Follow the Breadcrumbs

Rummaging around the shelves of a cozy bookstore in Middlebury, Vermont, I came across an old friend, Stephen King’s book, On Writing. I bought it for the second time.

I read this book at least 15 years ago, and loved it. Considering I avoid most Stephen King movies (I don’t like scary flicks), this was somewhat of a surprise. Once finished, I gave the book to my nephew, who was studying creative writing, and away it went. One line in the book has stayed with me all these years, “...the road to hell is paved with adverbs...” I don’t know why I remember it, but I think of it every time I’m tempted to use an adverb.

King refers to his book as “a memoir of the craft,” which is why I purchased it the first time. It’s not a biography, though he shares funny stories of how he developed as an author (writing at six years old!) and tales of surviving childhood antics with his brother. If you’re interested in learning more about storytelling or how this renowned author was “formed,” as he calls it, I highly recommend the book.

It feels like some kind of sign that On Writing popped onto my radar, again. I had just started reading The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron’s book, which has been mentioned to me several times. I bought it over a year ago and set it on the shelf, before plucking it off to take on this trip. I had no idea it was a twelve-week guide to uncover more inspired creativity. All I knew about it was the “morning pages” concept (which I love!). One week into Cameron’s book, I discovered On Writing again. What are the odds? My gut tells me these two things are connected. I don’t know where this all leads, but I’m willing to explore.

For those of you sifting through your creative interests, I say, follow the breadcrumbs. This could feel like a nagging idea that sticks with you, a recurring nudge, or something that pulls you to try. It may open new ways of thinking, a unique customer approach, or a different product design. One thing I do know is the value of following your intuition. Listen to your gut, take a step towards that nudge, and see where it takes you. (I’d love to hear what you decide in the comments below.)

Fuel Your Foundation

It’s not just the warm breezes and sunshine that highlight this season; summer invites you to indulge in quieter moments as you fuel your foundation.

The shift in weather, the relaxed schedules, and the impulse to travel encourage living in vivid color, leaning into creativity, and following the urge to open the doors and explore.

It’s no coincidence that the midpoint of the year arrives in sync with such a luxurious season. Nature offers us the chance to radiate new energy, refresh our thinking, and rejuvenate our plan for moving in a chosen direction.

Here are 10 distinct ways to savor the season as you cultivate your path forward.

Routines that Radiate

1. Rise and recharge - decide to step outside to watch the sunrise or sunset at least once a week this summer. Nature’s canvas does not disappoint.

2. Shift one Zoom call or meeting to a walk, be in motion while you motivate, learn, or listen.

The OOH! Effect

3. Free valuable mind space by moving all that cluttered thinking Out Of your Head (OOH!) onto paper. Start each week by writing down the challenges, ideas, and questions that fill your brain. Without judgement. Yes, all those consuming thoughts you keep rehashing. Review each one on paper and ask yourself: Is this true? Is this something that needs to be handled now? Decide to delegate it, delight in doing it, or delete it. Watch as fresh creative ideas and clear thinking come rolling in.

Bloom from Beginning to End

4. Note your top three priorities to start each day.

5. Name three wins (big or small) each evening before lights out. Teach your brain that good things are happening every day. Look for the evidence.

6. Highlight the details of one memorable, positive experience from each week in your journal.

Nourish Your Network

7. Connect with a different colleague, collaborator, creative, or funny character in your life at least once each month. Liven things up with new faces over coffee, lunch, or drinks.

Summertime Sizzle

8. Pour in what nourishes you, from books and podcasts to festive beverages. Read Brianna Wiest’s The Pivot Year or The Life That’s Waiting; her strong, soulful words will nudge you to keep going. On a hot summer day, try a glass of Athletic Brewing’s spirit-free Ripe Pursuit in Lemon Radlar. This zesty beer will wake up your taste buds!

9. Clear out. Good riddance to stale thinking, habits, or people in your life who no longer support your dreams and ambitions. Clean house in all ways and create space for your summer sparkle and success. Pick one today and begin the purge.

