Lessons from the Rearview

Over the years of my entrepreneurship journey, I’ve built things I love, and I’ve closed things down. That’s how it works. I discovered that my “wrong” decisions were counted by others as valuable experience. (Perspective can be hard to hold when you’re “in the thick of it” as a business owner.) Opportunities appeared because people saw a foundation of knowledge and strength, and knew I could inspire and educate those just starting. I saw moments one way, others saw them differently. Now, I know better.

What past experiences are you rehashing and seeing only the negative? What if you redirect your thinking? Consider your pivotal moments, note what you learned, and the skills you acquired. Maybe now you’re thinking differently, practicing better communication, focusing, and know the difference between a projection and a miracle.

What if you pull confidence from these moments? Acknowledge your strong foundation and let go of constant comparisons to a perfect scenario.

Celebrate that you are either winning or learning, and both serve you well.

If you’re ready to stop retelling old stories and build your strong foundation, join me in my current coaching capsule, Dial Into Your Brilliance. You’ll find the details here.

Relax Into a Refined Plan

A few deep breaths and an air of calm haven’t always been how I approach a new project. My early years were fueled by intensity and determination, backed by passion. These are helpful traits to access when entering a new chapter. However, a steady diet of intensity without a sprinkle of calm isn’t healthy. Like me, I’m guessing you’ve been there? I eventually learned that the addition of slow, peaceful moments is when the insights, ideas, and inspired planning come together.

It may seem ironic that allowing space to pause amid work schedules and commitments is what creates clarity. It’s true. Being open, moving lighter lets you write, think, and solve problems more clearly. Ease cracks open space for ideas to float to the surface.

This natural flow of ideas is what feeds your vision, whether it’s of next month or next year. The proactive choice to make time, focus on your future, and imagine what excites you draws you forward. And, when your day goes sideways, it’s your vision that brings you home, reminds you of your priorities, and the next step in your plan.

If you hold no vision, then you move at the whim of others. Your energy is drained by the lack of a cohesive thread or direction; it’s a road to nowhere. Don’t let reckless and random define your days. Instead, choose a relaxed approach to refine your plan and enjoy this next chapter.

If you're feeling the frustration of bouncing between what others think and dragging yourself across imaginary finish lines, it’s time to pause and take a breath. Refresh and reset. I invite you to join me in Dial Into Your Brilliance. It’s my new coaching capsule. I’m excited to be your guide as you define the next steps of your sustainable, fulfilling plan.

What if Your Vision Fits Your Life?

Are you holding on to your current life so tight that your dreams are slipping away? I talk to women who work so hard for what they have and think their only option is to choose between their dreams and the life they have today. What if it’s possible to create space, a world where you continue your growth and fulfillment, and savor what’s fun and fabulous in your life?

create a vision that savors the fulfilling, the fun, and the fabulous

There’s no magic wand required; it comes down to three things. Getting clear on what you want, defining next steps, and being devoted to your priorities.

Gaining clarity means first choosing your non-negotiables. What are the joys, the activities, the things that are the most important in your life? These elements remain a priority, and your body of work or business is threaded around them. Family gatherings, date night, dinner with friends, your art, journaling, reading, travel, long walks, etc. What is the life you’re creating?

Once you set your non-negotiables, you weave the work you love around these areas. This is the time to refresh and refine your plan. Write down the steps you want to take this quarter and add them to your calendar. Then, step back and take a look at what you’ve created. Does this schedule excite you, feel inspiring, offer you a chance to stretch and grow? Or are you exhausted looking at it? Be real. Move, extend, or change what doesn’t feel right in this chapter of your life. Your calendar speaks volumes, and as a smart, capable individual, you decide your timeline and path forward.

Lastly, being devoted to your schedule and to the priorities you’ve set makes all other decisions easy. It allows you to avoid temptations and time-wasters disguised as opportunities, activities that move you off track, and derail your plan. Because you take the time to get clear and make thoughtful decisions, you can say “yes” or “no” with confidence, choosing to stick to your plan and the exciting life you’re building.

As the CEO of your life, revisit and refresh your plan. Savor the fun and fulfillment with a vision that fits your next vibrant chapter.

