Week of 9/9/26

We’ve had a few conversations lately with business owners who are feeling frustrated with where things are. Sales are slower than they hoped, marketing doesn’t seem to be working, or the business just isn’t where they thought it would be by now.

It’s easy to focus on what isn’t working and lose sight of what is still there. These are people who know their businesses, have developed real skills, and are doing good work for their clients and customers. When you start feeling this way, it can help to keep moving forward one step at a time. Make a list of things you can do, talk to peers or mentors, or get an outside perspective when you need one. Sometimes that is enough to help you reset and find some momentum again. ●

Week of 1/21/26

In Great by Choice, Jim Collins talks about “firing bullets before cannonballs.” The idea is simple: start small. Test, experiment, and learn before committing big resources. A “bullet” is a small, low-cost, low-risk effort, something you can try without throwing your whole business off course. Once you know what hits the target, that’s when you fire the cannonball. For small businesses, it’s a reminder that focus and testing matter more than bold, blind leaps. ●