Is it possible to know your business so well that you can't see it clearly anymore? This 20-minute exercise can help you spot what you've stopped noticing.
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I was the most qualified person in my coaching cohort, and I still wasn’t accepted as a coach. The reason exposed a trap that catches most capable leaders: correcting when they should be coaching.
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A leader once told me, “I’ve explained this a dozen times. I don’t know why they still don’t get it.”
A week later, I watched him run a team meeting.
He talked for most of it.
He clarified expectations.
He answered his own questions.
He ended with, “Any questions?”
There were none.
Not because everyone understood—but because everyone had learned that questions weren’t really welcome.
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Imagine this:
You’re driving home after another long day.
The work isn’t the problem—you’re functioning, you’re capable, you’re respected.
But something feels… off.
You can’t shake the feeling of being stuck.
You’re questioning whether you’re in the right career.
Your motivation is fading.
Your confidence wavers at the worst times.
And the stress that used to roll off your back now lingers.
So you ask yourself:
Do I need a coach… or a therapist?
Which one actually helps me move forward from here?
Running a small business requires constant creativity, adaptability, and a willingness to think outside the box. It’s easy to fall into routine patterns, but these habits can sometimes limit your ability to innovate and grow. Enter the “What If” exercise—a simple yet powerful tool that can help you break free from conventional thinking, explore new possibilities, and take purposeful action.
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In my last article, I shared anecdotes and attributes of toxic customers and clients. Below, I will share strategies on how to deal with them to protect yourself, your people, and your business.
Handling toxic customers and clients can be challenging, but it's important to address their concerns while also protecting yourself and your team. Here are some tips for handling toxic customers and clients effectively:
Stay calm and composed: It's crucial to maintain your composure and not let the customer's toxicity affect your emotions. Take deep breaths, remain patient, and focus on finding a solution.
10 years ago, my role as principal of a K-8 in Atlanta ended and I immediately hung my “Impactful” shingle.
Voila! I was now a coach/consultant… of exactly 0 clients.
Which meant that I had no idea how I was going to...
pay for my family's relocation to NJ, one of the most expensive states in the nation;
make meaningful and consistent income as a new-to-market coach/consultant with a freshly hung shingle; and
put myself through graduate school to complete my doctorate.
Thank God, I managed through that difficult early phase, and can now count many thousands of people who I have been blessed to serve through coaching, consulting, training, keynotes and talks, and my books and articles.
Here are 10 lessons I learned along the way.
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We all tend to get dragged down and overwhelmed by things that accumulate over time and end up cluttering our minds.
When we identify them - even if we're not prepared to do anything about them right now - we raise our awareness and naturally start to handle, fix, and resolve them.
Start by making a list of what you’re putting up with at work and at home to determine what might be cluttering your mind and slowing you down!
Examples could be: incomplete tasks, frustrations, problems, other people’s or your own behavior, clutter, shoulds, unmet needs, crossed boundaries, unresolved issues or guilt, lack of exercise, eating habits, being indecisive, procrastinating, lack of sleep, etc.
I recently talked to a staffing agency about the importance of being gritty.
Grit is about tenacity, resilience, and a willingness to keep pushing through despite obstacles and our own natural inclination to take the easy way out.
Staffing recruiters, like most salespeople (and who isn't in sales?) need to be gritty in the face of rejection, radio silence, ghosting, and, even worse, angry clients.
It's what allows them to meet more people, make more referrals, and close more deals.
And live up to their mission of improving the lives of employers and employees by making the connections that grow businesses and provide opportunities (not their exact mission, but my take)