10. Capture the colorful. Snap those beautiful photos of the flowers, parks, beaches, and mountain views. Fill your memories with what delights you. Keep these pictures for your future book, your fabulous client emails, or postcards of inspiration when the weather or your mood needs an influx of sunny disposition.

Make the most of this opportunity to breathe in more basking, reflecting, and laughing. Then allow this energy and fresh thinking to turn into ideas and next steps for a fabulous finish to the year.

Bring Festive to the Forefront

One of the reasons I favor February is the chance to spark a color revival! We’ve refreshed from the holidays yet remain in the chill of winter. Are you ready for a break from bare surroundings? Create cheerful inspiration with these colorful collections, vibrant textures, and tastes. Rev up your studio and rejuvenate your space. Treat yourself in small and simple ways as you step into your best year yet.

Seven tips to find your flair:

• A pep talk in pink

• Sweet snacks to share

• A striking addition

• Delightful dessert boards

• Icy inspiration

• A burst of blooms

• Highlight your heartfelt notes

You Are the Secret Sauce

One of the gaps I see in coaching women business owners is the lack of a founder story. Your depth and experience are an opportunity to generate enthusiasm and credibility, and it’s a critical missing link when overlooked.

A founder story is your distinct background, how it impacts your skills and inspires new approaches - a valuable combination to your future clients.

As a solopreneur or business owner, sharing your unique story isn’t about ego; it’s about connection. Clients, partners, and investors want to hear your novel account as they decide whether to believe in you, to give you their time - and money. Before you talk about your product and race to schedule meetings, understand the significance of your journey. This narrative isn’t optional; it’s something to plan for and be proud to reveal. Can you articulate the path that led to your business?

Each of our individual stories is unique; however, here are essential steps as you build your founder message.

As a seasoned and savvy woman, you haven’t been on this earth for decades without learning any number of valuable lessons: the art of negotiation, service, persistence, follow-up, prioritizing, idea generation, communication, and bouncing back. I know your list is long. As the owner and CEO of your business, claim the skills that make you the perfect person to deliver your product or service right now.

These early weeks, when you have few, if any, paying customers, are about establishing credibility. Setting yourself apart. You want future clients to see that your business is an intriguing new option that benefits them in a meaningful way. Invite curiosity about your future plans - what will you do next? - via your compelling story.

Reflect on each milestone you’ve experienced, and detail how it makes you strong, knowledgable, and capable at this very moment. Write ten things you’ve accomplished, situations you’ve overcome, connections you’ve made, and skills you’ve acquired that led you to this moment in your business. Allow time for reflection and revisions in this process. Then, narrow your points into a brief yet powerful message.

One thing I remind business owners is that executives and organizational leaders hear from people making claims and promising the moon all the time. As a former Director of early stage funding programs, I’ve heard it all. Most of us can smell a fake story a mile away. Be genuine and deliver on your early goals and commitments. This will set you apart.

Each of you has an incredible story to tell if you take the time to reflect on it and document the lessons. Define why you are your secret sauce - a unique individual offering your specific craft or service. Be ready to share the story of you, and build excitement for what’s next.

Reveal a Fresh Perspective

This season invites us to declare a fresh break, upend the old habits, and reveal a new perspective.

How are you doing as the CEO of your life? Before you dive in and do all the things, have you determined the end result? What’s your vision of an ideal week or month, and are you working toward it? For some of us, being the chief executive includes running a business. For others, it doesn’t; either way, you’re the boss of you! This season of renewal is well-suited to asking yourself quality questions and proclaiming the answers.

Our brains love to go to work on answering our questions, whether they’re good or bad. There is such a thing as bad questions, ones that don’t serve you. Challenge your brain to think of answers that will excite you, require new skills, and open new doors. Don’t talk yourself out of what’s possible this year by asking the wrong things. For example, “Why doesn’t anything work for me?” “Why can’t I figure this out?” These are not inquiries you want your brilliant mind to answer. Instead, ask something like this: “What are ten new ideas to get the result I want?” Guide your brain to offer interesting choices, and be open to what you hear.

