Be transparent

Being cryptic about change is almost a surefire way to make your employees feel uneasy, distrustful, and potentially fearful of their future with the company. Even if the change your company is undergoing comes with ambiguity, your message to the team should be clear and transparent. 

To the best of your ability, explain why priorities are shifting and include what led to the decision, what it means for your team, and what hasn’t changed. 

Take time to answer your team's questions. If you don't know the answer to a question, let your employees know you'll find out the answer and follow up with them. 

And do remember to follow up! This kind of transparency builds trust, especially during uncertain times.

 

Key question: “Am I sharing enough context for my team to feel informed and not blindsided?”

Motivation Isn’t the Key

 Let’s be real for a second...

You’re not going to feel 100% motivated every minute of every day. No one does.

In fact, some of the most successful entrepreneurs, athletes, and leaders admit they’ve built their careers on the days they didn’t feel like showing up — but did anyway.

That’s not motivation.

That’s discipline.

Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.

Whether you’re building a business, chasing a dream, or just trying to get through the week with purpose — discipline is what turns effort into momentum, and momentum into real progress.

Here’s the truth most people won’t say:

 You don’t need a perfect morning routine.

 You don’t need to feel ready.

 You just need to commit to one decision today that your future self will thank you for.

And if you’re reading this… you already care more than most.

So, take the next step. Even if it’s small.

Because one disciplined action today can change your whole week — or even your life.

Fore!!!

I'm standing at a golf course, watching a five-year-old at his group golf clinic. He hits a good shot and gets super excited. A few swings later, he misses completely.

His excitement disappears. He's disappointed, convinced he'll never be able to do this.

When he gets to putting, he's struggling. "I'll never hit the hole," he says, deflated.

"Look around," I tell him. "Not a single person here hit it either. It's about practicing repetitions and getting a feel for it."

But watching him swing between pure joy and crushing defeat, I realize I'm seeing something bigger. These ups and downs are exactly what running a business feels like.

One day you're on top of the world. The next day, you're convinced you've lost your touch. The emotional rollercoaster is identical.

What strikes me most is how he responds to encouragement. When I acknowledge any improvement, even the near misses, his whole demeanor changes.

That positive reinforcement transforms him instantly.

This is what we all need in business. The ups and downs aren't the problem...they're part of learning. But we forget to give ourselves and our people the encouragement that makes the difference.

How often do I celebrate the near misses?

How often do I reinforce positive results, even when the final outcome isn't perfect?

We get so focused on hitting the hole that we forget progress happens through repetition, through getting a feel for it, through hearing "good try" when we're getting closer.

That little guy is still learning. But with the right encouragement, he can't wait to practice again.

The fastest way to earn replies...

Most still think personalization means dropping a company name or referencing the prospect’s college. 

That’s table stakes, and buyers see through it.

What actually cuts through is when you share something about their business they don’t already know:

*A competitor’s move

*A market shift

*A signal they’re ignoring

This is wild how fast it flips the dynamic: instead of you chasing them, they lean in and want to hear more.

The trick is to package the insight in a way that flows naturally into your value prop. 

Don’t overcomplicate it.

The last year with kids at home.

It’s our last year with kids at home. My middle daughter will transfer to a 4-year college next year, and my youngest will be off for her first year of college. 

My youngest and I started taking afternoon hikes in the woods a couple times a week. We realized something important:

Both of us spend most of our days under pressure. I’m running a business and my guess is most of you run your own business so you know all the pressures that come with that. And my daughter is a top student working toward medical school. Both of our lives often seem to be measured in outcomes, deadlines, and performance.

But when we hike? That all disappears.

For an hour, we’re not do-ers.
We’re be-ers.
No pressure. No performance. No outcome attached.
Just being. (Bonus that we get to BE together).

And maybe I’m old fashioned. Maybe it’s rooted in my family traditions, but I think that’s exactly the way it should be.

