As we stand on the threshold of a brand new year, it's the perfect moment to set some baselines. Knowing where you’re starting is an important part of planning for the year ahead. Since people are the most important part of any business, a collective empathy check is a solid first step. How are the people on your team, your valued clients, and most importantly, how are you as you enter into this fresh calendar year?

Small businesses, we feel your pain. From tangled workflows to time-consuming processes, we know the struggles that come with growth. Let's dissect the common hurdles you face daily and explore why streamlining roles and areas of ownership is the silver bullet you need to unstick what’s stuck.

In the world of business innovation, the voice of the customer carries immense weight. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that actively seek and utilize customer feedback are the ones best positioned for long-term success. Business must innovate and improve to stay competitive. Customer feedback should be the starting point for your continuously enhancing your products and services.

Opportunities come knocking, and they often seem exciting and fun. But they can also stretch us thin and drain our resources, just like taking care of a kitten when you're not a pro at it. Setting boundaries isn't about saying "no" to everything; it's about making thoughtful choices that align with your capabilities and priorities. It's about understanding when to pass up on the fun opportunities so you can focus on what truly matters.

In the early days after my 2nd was born, the last thing I wanted to do was try to shop for clothes when I had no idea what fit anymore. It was in that overdone, overwhelmed state of mind when I encountered a remarkable sales clerk, a woman in her 50s, who turned my dreaded shopping experience into something unexpectedly positive.

I am clinging hard to every last bit of summer right now. Your early Halloween decorations are an offense to the warm, lazy days of the best season of the year. But the seasons are changing and the cooler weather is coming. We can’t slow down time. We have to learn how to dance with it.

Finding the right balance between work and personal life can be a daunting task. As leaders, we often find our calendars and energies at the mercy of others, responding to fire drills and questions all day until we realize we’ve worked on everyone else’s todo list but our own. Crafting an ideal week that not only boosts productivity but also aligns with your unique lifestyle is an art, not a science.

Sometimes rainy days can be just the mood you’re looking for but after a few of them in a row, the gray weather can put a damper on our spirits. But fear not, because we’ve got some fantastic tips to help you turn rainy days into productive and motivating work experiences.