Consider that your questions send a message to clients, your team, and your family. Author Joe Dispenza, in his book Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, prompts us to ask, “What am I broadcasting (consciously or unconsciously) on a daily basis?”

Write down questions that inspire your best ideas:

• How can I work less and earn more?

• What if it’s possible to…..write the book, get the job, close the client, start my business, experience more calm? What would that look like?

• What kind of mom/partner/friend do I want to be this year?

• What are ten new ways to reach my revenue goals?

• What are five fun ideas for a friend’s night out?

Complete the “What if it’s possible to….” sentence with whatever speaks to you, serves you, and helps you accomplish your mission.

Here’s my question for you…What are you willing to do differently this year to build the life you love?

Stretch into Possibilities

Are you bringing the energy to finish the year strong, or are thoughts of pause and delay creeping in? If left to our own devices, we can think of reasons not to start that new and exciting thing. You might be thinking, surely there’s a better time, and it might even feel true. In most cases, it’s not. And years can slip by in the waiting. If you’re putting off your next step, it’s likely because it’s outside of your comfort zone, and it feels awkward and uncomfortable. That’s all the more reason to keep going. Deciding to move forward means recognizing discomfort is part of the journey. Treat those uncomfortable thoughts as passengers along for your exciting ride!

Putting your creative skills into the world is some of the most rewarding and fulfilling work you’ll do. Don’t let delay divert your dreams. stretch into possibilities.

When we started Red & Rugged, we had no retail experience or background in selling upscale handcrafted gifts online. (Before 2020, some people turned their noses up at our online-only business; post-2020, we were suddenly so smart!) We had to learn it all. There were skills, client relationships, and processes that had to be figured out, so we did. I started at the ground level and ended up selling to global executives and accomplished business owners. One day at a time, one skill at a time.

What’s holding you back? As you ponder the answer, know that there is always something that can make building your business inconvenient or challenging. Decide that now is the right time, and you have all the skills you need to figure it out. You can choose to pivot, tweak, go a new direction, and get creative in your problem-solving. Ask for help, read, watch an instructional video, get coaching, etc. Embrace the feeling of having your own back and shining your light into the world. Part-time, full-time, or as a side business, it doesn’t matter. Either way, you’re putting your creative talents out there, willing to try, fail, alter the process, and go again to succeed. Rinse and repeat.

What if, a year from now you wake up and realize you’ve acquired a ton of new skills? You’re a whole different person - that is exciting! Imagine the possibilities when you stretch your capabilities.

Are you ready to make this your season of growth? To declare the time is now to put your creative talents into the world. Learn new skills, think differently, connect with customers, and step into the next version of yourself. If the answer is, heck yes! I invite you to join me in the Creatv Catalyst.

Stop Spinning in Place

Have you ever had weeks that feel like this? Tasks get sideways, and suddenly it feels like things are spinning out of control. One minute, there’s calm, and the next, priorities collide; new projects, client follow-ups, and content deadlines need our attention. Throw in a dash of unexpected events, and well, now it’s really exciting. Sometimes the number of decisions we need to make keeps us stuck in place. Reviewing, second-guessing. Left unchecked, our thinking can easily spin with indecision, but here’s a happier alternative.

Take one next step. Putting yourself in motion cuts the drama because now you’ve taken action. Remind yourself, this is the best next step with what I know today. Learn to move forward calmly and quickly, then execute and evaluate your plan.

Keep your focus forward and off constantly rehashing options. (My brain loves a good rehashing, so just know this takes practice.)

If you determine a change is necessary, then make that next decision. In six months, after taking one step each day, note the evidence of your massive action and that you’ve learned a ton. You’re a different, smarter person - be proud of that!

The savvy CEO you’re becoming does not lose large chunks of time and mental energy spinning in place; you are in motion, deciding and recalibrating while moving closer to your goals.

If you’re ready to take the next step in building a thriving business you love, join me in the Creatv Catalyst.

