I will joyfully admit, I am one of the nerdy folks who gets unusually excited about planning.

I love, love, love to plan. Crafting a well-defined map of how I am going to get from A to Z (with all the roads in between), is incredibly inspiring, and lights me up in ways I can’t even describe. 

I know not everyone feels this way, but more often than not, I find my clients leaning into my enthusiasm for planning.

What's important for all of us to remember, however, is that even the best-laid plans are subject to change. 

I think it's the nature of life and business. 

So, what are we to do when life gets in the way and our plans get derailed? 

My recent experience with the month-long flu was a good reminder of how we can experience a big interruption or setback, and still achieve or make progress toward our goals. 

I was excited to finish the year strong and had my Q4 plans dialed in. I was particularly excited as this quarter's...

Did you know that the average small business owner works 52-hours a week?

And, for many small business owners (my past self included) that number is far greater. The lines between business and life have become so blurred that work can encompass most of our time.

It’s our first thought when we wake, and extends all the way to the late-night problem-solving sessions we entertain before sleep. 

Many of us have come to accept the “cult of overworking”.  We have succumbed to the pressure of being “always-on” and wear our “busyness” as a badge of honor.

We glorify work as if productivity and wealth are the only measures of success. 

Yet, stories from the finish line, say otherwise. One common regret from the dying in their last days is, “I wish I hadn’t worked so much”, and would have spent more time on meaningful activities and relationships. 

Contrary to standard belief, more is not...

Confession time…

I used to be one of those people who would constantly complain about being “SO busy”.  I had dozens of excuses about why there wasn’t enough time to: work out, spend more time with my husband or girlfriends, take time off, make healthy meals for myself, etc. All the activities that I really wanted to be doing, but convinced myself that there wasn’t the “time to make it happen”. 

I know many of you can relate. 

And, truth be told, I was completely guilty of prioritizing “busy work”. I would fill up my days and weeks with low-value activities, instead of the things that actually create more freedom in my business or joy in my personal life. 

For me, I could easily waste a good 2 - 3 hours of my day (both work & at home) by: 

Business owners have a serious obsession with productivity.

And, with good reason. Generally, more productivity translates to a better bottom line.

I have several tricks up my sleeve for creating more efficiency and productivity throughout my workday. These strategies have allowed me to accomplish more without increasing my to-do list.

But, I return again and again to my #1 productivity booster, which I refer to as the 3R’s:

Rest. Relax. Refuel.

Before I created YBBL, I was in desperate need of a change. I was deep into the cycle of “feeling like I always needed to be working”. Somehow I feared that my business would “fall apart” if I stepped away. 

I was working from the moment I woke up until I finally “crashed” at night. And, it wasn't even effective. Working all the time was making me less productive, less profitable, and generally miserable.

We all have times in our businesses that need more effort....

“So, what exactly does a business coach do?”

I get this question a lot -- usually from irritated business owners who've hired support but aren't receiving the solutions they need. 

And, I understand the confusion—coaching and consulting are often used interchangeably. But never fear reader! Today we will clear up any confusion and clarify the differences between the two. This will help you avoid the headache of expectations that don’t pan out and frustration from money spent on the wrong solutions.

Choosing the Right Support

Meet Heather from Sweet Solutions Bakery. She received her first Easy-Bake Oven at five and has been obsessed with cakes & confections ever since. Six months ago, she made her dreams a reality and opened Sweet Solutions.

Heather is thrilled that she can make a living creating her whimsical cakes and treats. Yet, owning a business has been challenging. At times, she feels like she is...

As a business coach for women who have been struggling with overwhelm and burnout, I love that we are collectively pushing "pause" on hustle-culture. 

Hello Lovies!

2020 has been….

Well, let’s say that I am thankful that our little family embraced what we could and made the best of it.

And, it wasn’t all bad.

In fact, 2020 forced me to re-evaluate my need for “busyness”. I took the time to revisit my self-care practices and path for healing. If not for staying home, I may have skipped valuable lessons for which I am feeling grateful.

Looking Back

We started the year as an RV family, and in March, made the huge pivot by putting down roots in SW Florida. Beach time allllll the time!

And then, COVID.

I miss our travel lifestyle, but I am thankful that we were able to quarantine in the new house. We kept busy with “projects”:  painting, putting together furniture, etc...We got to know our sweet little town by walking in the parks and trails. Met our new neighbors and had a few great socially-distanced driveway meet-ups. 

Plus, time and stability allowed YBBL to blossom.

Before business life, I prided myself on my commitment to self-care.

Movement was especially important to me, I would log several miles a week on my daily walks.

But as things got busier, taking time away to walk felt self-indulgent.

I tried to schedule walks on the weekends, but because I already had a backlog of “to-do” items, it rarely manifested.

At first, I was willing to forgo self-care because my business was a high priority.

In fact, I saw my “sacrifices” as a badge of honor.

I was a dedicated business owner, giving my all to see the business succeed.

But, the sacrifices kept coming until my entire regime of self-care practices disappeared.

My business was like a screaming child, demanding all my attention...

My schedule climbed from an eight-hour workday to ten, twelve, even fourteen hours.

If I wasn’t sleeping, I was working the business, talking about the business, or thinking about the business.

And, with all the stress,...