You are not going to get everything on your to-do list done this week. If you are preparing for some time off, that is even more unrealistic. Instead of overwhelming yourself with an incredibly long list, it is time to differentiate the Need-to-do’s from the Want-to-do’s.

Take a listen to me geeking-out on running a business on the Stop the Noise Podcast

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.

Some say if your business is not growing, it’s dying. But growth can also kill a business owner. You didn’t go into business to lose the life you were living or hurt your health. There are steps you can take to move your business in a direction that will be personally sustainable.

As we enter a new year and plan for the future, don’t forget to assess what go you to where you are today. Two years into a pandemic and you’re still standing. That’s got to be worth something.

It is easy to assume that what you have tried in the past will not work in the present. But preferences and needs evolve and what you tried previously that did not work out the way you had planned may be exactly what you need in this phase of your business. Sometimes we need to give things a second chance.

As yearend approaches, you do not need to return to the frenetic pace of 2019. It is time to blend your 2019 and pandemic paces to create the new way to enjoy the end of the year.

The budget planning process has many of the same benefits for business as it does for car buying. As business owners, it is imperative to understand how changes to your spend impact the bottom line. Unfortunately, many small business owners do not create a budget and lack clarity on how much they can shift their financial resources during the year.

It is easy to get frustrated when things slowdown in your business. You know what needs to be done to deliver on your commitments. But you can only move as fast as the slowest piece of your process. As the business owner, are you unknowingly creating bottlenecks?

When you have reached the state of overwhelm hit the pause button. Continuing to go in the vicious circle never solved anything and will heighten your emotional reaction with each spin.

What metrics do you use to assess your productivity each day? The number of tasks you crossed off your to-do list? The speed with which you completed the tasks? Your level of satisfaction with the items you crossed off your list? How much closer you are to achieving your goals?

Delegation is challenging. Whether you struggle with losing control or enjoy the task you know you need to hand over, delegating requires letting go. You and your business will benefit when others take on different activities. As you plot out what needs to be removed from your plate, walk through these four steps to feel grounded and confident that it is the best move for everyone involved.

As you grow, do you understand how your growth is impacting your customer experience? Lacking simple business operating fundamentals can dramatically impact your customer experience. Here is an example of a customer interaction that highlights potentially significant challenges internally as the company grows. Read to learn steps to take to avoid your customers suffering from your growth.

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?

What does training to ski Mount St. Helens and returning to in-person business have in common? They both involve activities that may or may not be the right ones to get you where you want to go. When was the last time you evaluated your list? Not since the pandemic? You're in trouble... but it's not too late.

Is each day a scramble to the finish? Trying to get as much done as possible, respond to team member questions and needs, deal with customers, moving so fast you often are not sure if you responded or simply thought of responding. It’s time to take the first steps in ending the chaos that is your life.

I have always wanted to be an astronaut and go to the moon. As the Mars Rover landed and my kid declared she wanted to build a rocket, it got me thinking. Does going to the moon satisfy my needs, goals, and desires for owning and running my business?