Happy Anniversary to Me


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 settled in and navigating the very challenging passage from part-time caregiver (with my own apartment) to a full-time live-in caregiver situation.

I'm still coping with that, but here's the thing, life goes on. No matter what's happening. No matter what's consuming your attention or energy. Life is happening now.

I know these are tough times for a lot of business owners and their loved ones, but stress and mental fatigue should not bar us from experiencing joy, from celebrating our wins, or even forgetting our troubles for a time.

Here are 3 ways I move myself out of stress and 'panic' mode and into a calmer and more present state of mind, allowing me to restore some balance and control over my every day and, yes, let happiness in.

Getting Physical

Doing something with my body that requires my focus occupies my mind and activates different parts of my brain, which gives my emotional system a break and allows room for pleasure and peace.

Try a new exercise or dance routine, learn a craft, or practice a new art form.

Making a Habit of It

Creating a ritual around celebrating even my small successes and being consistent in following through on it means my brain learns to quickly recognize what's happening and can automatically shift my gears from stress mode to celebration mode.

Light a candle, take a bath, toast yourself, repeat a mantra, or treat yourself to something you love. (I'm partial to some really good chocolate.)

Sharing the Love

Gratitude is amazingly powerful, so even when it feels particularly hard, I go deep and find something or, even better, someone to be grateful for...then I let them know it. When we switch focus from ourselves to others, especially those we love and are grateful for, we open up our capacity to feel joy and positivity.

Reach out to someone and let them know how much they mean to you. If you can't do that, do a gratitude dance for someone or something (even yourself) that you appreciate. (My go to song is Can't Stop the Feelin')

And, in the spirit of celebration, here's my Happy 15th Anniversary gift to you:

15% off individual Business Therapy sessions for the rest of 2025!

These one-hour 1-on-1 sessions are a great way to refocus, strategize, and prioritize so you leave with an action plan that moves you and your business forward.

If you've been wondering whether business coaching can really make a difference in clarifying your next steps, a big decision, or strategic shifts, now's your chance to find out how working with an experienced and empathetic coach can level up your business and, more importantly, help you level up your game as a CEO and leader.

(Ooh, I feel a happy dance coming on just thinking about helping you set a path for success! How about you?)


Until next time...

PS -If you missed it, last month I helped you navigate the Jungle that is our current economic climate.


Your success is our strategy!

Update your profile.

No longer want to receive my newsletter but don't want to miss my special offers and announcements? Click here.
To completely unsubscribe from all future communications, please opt out below.

Easily Said & Done

I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?

Read more from Easily Said & Done
Title: Is It a Feature or a Bug? Subtitle: The AI Conundrum

Hi Reader, Something I've been enjoying of late are multiple influencers showcasing the limits of ChatGPT and the like. One guy asks it some pretty basic questions, such as to name a number between one and one hundred that includes the letter 'a.' (Spoiler alert: there aren't any). ChatGPT lies to his face over and over again. Another one provides examples of business fails due to AI. Some are pretty extraordinary. But here's the thing, this isn't just a harmless gimmick, it's a warning cry,...

Title: The CEOs Are Beefin'; Subtitle: How Burger King ate McDonald's lunch!

Have you seen the video of McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski trying to promote the new Big Arch burger ahead of its March 3rd launch? How about any of the many, many videos or memes negging on it for a host of reasons, including how Kempczinski refers to the burger as "a delicious product" or his failure to take a real bite of it, seeming almost disgusted by it. To me, there are three great marketing stories going on here. 1. Going Viral Isn't the Goal Yes, there is such a thing as bad PR and...

Title: Living In the Now and Then; subtitle: Is harder than it sounds

This fall my mom was diagnosed with mild-to-moderate dementia. While sad, it did not come as a surprise. It's one reason I sold her house and we moved in together late last summer. At first, I planned outings to the Y and other senior programs, scheduled visits from family and friends, coordinated physical therapy appointments, and designed little daily activities to keep her engaged and stimulated. This winter it's gotten harder and harder to get mom out of bed let alone dressed and out the...