are ready to help you get to the heart of what’s going on in your business right now so you can take the next step toward your goals. These aren’t recorded, so you can feel comfortable discussing the nitty gritty of what you’re facing. Register here.

Tune In: The Business You Really Want

I just found out The Business You Really Want is one of the top 10% most popular shows out of 3,639,877 podcasts ranked by Listen Notes.

I won’t even pretend to know what that means, but it sounds pretty good. More importantly, though, is the feedback we’re getting from listeners who say that our episodes are helping them to make positive changes in their business. After all, that’s why we started the show in the first place.

And with that in mind, here are the most recent episodes:

And if you’re really into stats and inside baseball, you can listen to Tonya and me talk shop with Megan Dougherty on the Business Podcast Spotlight.

— Gwen

PO Box 1133, Merced, CA 95341
Unsubscribe

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.

Read more from Gwen Bortner | Everyday Effectiveness

Reader — Knowing what things are no longer serving us, and therefore we need to stop, can be as or more important than figuring out what new things we need to be doing. What is one thing that, if stopped, would actually be an overall benefit? (Hint: if you find yourself immediately thinking of something and then your stomach slightly clenches, chances are, that’s the answer.) I’d love to hear what comes up for you, so let me know! I read and respond to every email. Speak soon, Gwen

Reader — As you read this, I’m leading Savvy Syndicate, our client-only retreat in California’s Amador County. Stepping away to think deeply (with a small, mighty group) is one of the fastest ways to realign your business with what actually matters. A theme we’re digging into this week: accountability that energizes rather than exhausts. That’s exactly what my Weekly Course of Action (WCA) process is designed to do. It helps leaders and teams create sustainable follow-through without adding...

Reader — Many business owners struggle to distinguish between investment and expense – an investment, of course, being something with a rate of return that exceeds its cost, while an expense is a cost of doing business. What recent business purchase are you justifying as an investment that might actually be an unnecessary expense? Or what expense have you been avoiding that might actually be an investment? Think about it – and let me know what comes up. I’d love to hear from you (and give you...