Hi Reader, When you’re building something new and ambitious, feeling fear is natural. It’s that shiver down your spine before stepping onto a stage, or the goosebumps when you hit “publish” for the first time. But fear, like all emotions, is just a signal – it's telling you: this matters, pay attention. A little fear is healthy. It sharpens your senses, like the tense music in a haunted house. Panic, on the other hand, is dangerous. It scrambles your thinking, pushing you to make rash...
11 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Over the last few years, I’ve experimented with a lot: social media videos, podcasts, this newsletter, different coaching methods, website layouts, lead magnets, digital tools, program designs, in-person events, different taglines on my business cards. Some of it stuck. Some of it flopped. All of it taught me something. There's value in spreading out — exploring widely, experimenting with new ideas, and stretching your belief about what you're capable of creating. Spreading out...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Kodak once dominated photography. In the 1970s, they even invented the digital camera. But they didn’t pursue it. Why? They were confident film would always be king. That's complacency. They scoffed at new innovations, taking their success for granted. Contrast that with James Dyson. He built over 5,000 prototypes before perfecting the bagless vacuum. That’s persistence. With every failure, he stayed curious. Or Sara Blakely. She hacked a pair of pantyhose into a Spanx prototype...
25 days ago • 1 min read
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...
about 1 month 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 –...
about 1 month 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...
about 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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,...
2 months ago • 2 min read