When you’re running your own business, it can feel impossible to turn it off. There’s always one more thing you could be doing. But the truth is, if you don’t give yourself permission to rest, your creativity, energy, and clarity will eventually dry up.

Any day can be the perfect reset button. A day to step out of the constant doing and into simply being. To let yourself nurture the part of you that isn’t tied to work or achievement.

I hope that you just poured a first or second cup of coffee. Maybe you’re still in lounge wear. Or maybe you’re getting ready to rally your family for church. Maybe you have an activity filled day planned or maybe you’re just going to relax at home together.

Whatever your plans are, I hope you find some sense of BEING today. 

Remember, high achiever, rest is not wasted time.
It fuels you for everything that comes next.

Most businesses think they need a massive overhaul to get better.

In 2004, me and my buddies joined an adult softball league. It seemed like a good excuse to hang out every week and drink beer.

Some of us played baseball in high-school but that didn't stop us from finishing at the bottom of the league for a few years...

Eventually I became the player coach because someone had to do it.

That's when I started tracking statistics. Batting averages. On-base percentages. Who drove in runs.

The numbers didn't lie (and they definitely didn't make me look good).

Over the next couple of seasons, we became a team that knew our numbers and actually tried.

In 2009, we were still long shots...

There was a team that had won every single game that season. And somehow, we made it to the championship against them.

It's been so long that I don't remember the exact score. But as a true underdog story, we won in a close game.

I still have the trophy. But what stuck with me was how much we improved because we tracked the numbers and adjusted our game plan to them.

Most businesses think they need a massive overhaul to get better.

They don't. They need to start measuring what actually matters. Then act on it.

If you don't pay attention to the most important processes in your business, you waste time, money, and energy...

Do I have the right CPA?

It's a question many business owners avoid—until tax season hits, deductions are missed, and tax savings opportunities slip through the cracks.

Your CPA should be more than someone who files your taxes once a year. 

They should be a strategic tax advisory partner who:

• Proactively identifies tax-saving opportunities throughout the year
• Responds promptly when you need guidance
• Helps you plan for growth, not just report on the past

If you're unsure whether your current CPA is saving your business money on taxes, it might be time to take a 60-second survey and see if they have found these benefits for your business!

Or, if you like, book a 10-minute call and bring your CPA!!

Success has to be redefined.

For so long, we’ve been told that success is about the title on our business card, the size of our paycheck, or how many hours we can push through in a week. But deep down, we all know that isn’t the whole story. True success doesn’t come from grinding ourselves into the ground—it comes from building a life that actually feels good, not just one that looks good on paper.

That’s why we’ve come to believe success has to be redefined. It’s not just about one area—it’s about the whole picture. If your career is thriving but your health is suffering, or if your finances look great but your family life feels empty, something’s missing. Real success weaves all of these parts together so that when one area grows, the others are supported too.

So here’s my encouragement for you today: take a step back and ask yourself, “What does success really mean for me?” Not what the world says, not what your boss or even your family expects—but for you. When we start measuring success by how well we’re living across all areas of our lives, we not only create more balance, we create more joy.

Do not wait for your clients to say they're ready to renew or expand.

If you're waiting, you're already behind.

News flash.... Renewals and expansion opportunities don't announce themselves. (Extremely rare nowadays if they do)

Good news for you though is that there are hidden signals, but it takes proactivity and listening to find them.

It could be increased product usage, org changes, new initiatives, organizational signals, upcoming important deadlines, and more.

Additionally, you could encounter priority shifts, requests for further support, or even simply silence after a heavy engagement period.

These aren't just 'random,' but they lead to bigger and more impactful conversations. (Be curious)

You HAVE to anticipate needs, uncover value, and show up with proactive insights, recommendations, and ideas before they're asked.

Remember, renewals and cross sell expansion opportunities are earned, not given.

What you listen for today could be the opportunity you close tomorrow.

How will you show up?