• Challenges,  Entrepreneurs,  Goals,  Implementation,  Motivation,  New Year,  Overcoming Obstacles,  Questions

    This one question could make or break your business…

    As an entrepreneur, I know how hard you work at and on your business. Sometimes it can be grueling and stressful, especially if you do it alone. And even if you have some help, it still can be exhausting and challenging. It’s mainly up to you to create a successful business and make money that will keep it running for many years. This brings me to the one question that could make or break your business… Before I ask you, I want you to think back to when you made the decision to start your business and make a go at being your own boss. What was the impetus that…

  • Attitude,  Challenges,  Overcoming Obstacles

    Being grateful… Something a little deeper

    One of the hardest things I ever had to learn (and who am I kidding – still learning…) is when you’re suffering from grief or a loss… How do you turn it around and get to a place of being grateful for the life lesson? What’s not helpful is to try to shove it under the proverbial rug, take a substance to forget about it, and try to shove it down and not feel it. Years ago, before I got into recovery, I remember telling a good friend that I wished we didn’t have feelings. That all they’ve caused me was great sorrow and havoc in my life. That it would…

  • Attitude,  Challenges,  Implementation,  Motivation,  Overcoming Obstacles

    If only – a personal heartbreaking journey

    My spouse Alice and I listened to Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart audiobook as we drove home from being away in Lake Tahoe for a week. And aside, I love listening to her books because it feels like a more intimate experience. She always adds extra stuff and talks to you like you’re in her kitchen over coffee. And repeats important phrases… (I will be doing a review of this book in the coming weeks.) While listening to her book, it sparked some interesting conversations, one of which was around the phrase “If only.” And another was one my Dad always said I needed to stop my “what ifing” myself… It got…

  • Balance,  Clients & Customers,  Communication,  copywriting,  Marketing

    Have You Dropped This Ball?

    A few weeks back, I shared a story about our smoke alarms going off in the middle of the night. It prompted me to ask you, is there anything that’s beeping at you in your business that’s keeping you up at night? I had some terrific responses, and wanted to share one from Martie McNab, Show&Tales, who took this concept in a direction that I thought was worthwhile exploring in today’s email. She said, “…if we market our business like those fire alarms – infrequently, sporadically, and in the middle of the night, we won’t be known, liked, or remembered.” In the initial stages, when I interview potential dream prospects, this…