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?
Living In the Now and Then
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Hi Reader, 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 door. Some days, I'm truly happy if she just joins me for dinner and a little TV before turning in for the night. While Mom is living in the perpetual now as her short term memory shrinks to mere seconds, I've been forced to adjust and adjust and adjust some more. For me, there is no new normal. There is only ever-changing movement of the goal post. What defines success on Monday isn't even a possibility on Tuesday. As a first-class strategist, this is humbling, to say the least. No amount of thinking through the could bes, might bes, maybes and what ifs has prepared me for the daily little joys of getting mom to do something she couldn't or wouldn't the day before and the feelings of abject failure when the opposite occurs. Even if you're not facing the same challenges—and I sincerely hope you're not—odds are you're dealing with your own situations and uncertainties. So maybe these lessons and perspectives I've shared in the past will be as valuable to you in navigating what's to come as they continue to be for me in this new phase of life and its impact on me and my business.
Should you like some help coping with the present while mapping out the future of your business and livelihood, let's talk. Until next time, PS—If you missed it, last month I affirmed that This Is NOT Normal and we shouldn't act like it is. Your success is our strategy!No longer want to receive my newsletter but don't want to miss my special offers and announcements? Click here. |
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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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...
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...