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Why 82% of Small Businesses Fail?

Introduction

Sarah had everything going for her — a brilliant product, loyal customers, and 18 months of steady growth. Then, almost overnight, her boutique marketing agency shut down.

The cause? Not competition. Not a bad economy. Not even a pandemic.
It was cash flow.

Sarah’s story isn’t rare. In fact...





10.15.25 11:31 AM - Comment(s)
How to Give Advice Without Breaking Trust (Leadership Lesson)
Can I Give You Some Unsolicited Advice...?

That phrase makes me cringe.
The first time someone asked me that, I felt my shoulders tighten before they even finished the sentence. I braced myself, like I was about to be hit with a “truth” I didn’t want to hear. And honestly, I’ve caught myself doing the...

09.30.25 10:24 AM - Comment(s)
Why Your Success Depends More on Relationship than Strategy 

Today I had the joy of sitting with my friend and mentor, Mariann. As we laughed together, I was reminded once again of a truth I’ve experienced throughout my life: success and happiness are more closely tied to our relationships than to any strategy, skillset, or circumstance.
Mariann has been part ...
09.22.25 05:08 AM - Comment(s)
No Leader Has it All Together- They Just Pretend Better.


I still remember the first time I got it, once again I had snapped at someone on my team.
It had been a long week, and a small frustration pushed me over the edge. My words came out sharper than I intended. Their face dropped, and I knew I’d crossed a line.
In that moment, I had two choices. Pretend i...

09.15.25 09:05 AM - Comment(s)
Whack-A-Mole Leadership: Why too many priorities wear you out?

Wandering through an arcade in the 1980s, you would have come across Whack-A-Mole. A simple wooden cabinet with a padded mallet, five or six holes, and mischievous moles popping their heads up just long enough to get smacked. The rules were simple—hit the mole before it disappeared. The faster ...
09.10.25 05:32 AM - Comment(s)
Why is starting so hard with ADHD (And how to make it easier?)

A Student Founder Tackling ADHD With a Mood-Based To-Do App

Have you ever sat at your desk, heart racing a litte, knowing exactly what matters but not quite able to start? Today I met with someone who’s turning that moment into momentum.
Alex is a brilliant 23-year-old entrepreneur in Western Washingt...


09.04.25 08:06 AM - Comment(s)
The Hardest Leadership Choice: Integrity vs. Opportunity



It was a frosty January morning. As we walked, the ice crystals crunched under foot. It was a strange meeting. He had sought me out, and in the privacy of our walk he offered me a deal.

A government contract was on the table—so big it could have transformed my business overnight. We’re talking life-c...



09.01.25 08:00 AM - Comment(s)
Lopez Island Clarity: Why Letting Go Grows Your Business

I just returned from a week camping on Lopez Island in the Puget Sound. Cell service was spotty, but it didn’t matter. Before I left, I gave clear instructions, confirmed ownership, and put simple guardrails in place. The team knew what good enough looked like—and they ran with it.
As I watched the t...

08.28.25 08:51 AM - Comment(s)
Case Study: Eight Weeks to Shift from “Hero” to High-Leverage Leader

The Set-Up

When Maria Santiago stepped into her new team-lead role, her old success formula—see problem, fix problem—followed her. Within weeks teammates stopped offering ideas and began handing work back to “the boss who always gets it right.” Maria’s evenings disappeared into rewrite after rewrite,...
08.25.25 07:52 AM - Comment(s)
Naivety & Grit: What I Learned Launching a Company.... Again- At 58!

When I opened the doors of my first venture at 27, I felt like a downhill skier: leaning forward, thin margin for error, but the speed itself kept me upright. At 31 it felt much the same. Nearly three decades later, starting a new business at 58 felt more like hiking that same slope—eyes wide, pack ...
08.19.25 06:12 AM - Comment(s)