Hi Reader, Who’s your business really for? Your ideal client/customer is the person your work truly resonates with – the one who needs what you offer and values it deeply. Defining your ideal client/customer starts with three questions: What do they want? (Ease? Status? Connection?) What defines them? (Bold? Thoughtful? Curious?) What’s their struggle? (Time? Money? Belonging?) For example, if you sell candles, your ideal client might be an eco-conscious minimalist who values quality and...
11 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Today is my birthday and I’m reflecting on the things in my life that bring me joy. This newsletter is one of them. 😊 🎈 Thank you for being a subscriber to this newsletter – I’m incredibly grateful. Behind the scenes, I’m working hard to grow 321 Liftoff and I could use your support. If you continue to find value in the ideas and insights I share every week, I’d appreciate it if you could take the next 5 minutes to complete one or both of the following actions. First, leave a...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, We’ve all seen the flashy promises: “Follow these five steps and watch your business skyrocket!” or “My secret formula will make you rich overnight!” Here’s the truth: sustainable success isn’t built on shortcuts. It’s built on staying alert, making smart decisions, and doing the work. That doesn’t mean opportunities aren’t out there – they are! But the key is to approach them with discernment – the ability to judge well and distinguish between what’s worth pursuing and what isn’t....
25 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Michael Porter – the godfather of business strategy said: “the essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” He’s saying that you need to do a few things really well and outsource the rest. You don’t want to overextend yourself. You need to stay focused. But, it’s deeper than that. He’s also talking about building a strategic, competitive advantage over other players in your field. What are those things that you’re known for – that only you can do? For example, if you make great...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I recently re-listened to an episode of How I Built This with Guy Raz from last year. In this episode, Guy sits down with organizational psychologist, Adam Grant. This quote from Adam struck a chord: "The [entrepreneurs] who managed to have repeat success and bounce back—and forward—from failure are the ones who invest their egos in their future growth as opposed to their present comfort." It’s easy to protect your ego by retreating when you experience setbacks. But real growth...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Your values aren’t just words – they’re the foundation for meaningful decisions in your life and business. When you let your values guide you, you create alignment between what you do and what matters most to you. For example, one of my values is "Play" and I use it to remind myself to meet obstacles with a smile, to choose to have fun solving a new puzzle (work problem), to frame setbacks as new opportunities to learn and stretch my skills. I’ve found that when my actions align...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, As a small business owner, your time and energy are precious resources. One way to protect them and amp up your productivity is by creating Standard Work – clear, repeatable process for your most essential tasks. Think of Standard Work as the foundation of your operations. By documenting how you do something (like onboarding a client or processing an order), you set yourself up for consistent output. Once the process is in place, you can focus your mental energy on improving it...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Sales and profit are obvious factors that drive your financial performance as a business. But, if you have a leaky bucket, adding more water won't get you very far. Therefore, you need to improve business performance to lower costs, create efficiency, and protect your profit margin, so you can continue growing your business with confidence. Strong operations and execution can patch the leaks. In this article, I share 2 metrics to help you reflect on your business’ operational...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Here’s the thing about work: there’s always more to do. No matter how much you accomplish, your to-do list will keep growing. That’s why working at a sustainable pace isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity. It’s easy to push yourself too hard, thinking you’ll catch up “after this one thing is done." But habits are built (good or bad) with every choice. Burnout is sneaky. It whispers in your ear to "keep going," fooling you into running at max capacity. I’ve had to find ways to keep...
2 months ago • 1 min read