Trash TalkI walked into a Weight Watchers (now WW) group meeting many years ago even though I didn't think the program would work for me. I'd done it before with minimal success. In the end, I was right, but at some point, I realized I wasn't staying for the program or any hope for long-lasting weight loss but for the group leader and her weekly talks. Gloria was a Weight Watchers success story. She'd been working for the company for decades and leading that specific group for half a dozen years or…Keep Reading
Wake-up CallSo, just like that I went from Netflix and chillin' to feeling the pressure of Q2 in the blink of an eye. I've got a lot going on over the next several months, and I feel like I'm staring at a mountain of prep work. I mentioned this to a client and asked if she ever felt like this. She laughed and said, "Lauren, that's just a typical Sunday for me." "OK," I said, "Then, let's both work on that!" Interestingly, I recently came across a 2021 study that found over 80% of people experience what…Keep Reading
How Does Your Garden Grow?Last week I gave my friend some sage gardening advice, which is funny because I live in an apartment and have probably killed as many plants as I have successfully kept alive over the years. My friend, who lives in New England, was lamenting that her lovely garden still sat dormant. She worried that nothing would bloom this year because last year, by this time, sprouts were everywhere, and trees were already budding. I told her to wait a week or two. Last winter was much warmer than this…Keep Reading
The Greatest Gift I celebrated a birthday since my last post but not in the way we traditionally think of celebrating. I didn't have a party, go out with my friends or family, or tick something off my bucket list. The closest I came to a traditional celebration was when my brother's family sang to me over the phone. Before, during, and after the day, many folks asked me what I was doing to celebrate, expecting me to answer with plans. But, the truth is, this year, my birthday was all about not having plans. My…Keep Reading
No Harm in AskingLast week, I advised you to Hope for the Best, and this week is no different as it relates to gathering feedback and testimonials. Having systems and processes in place to manage this critical aspect of your business is really important and not least because it reinforces your own understanding of what is working and what needs work so you can focus on the right things. Yet, there are times when your customer input actually serves a more important purpose—it bolsters your confidence and…Keep Reading
A Frog A Day…Have you ever heard the Mark Twain quote, "Eat a live frog in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day?" Several years ago, I was reminded of this quote when another entrepreneur said that he "ate a frog" each morning as a way to get through his daily task list. I laughed, but he was serious. Eating a frog has become a productivity 'hack' for many entrepreneurs and independent consultants. It means doing the most challenging and unpalatable thing first to get it…Keep Reading
I walked into a Weight Watchers (now WW) group meeting many years ago even though I didn't think the program would work for me. I'd done it before with minimal success. In the end, I was right, but at some point, I realized I wasn't staying for the program or any hope for long-lasting weight loss but for the group leader and her weekly talks. Gloria was a Weight Watchers success story. She'd been working for the company for decades and leading that specific group for half a dozen years or…Keep Reading
So, just like that I went from Netflix and chillin' to feeling the pressure of Q2 in the blink of an eye. I've got a lot going on over the next several months, and I feel like I'm staring at a mountain of prep work. I mentioned this to a client and asked if she ever felt like this. She laughed and said, "Lauren, that's just a typical Sunday for me." "OK," I said, "Then, let's both work on that!" Interestingly, I recently came across a 2021 study that found over 80% of people experience what…Keep Reading
Last week I gave my friend some sage gardening advice, which is funny because I live in an apartment and have probably killed as many plants as I have successfully kept alive over the years. My friend, who lives in New England, was lamenting that her lovely garden still sat dormant. She worried that nothing would bloom this year because last year, by this time, sprouts were everywhere, and trees were already budding. I told her to wait a week or two. Last winter was much warmer than this…Keep Reading
I celebrated a birthday since my last post but not in the way we traditionally think of celebrating. I didn't have a party, go out with my friends or family, or tick something off my bucket list. The closest I came to a traditional celebration was when my brother's family sang to me over the phone. Before, during, and after the day, many folks asked me what I was doing to celebrate, expecting me to answer with plans. But, the truth is, this year, my birthday was all about not having plans. My…Keep Reading
Last week, I advised you to Hope for the Best, and this week is no different as it relates to gathering feedback and testimonials. Having systems and processes in place to manage this critical aspect of your business is really important and not least because it reinforces your own understanding of what is working and what needs work so you can focus on the right things. Yet, there are times when your customer input actually serves a more important purpose—it bolsters your confidence and…Keep Reading
Have you ever heard the Mark Twain quote, "Eat a live frog in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day?" Several years ago, I was reminded of this quote when another entrepreneur said that he "ate a frog" each morning as a way to get through his daily task list. I laughed, but he was serious. Eating a frog has become a productivity 'hack' for many entrepreneurs and independent consultants. It means doing the most challenging and unpalatable thing first to get it…Keep Reading