Honestly, I was going to writing about something else for my first missive of the new year, but I don’t want to add my voice to those trying to normalize what is not normal. I don’t know about you, but it’s very hard to shut out what’s going on and focus on my to-do list these days. Especially, when every item seems trite and pointless against the much larger issues hitting the news feeds multiple times a day. It’s more than a lot. It’s way too much. So today my message is simple: Take care...
28 days ago • 1 min read
Right now, there's a consumer 'blackout' movement afoot to, basically, stop buying stuff for the entirety of the Black Friday weekend from corporations. This isn't just happening in the USA, but also in Canada, as a way to protest the current economic climate and policies that are making the wealthy wealthier and squeezing every penny out of the rest of us. Don't forget, there's still active consumer protests against Target, Home Depot, and Amazon, among others, as well. In other words, it...
3 months ago • 2 min read
When I teach business growth classes one of the first sessions includes a discussion about Exit Strategies. What most entrepreneurs fail to realize is that how they plan to end their relationship with their business is perhaps even more important than how they start it. Exit strategies are a critical aspect of any business growth plan because the way in which you leave your business shapes key activities, priorities, and decisions all along your path. Some common business exit strategies...
4 months ago • 2 min read
In all the hubbub of my crazy summer something pretty major happened that I completely ignored: My business turned 15. No celebratory notes or announcements. No cards or flowers. No social media posts. Not really even a second thought until weeks later when I casually mentioned it to a friend and they were amazed and said, "Let's celebrate." But, I didn't feel like celebrating. Or, more exactly, I didn't feel I had the time to celebrate. I was moving into my new apartment, getting my mom...
5 months ago • 2 min read
These days, every time I open up TikTok or Insta or LinkedIn, someone is telling me more bad news. A lot of it is about the economy or what's going to negatively impact the economy in the coming weeks. When I look at news alerts on my phone, it's the same, only more global and more soul-crushing in terms of war and famine and violence. My emails aren't that much better, clients and students are struggling to keep their businesses going in the face of rising costs, slackening sales, tightening...
6 months ago • 2 min read
I'm taking a break from all the logistics related to real estate and moving because, frankly, I'm alarmed. Last week, Delta Airlines announced it will be utilizing AI to set airfare prices based on individual behavior and habits of their prospective customers. This means that the person sitting next to you on your next Delta flight might have paid significantly more or less than you not because they booked early or splurged for the window or aisle, but because of who they are, how they shop,...
7 months ago • 3 min read
Man, it's been a minute since my last missive and A LOT has happened. Firstly, I sold mom's house. Yay! We had a buyer who dragged their feet and, even with a $5K credit, backed out right before signing on the dotted line. Of course, I was miffed and a bit worried. But, we immediately held another open house and got an even better bid the very next day. These buyers are motivated, accommodating, and happen to be a lovely family who are happy for us to leave any furniture we don't want to take...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Firstly, my session at NYPL Monday received rave reviews from attendees. So, if you missed it and want to catch the replay, see the link in the postscript. As we head into the Memorial Day Weekend here in the states and the unofficial start of summer, I'm thinking back to the time I negotiated with my boss to take a leave of absence from my job to accept an invitation to a writer's retreat in Vermont. It was amazing, and I still can't believe I was able to swing it and, yes, come back to my...
9 months ago • 2 min read
It's been a while since I've done any public workshops or speaking engagements and I'm excited to announce I'm returning to one of my favorite venues next week, the New York Public Library Business Center. It's a virtual session, so no matter where you live, you can join in the fun and education! Stop Selling Yourself Short: Avoid Common Pricing Mistakes Monday, May 19th 12:00PM-1:30PM (ET) Register for FREE In this session, I share the 5 pricing mistakes I see all the time with my students...
10 months ago • 1 min read