Keep It Moving


After 20 years, I'm moving house and probably will be moving again shortly thereafter.

The prospect of moving is, in a word, daunting. It's one of the most stressful things we experience in life.

I'm trying not to think about all of that and look on this time as an opportunity to let go of the things that no longer serve me and streamline the things that do.

Though, it's not easy.

Recently, I also started cleaning out my business email box to free up storage and I was reminded of a host of things I tried or that were a part of my business model that I abandoned because they didn't work out or just weren't a good use of my time and energy.

As we move through a host of economic challenges and are confronted by various technological advances, it's in our own best interest to be somewhat ruthless in assessing the investments we're making whether in dollars and cents or in our time and attention.

Here are a few ways to take stock of your business model, assess your vulnerabilities, and prepare your business for what's to come:

Conduct a Value Proposition Stress Test

Evaluate whether your core value proposition remains relevant in today's environment. Ask:

  • Is my offering solving a problem that will persist during economic contraction?
  • How dependent is my value proposition on discretionary spending?
  • Does my solution represent a "must-have" rather than a "nice-to-have"?

Analyze Revenue Stream Diversification

Businesses with multiple revenue streams tend to be more resilient. Assess:

  • What percentage of revenue comes from your top three customers?
  • How many distinct revenue channels do you maintain?
  • Which revenue streams are most vulnerable to economic fluctuations?
  • Could you add subscriptions, retainers, or some other recurring revenue components?

Evaluate Digital Transformation Readiness

Technology isn't just changing how we work—it's redefining what value looks like. Ask:

  • How will AI, automation, or other emerging technologies impact my business model?
  • Which core processes could be digitized or automated to improve margins and, ultimately, profits?
  • Am I investing appropriately in technology that could provide competitive advantage?

Map Ecosystem Dependencies

No business exists in isolation. Analyze:

  • How vulnerable your key suppliers are to economic disruption.
  • What alternatives exist if critical partners falter.
  • How well your business performs when stress-tested based on supply chain disruptions.

It's a time of change and upheaval for many people. The best way I know to make it through and thrive is to embrace the change and foster adaptability.

If you need help analyzing your business model and creating an adaptable plan for the future, let's talk.

Until next time,


P.S. If you missed it, last week I was all about getting More Bank for Your Bucks.

In 9 months you’ve helped me identify my target market, refine my pricing strategy, redefine my brand so I can attract new clients and expand my team. Had I tried to do that on my own, I wouldn’t have known where, or how, to begin.
Fouzia Elidrisi, Founder, My Bridal Budget

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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?

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