profile

Easily Said & Done

Keep It Moving

Published 9 months ago • 2 min read

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
​

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

Why grow your business alone?

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: This is NOT Normal; Subtitle: Let's not act like it is!

Hi Reader, 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:...

5 days ago • 1 min read
Title: 'Tis Our Time to Shine; Subtitle: In the era of consumer protests

Hi Reader, 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...

2 months ago • 2 min read
Title: Head for the Exit; Subtitle: To drive your business growth

Hi Reader, 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...

3 months ago • 2 min read