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?
Keeping It Casual
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I've talked before about the importance of setting goals along with the challenge of fulfilling those goals over time. Well, last week, I achieved a goal that was an entire year in the making, and I'm really proud of myself for not giving up when it would have been very easy to do so. What's the goal? It's kind of silly, to be honest. I met someone new through the networking platform, LunchClub, every week for one year straight. If you're not aware of LunchClub, it's a free platform that connects you to other people based on your interests, intentions, and/or geographic preferences as frequently as you would like. Why am I sharing the achievement of this "silly" goal with you? Because I think it's important to celebrate our accomplishments —even the ones that are smaller in their impact. I also think it's important in the purgatory that is our ongoing socially distanced world to keep putting ourselves out there even if it's just for spontaneous conversation. And, honestly, that is one of the things I miss the most about the before times, that opportunity to have casual conversation while waiting in line (usually for the restroom), at a bus stop or on the bus, at a cafe or restaurant (when we weren't separated by plastic or space). To be clear, I am not an extrovert by nature, but I do like people and I am perenially curious. Having spontaneous conversations has resulted in some amazing things in my life including but not limited to job and business opportunities, speaking engagements, off-the-beaten-path adventures, and wonderful friendships. Casual conversations have made the hours disappear on planes and trains and in automobiles. It provides laughter, a sense of community, fabulous recommendations for restaurants, books, websites, resources, and so much more that I would otherwise not necessarily discover on my own. I'm not trying to sell you on LunchClub. I would say it's worth checking it out if you're not on it already. I am encouraging you to connect with people regularly and not purely for "networking" purposes. We are more than our business or jobs, and talking to others allows us to tap into those other areas of our lives and interests and learn new things simply for the pleaure of learning and knowing about them. For me, it also reminds me that there are lovely, friendly, generous, smart people in the world at a time when it's easy to forget that and retreat into my insulated bubble. I also want to encourage you to celebrate your little wins as you would your big ones. In a long journey no one step is more important than any other. Each one takes you closer to your destination, whether taken on an easy road or a rigorous path. If you've got a win, big or small, you're celebrating, let me know. I'd love to celebrate with you! In honor of February being Heart Health Awareness Month, just a reminder, to take both physical and emotional care of yourself. P.S. Book a free consultation with me today to support your business goals and meet your most pressing challenges. Sharing is caring. Please pass this message on. Your success is our strategy! |
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?
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,...
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...
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...