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...
11 days 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...
about 1 month 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...
2 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...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Reader — Success doesn't require working yourself to the bone. But that’s a false belief causing countless business owners to burn out while their profits stagnate. Here's what I've discovered after working with hundreds of entrepreneurs: your business runs exactly as it was designed to run. If you're exhausted and overwhelmed, that's by design — not by necessity. The truth is that alignment reduces friction. When the GEARS of your business work together harmoniously, everything flows with...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Reader — Q1 is coming to a close, and I have one question for you: How is 2025 shaping up so far? It’s been a busy travel season for me, a little for work and a little for fun. I was in Phoenix for a few weeks at a couple of networking events, just finished our annual ski trip, and getting ready to speak at both Creativation and Craftcation in April. I know a lot of people hate bouncing from airport to airport, but it doesn’t faze me. I enjoy traveling solo or with others, especially if...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Reader — It’s been six months since Tonya Kubo and I launched The Business You Really Want, a podcast for women who want sustainable success in business and in life. As of today, we’ve produced 30 episodes — which puts us in the top 5% of podcasts. Would you believe 90% of podcasts never make it past three episodes? When I think about it, it’s both surprising and not surprising. It surprises me because I can’t imagine going through the time, energy and effort to launch a podcast only to...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Reader — Guess what? Author Tamsen Webster will be joining us for the Small Biz Book Club discussion of her latest book, Say What They Can't Unhear this Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 10 to 11 a.m. Pacific. Don't worry if you haven't read the book. You're still welcome to join us. Sometimes the best insights come from hearing others discuss their takeaways and experiences. I'm a big fan of audiobooks myself, so whether you prefer reading or listening, the Small Biz Book Club is designed to help you...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Reader — We may only be four weeks into the new year, but I’m already having an amazing 2025. I spent the early part of the month kicking off Q1 with all of my clients at our online planning retreat. And then I scurried up north with three clients for our Savvy Syndicate mastermind. The extended time together allowed for a much deeper look into each woman's business than is usually feasible during Zoom calls. And the unscripted time each of us had to explore the grounds in quiet contemplation...
7 months ago • 1 min read