Star charts were an incredible tool for motivating us to do our chores when we were kids. As adults, we no longer need a chart to remind us to do the dishes and go to work. But perhaps a star chart would be a helpful tool in our professional lives.

It is easy to let emotions take hold and prevent you from moving forward. Having a dog that runs anxiety induced circles has taught me that breaking the cycle of our emotions requires a lot of effort and different techniques. It is important to take the steps when you find yourself running in circles if you want to keep moving forward.

As the early-release week wrapped up, we were exhausted, but had survived. However, I was disappointed, feeling as if I had failed to move the need or meet my expectations for the week. It was a good reminder that we need to calibrate expectations to reality.

Frozen 2’s “Lost in the woods” song provides a great metaphor for business owners that regularly navigate uncertainty and corresponds to good reminders about the benefit of a roadmap.

Marching bands use drums to keep everyone in step and moving with the rhythm of the music. Every business has a rhythm. Some rhythms are even and consistent, others syncopated. The rhythm of your business is what will keep the team moving in the right direction. What’s your rhythm?

To fully understand where you need to go, you first need to know where you are. Identify where you are on your roadmap and you’ll be better positioned to efficiently achieve your objectives. And that could lead to an opportunity for delicious cookies.

Does a newsletter serve my business’s purpose? I asked the question and answered with a resounding yes.

Last week was all about giving thanks. I find that "Thank You" is an incredibly powerful statement. I have so many people to thank for all that they've done to make me who I am. Let's not forget the impact a simple "Thank You" can have.

There are thousands of reasons people make the leap into business ownership, but that may not end up being what you enjoy most about the work of your business. After some time has passed, the excitement and enjoyment of taking the leap can be replaced by the exhaustion of trying to make it successful.

The struggle is real. Monotony is real. We can get through this together.

2020 has been a struggle for focus and consistent productivity. I've pulled together the tips that have worked best for me to kick distraction to the curb (at least temporarily).

As business owners and leaders, it is easy to look at the plan you had for 2020, throw it out the window and swear off building a new plan. You might be thinking there is no reason to have a plan when everything is so unpredictable.

We are all dealing with a lot and it has an impact on our mental, emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. It's harder to focus with so much to take in and digest. There are steps we can take to regain our focus.

It didn’t take many rounds of Chutes and Ladders to see how the game mimics running a business. The valleys and peaks of running a business align with the chutes and ladders that send you backward and fling you forward while trying to reach your goal.

We’ve all been there. Big and small wrenches completely out of our control are thrown at us when we least expect it. We are suddenly sideswiped by something we could have never anticipated, and every facet of life is impacted.

In our current environment, I feel like I am losing control of everything. I know I’m not alone. These are a few of the steps I've taken to get through my feelings of losing control.

Are your core values guiding the many critical decisions you are making for your business?

But when I realized that certain structures and routines could help get my team all moving in the same direction and focused on the right activities, I realized the benefits that can come with a predictable schedule.