Hi Reader, Over the past few years, I've been observing patterns. In my 1:1 coaching sessions and interviews with new entrepreneurs, I’ve noticed that new business owners often wrestle with the same types of challenges. On the surface their experiences are quite different – a cider orchard, a toy store, an innovative startup focused on getting communities to work, and many more. But, when you dive in, their stories are remarkably similar. If I were to group them, I’d put them into four...
10 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Starbucks started as a neighborhood coffee shop. Their story was about the café experience – a place to gather, connect, and enjoy the art of coffee (mmm, coffee ☕). Then, in the late ’90s, seeking additional growth, the brand leapt into the grocery aisle, selling coffee beans, bottled Frappuccinos, and eventually K-Cups. Starbucks wasn’t just serving regular café visitors anymore. They were reaching whole new groups of customers who might never walk into one of their stores –...
17 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I remember when Apple launched the iPod back in 2001. To casual observers, myself included at the time, it might have seemed like an odd move – here was a personal computer company suddenly releasing a music player: Why would they do that? In reality, Apple was building on what they already did best: designing user-friendly devices for creative people (their true fans). The iPod wasn’t a departure; it was an extension. For the month of September, we're focused on strengthening your...
24 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, I last went to Disneyland in 2022 with my daughter. We did all the classics: photos by the castle, Dumbo (multiple times), the Teacups, churros (again, multiple), and yes – I got the R2-D2 ears, of course. Disney knows I’ll be back. Not just because of nostalgia, but because they invest strategically to make sure of it. They keep refreshing the experience for the same audience, giving people new reasons to return. You may not have a multi-billion-dollar park, but you can refresh...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Most businesses start here: You’ve got something that works. You’ve found a few customers. Now you want more of them. That’s Market Development: you're trying to sell your existing offer to new people. It's a pretty foundational growth strategy and an ideal place to start because it forces you to really refine the story you're telling. For the month of September, we're focused on strengthening your sales & marketing through storytelling. Each week, I'll offer tips, questions, and...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, At least once a week, usually around dinner time, the doorbell chimes. I glance at my phone, pull up the doorbell camera, and there they are: a salesperson making their rounds. Solar panels, new windows, knives, car detailing — you name it. Most of the time, I ignore them. But when I do engage, the tactics are predictable: quick attempts at trust, appeals to social proof — “we just helped your neighbors save a ton of money.” To me, it feels no different than a spam call, a cold DM,...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, As I transition out of summer mode and back into work mode, I’m using a familiar tool: Start / Stop / Continue. It’s simple. And it works — as long as you’re cool to occasionally look in the mirror, slow down to notice your behavior and energy, thoughtfully critique yourself, and do the hard work of self-improvement. But, hey, who isn’t? 😅 Personally, after time off, I’m always itching to do exercises like these — I can’t wait to recommit to my daily rituals and consider which...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Trying something new? Great – just don't expect it to go perfectly. Not trying to be a downer. This is about mental preparation. Thomas Edison once said of inventing: “the first step is an intuition – and comes with a burst – then difficulties arise.” (Shoutout to my favorite book and regular re-read, The Obstacle Is The Way, for introducing me to this quote.) I've felt this too. New projects start with a natural inertia (and a dopamine spike in the brain as the reward system kicks...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, It’s been a great summer. Retreating to the Midwest, I journaled and read books in the morning, I swam with my kids, I sat outside watching the robins, cardinals, and blue jays. I intentionally took my foot off the gas pedal, I slowed down, and it felt good. But now? It's time to get back into the swing of things. New goals, refreshed focus, back into Get $#*% Done (GSD) mode. At least, part of me wants that to be true… I find myself craving the usual sense of achievement I'm...
2 months ago • 1 min read