Let Luck Find a Path to Your Door

Luck, and being ready for it, is showing up all over my life - in my feeds, in conversations, in the newspapers I read, and on my favorite podcasts. I love that, and I don’t consider it a coincidence. I believe luck has a lot to do with our thinking. How’s your luckometer doing these days? Is it off the charts, or do you need to move the needle a bit?

While I don’t think we summon luck on demand, I believe it happens when you place yourself in environments or situations that make it easy for chance to fall in your favor. You make the proactive effort to be visible, raising the odds of an unexpected connection, crossing paths with that hard-to-reach client, or getting an introduction to an esteemed colleague.

A few years back, I was asked to speak at an event I thought wasn’t a great match for our business, but I decided to do it anyway. Something I said sparked a connection with an attendee, who referred me to their boss, leading to many valuable sales. You never know the good that can happen until you show up.

Maybe it’s time to invite luck over, to remind yourself to step out, visit customers, invest in the training, catch up with colleagues, send handwritten notes, and attend the event. Meet some new people. Think differently. Be open to new opportunities.

Let luck find an easy path to your doorstep.

If this inspires you to read more on the topic, Ina Garten has written a new book, Be Ready When the Luck Happens. (You may recognize her from the Food Network's “Barefoot Contessa.”) Although I’m not a huge cooking fan, I enjoy reading memoirs and biographies and look forward to learning from her stories.

If you’re ready to change your thinking and step into new opportunities, join me in the Creatv Catalyst.

The Ripple Effect

One of the most thought-provoking and positive things about sharing our journey online is the ability to impact people we’ll never meet.

We get caught up in our metrics and achieving new goals, and we forget that others may admire something entirely different. Our tendency is to keep the list of incomplete items front and center, so we can’t possibly miss it. We narrow our focus and skate over what we’ve accomplished and the lessons we’ve learned - how far we’ve come.

People are moved by more than success in your journey. You never know who’s watching and how they interpret your efforts. Often, you note failures and missed opportunities while others celebrate your persistence, willingness to get up and go again, and ability to learn, think differently, and do better next time. In other words, they aspire to your level of determination and growth, and just maybe, it encourages them to stand up and try one more time.

What do your kids see in your journey, your neighbor down the street, the struggling Mom in another state, your coworker down the hall, or the frustrated young woman around the globe? What if your work inspires one person to get up and try again for their goals, to believe in themselves enough to make a fresh start?

Your work has a powerful ripple effect. Keep showing up and moving toward your dream, and imagine the wave of women, young ladies, and students who are emboldened to do the same.

This is how we spark a movement of people who see and believe they can do what they love at work and play or how we generate a wave of new business owners who take the next step and bring their creative skills to the world. Let’s ride that wave.

Where the Magic Happens

When the box is opened, the outfit is worn, or the photos are framed—whatever your creative element—having clients select, share, and celebrate your work is one of the most fulfilling aspects of running a business.

Most people quit before they reach this moment because getting here means talking to people they’ve never met and facing rejection. It also means fulfillment, satisfaction, and pride.

As you look to build your business, I encourage you to stop spinning in the comfort of the creative process and step into the power and growth of making client connections. Imagine the impact of your work helping one family today, inspiring one person, or elevating one customer’s experience.

Meeting future clients allows you to talk about your product, see what flows naturally, and determine where you need more thought and practice. You’ll hear questions that never occur to you. Why? Because we’re too close to our work. You don’t know what assumptions you’ve made until someone comments or inquires about something you thought was obvious. This is how we learn. This is how you make your offer more succinct. It’s how you get to your big dreams.

When the voice of doubt creeps in, be proactive and redirect that noise. What if it all goes great?! You’ll meet new people and glean valuable feedback no matter what happens. Like it or not, it’s all tied together. This is the road to success. Be willing to make the video, have the call, and go on the appointment.

From your client’s perspective, they appreciate a genuine conversation over a slick sales deck. They know when you’ve done your research and hear the passion as you share how your product adds value to their life or business. Even if they don’t buy today, this is how long-term relationships are built.

Connection is where the magic happens.