Small Business Life

Overwhelm is one of the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs experience on a daily basis. The definition of overwhelm, according to The Brainy Dictionary is, “To cover over completely, as by a great wave; to overflow and bury beneath; to engulf; hence, figuratively, to immerse and bear down; to overpower; to crush; to bury; to oppress, etc., overpoweringly.” Whew…sound familiar? I’ve been there, too, so I understand -it’s not a fun place to be.

As a business owner, with a full personal life as well, you don’t have to look very far to understand why it’s easy to often feel over the edge. It’s not just that you’re simply juggling a lot - as an entrepreneur, you are also risking a lot - your money, your reputation, your future. Being an entrepreneur is a commendable pair of shoes to step into. And, if you don’t get a handle on understanding overwhelm you might as well buy stock in Band-Aids to deal with the painful blisters on your feet.

Believe it or not, it is possible to change your relationship with overwhelm enabling you to experience a better quality of day to day life. Here are my 10 tips for turning overwhelm around. If you want them to work - you will need to carve out the time to practice them, that’s if you agree with the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Read More

I am either incredibly foolish or very fortunate. Last year my husband and I ventured to go against well meaning advice and decided to build a house. Not just any house, but a completely custom straw bale house. For those of you new to alternative building - straw bale is an incredibly efficient, well proven, green method of insulating a traditional timber frame house. Read More

Sex, death and money are three topics guaranteed to get attention. You don’t have to think about it for long to realize why. They all hold a fundamental, primal link with being human; we can’t live without any of them. Clearly, as a species, sex is how we get here; it secures the future of our kind. Understandably it occupies a good part of our western culture mind. Death, on the other hand, is inescapable and mysterious –the inevitability of it provides the grist for living, the urge for purpose and meaning.

Money on the other hand seems to trump both sex and death in terms of our obsessive relationship to it and our confusion about what it is. While necessary for survival as a participant in society, it’s not directly linked with life and death, yet, many of us relate to it as if our lives depend on it. Here’s a news flash – it’s not. Read More

Your life as an entrepreneur - hard work, dedication, taking risks, being fearless - you know what I’m talking about. It takes inspiration, willingness to be out of the comfort zone and lots and lots of energy to keep your businesses going day after day, week after week.

My life has been turned upside down this spring. In addition to building a house (which is enough excitement and stress for a lifetime) I lost a loved one, had a family member diagnosed with cancer, and have been nursing my entire family, including myself through a zapping dose of spring illness for almost a month now. Read More

I’m going to share a very personal story. My sister-in-law (who was a devoted entrepreneur herself) was recently killed in an automobile accident - clearly a tragic event that has changed me forever. As part of the healing process I’d like to share with you some of the valuable lessons I’m learning as both as a business owner and as a human being. Read More

“Everything is always impossible before it works. That is what entrepreneurs are all about – doing what people have told them is impossible.” Hunt Green, Venture Capitalist

“It will never work,” Rick told Bill after seeing his unique body care product line. “How do you expect to be successful in the shadow of the other companies making similar products?” he asked.

Janet gently inquired of her friend, “Jonathan, an electronic device, no bigger than a business card that stores 1000 songs on it – I don’t think so…” Read More

It’s been said that behind every successful entrepreneur is a passion - a passion to create, a passion to express, a passion to fulfill a dream. Do you know your passion? If so, good for you, If you don’t, I’ll bet my question generates a sinking feeling in your gut - like you’re missing out on some luscious gift every other entrepreneur experiences - but you. Read More

As a life and business coach I have the privilege of working with groups of entrepreneurs as well as individuals to help them reach their business goals and potential. I’m about to launch year two of a business development program created by a local business incubator I’ve been hired by. It’s my auspicious task to select the five - up and coming, most promising entrepreneurs (out of about 20 applicants) who will be offered the opportunity to participate in this business growth and life changing program. Read More