Permission to Simplify

I heard a woman tell her friend that she was now in her late sixties and realized she didn’t want to work until 5 o’clock every day. It was a routine she had always done, and she decided to change it. When was the last time you took a moment to revisit your routine? This woman shared that she now works fewer days, and less hours. “I’ve earned it!” she declared.

Most of us entering what I fondly call the “seasoned and savvy” years were raised in an era of rigid job environments. Working from home wasn’t a real thing yet, and personal appointments? All squeezed into your lunch hour or after work. Sound familiar? I’ve caught myself in this pattern many times. It’s no wonder I hear so many women looking for a refresh.

Today, grant yourself permission to simplify. Instead of racing into the next project, take a moment to reset.

Notice how often your mind tries to turn back to old, ingrained work habits. While there is always more to do as a business owner, there is also more time than we tell ourselves. Watch how often your brain suggests that more work and more hours are the only answer.

This time, question your thinking. Redirect with one simple question: How can I make this easy? Your answers might surprise you. You can continue to learn and grow without the stress and pressure. Choose to simplify.

Here are examples of how to invite more ease into your plan:

• Can you expand your timeline by a day, a week, or a month? Not from the energy of procrastination or fear, but from a place of completing the details with a fresh and rested perspective.

• Can you launch your project in two stages instead of finishing everything upfront? This allows you to keep moving forward with flexibility.

• Who can help you? It takes a village.

• Do you need to fully bake every step in your plan? Or, can you begin with solid first steps and outline the rest? Tweak and update as you go.

As you explore ways to simplify, avoid letting your mind turn to thoughts of shutting the whole idea down or giving up. That’s not the point of a refresh. When you find yourself white-knuckling, limiting your creativity, or struggling to enjoy the flow of ideas, take a step back.

Adjusting your plan comes with the confidence of having a strong, centered foundation. It’s what I call dialing into your brilliance. Once you’ve dialed in to who you’re becoming and where you’re headed, every decision becomes much easier.

Navigating the Unexpected

How do you navigate change when the waters turn murky and the way forward shifts without warning? You’re more in control than you think.

Clients, colleagues, and friends are adjusting to unexpected changes impacting their lives in immediate and unpredictable ways. If you enjoy life long enough, this is part of the journey. I have been there many times.

I used to believe I had no control over this. Now, I know how I think about these challenges will either slow or speed the arrival of my next opportunity.

With time and intention, we add skills, resources, and different ways of thinking to our toolbox. These skills help you process situations with grace, self-love, and determination. Know that on the other side of uncertainty are opportunities and new beginnings. Keep moving forward.

As Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson says, “We learn to deal with hard better.”

When you find yourself navigating change, drop these two skills into your mental toolbox to guide you to your next opportunity:

Look through the lens of possibility. Revisit your past experiences, capture your milestone moments, and turning points. Look with an eye on the lessons and skills you extracted from both the good and the grind. Write down each skill you gained. What happened, and what skills translate to your next chapter? (Resilience, calm in crisis, project management?)

Adjust your perspective, not focused on an industry, company, or employer. Note all you gained that is useful and sets you apart - communication, problem solving, team leadership, or something else? Craft your unique founder story (Read more on this here.), meaning your foundation story, whether you’re entering a new job, career, or launching a business. Tell your story of inspiration and growth. Be proud of what you’ve accomplished, overcome, and learned.

Adopt “yes, and…” thinking, create a path forward. Acknowledge that things aren’t great, recognize you’re in the midst of sadness or challenges, AND that you can take one step forward. Don’t stop at rehashing circumstances; add the “and” to finish with what’s next: And, I can call a friend for help, write the email, brainstorm ideas, or rest. It’s a subtle shift that makes a big difference. You’re not dwelling on the situation; you open a way forward. Catch yourself next time you’re tempted to stop at the crisis thinking, add the “and” to see how it pulls you forward.

This isn’t the time to shrink. Stay the course, be proactive with what’s in your sights that inspires and elevates your thinking. Learning to navigate the unexpected will lead to your next vibrant chapter.