Now What?® Coaching

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  • Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

    Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

    I’m writing this during the July 4th holiday, though you’ll be reading it the week after. To be honest, not everyone felt deeply celebratory this year about America’s birthday. A lot has changed in recent months that makes you wonder about our country’s commitment to those “inalienable rights,” such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

    Those rights are supposed to come with being human. No government hands them out like permits.

    But let’s be real – the current environment doesn’t exactly feel like fertile ground for that vision.

    So what do you do? Give up? Pack it in?
    Absolutely not.

    Moving Forward with Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

    We’ve got to keep our lives and businesses moving forward. Yes, there’s uncertainty swirling around our society. But you know what’s still certain? The sun’s going to rise tomorrow. Plants are still going to grow (at least for now!). That’s our cue that life keeps moving; so must we. Take action that supports the health of democracy AND keeps your business and life going.

    This might be the perfect time to take some chances. Think about it: While everyone else is frozen by uncertainty, there are opportunities just sitting there waiting to be grabbed.

    I did some digging into history, and here’s what I discovered about service-based businesses during tough times.

    Remember the late 1970s? It was a total economic mess – energy crises, inflation through the roof, and many people panicking. But you know who thrived? Service businesses. Companies like H&R Block, Manpower staffing, and those early computer consulting firms were crushing it.

    Why? Because when the world gets complicated, people pay for someone else to figure it out. That’s exactly what service businesses do – we solve problems that other people don’t have time, energy, or expertise to handle.

    Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness by Laura Berman FortgangHere’s the beautiful part about service businesses:
    We don’t need massive factories or expensive equipment.
    Got cash flow? You can expand fast.
    New market opportunity? You can pivot tomorrow.
    Try doing that when you’ve got millions tied up in manufacturing equipment.

    Here’s something interesting: While 57% of business owners think the economy is weaker than last year, this pessimism is actually creating gaps in the market. When your competitors are pulling back, feeling scared, and playing it safe, that’s when you move in.

    While competitors are hiding under their desks, you can gain their customers, hire their best people, and build market share.

    Onward and Upward With Your Service-Based Business

    Despite all the doom and gloom, nearly three-quarters of small business owners are still optimistic about making it through 2025. Those are the businesses that’ll come out stronger. They’re not waiting for some magical moment when everything feels “safe;” they’re acting now.

    For service-based small businesses, 2025 isn’t about sitting around waiting for political certainty (Spoiler Alert: That might be a long wait). It’s about recognizing that uncertainty itself creates the exact conditions where nimble, solution-focused businesses thrive.

    The question isn’t whether you should act. It’s how fast you can position your services to solve the problems this crazy environment is creating.

    While others are paralyzed by asking, “What if?,” you are the one saying, “What’s next?”

  • Are You Addicted to Your Reality?

    Are You Addicted to Your Reality?

    I recently had a powerful conversation with Shiraz Baboo, author of ​How to Rewrite Reality​, on my Friday Focus livestream. (If you’re not following me there yet, you can catch future episodes on​ LinkedIn​ or ​Instagram​. He calls himself a reality interventionist, and after hearing what he shared about being addicted to your reality, I can see why.

    What Purpose Being Addicted to Your Reality Serves

    Here’s the short version:
    Most of us are addicted to our reality – even when it’s uncomfortable or even when it’s holding us back – because it gives us something we crave. Even if that seems unthinkable (i.e., “Why would I WANT this mess?”)

    I see it all the time in my work with clients. They’re stuck in patterns – under-earning, overworking, chasing impossible standards, feeling “not ready” to make the next move – and what we discover is that those patterns aren’t just habits; they’re serving a purpose. There’s a payoff, even if it’s subconscious.

    Shiraz gave the example of a client who complained that he was constantly solving problems. His life and business were overrun with problems. But he also owned it, with pride, as an identity: “I’m an amazing problem-solver.”

    The Issue with Being Addicted to Your Reality

    The issue? To feel valuable, he had to create problems to solve. That identity gave him a dopamine hit. When he let go of the identity, the problems disappeared . . . but then he got anxious without his daily dose of validation. He was addicted to the reality he’d created, even though he no longer wanted it.

    Are You Addicted to Your Reality?This isn’t just about “problem-solver” types. It shows up in heart-centered professionals, too, particularly when it comes to money.

    Some people stay under-earning because, deep down, they believe wealthy people are selfish or unethical. If that’s your belief, you’ll subconsciously make sure you never become one of them. You’ll seek evidence to prove you’re right and get a little dopamine hit every time you find it.

    But here’s the thing: Just because a reality feels familiar doesn’t mean it’s true or permanent.

    Changing Being Addicted to Your Reality

    My philosophy is simple: Your purpose lives in who you already are. Sometimes that purpose is buried under outdated beliefs or old stories about what’s possible. But I’ve coached enough people through big transformations to recognize most of us already know what we want. We’re just afraid to want it out loud.

    That’s the work. Not pushing harder. Not ignoring your feelings. But being honest about the identity, story, or belief you’re clinging to, and choosing something different.

    You can become addicted to ease, to peace, to fulfillment.
    You can rewrite your reality.

    If you’re ready to step out of the old script and into something better, I’d love to help you find your “Now What?”

  • Grace Under Fire (When the Pressure’s On)

    Grace Under Fire (When the Pressure’s On)

    Lately, I’ve been having a familiar conversation with clients over and over again.

    They’re stepping into new roles, new markets, and new strategies, and they’re feeling the heat.

    They’re hopping on sales calls for the first time, making high-stakes presentations, testing new offers, and launching new things – all in this wildly unpredictable world.

    The pressure is real.

    The truth is, we’re not operating in the same reality we were a year ago. The job market has shifted. Business as usual is gone. With AI disruption, chaotic leadership, and a volatile economy, the ground keeps moving under our feet.

    We have to approach our work – and ourselves – differently to meet the moment, and do it with grace under fire.

    Trying something new always comes with risk. The offer could flop, the meeting could go sideways, and the prospect, on the verge of signing that big contract you poured everything into, could ghost you.

    But avoiding that risk by playing it safe keeps you stuck. Cozy, sure. But stuck.

    While we know the biggest wins come from stepping up and making bold moves, fear can still hijack the system. It’s human. The moment something gets hot, we pull back,  panic, overthink, and we shut down.

    Here’s what I tell my clients:

    When the pressure’s on, pause.
    Breathe. Calm your nervous system. Get out of fight-or-flight mode so you can think clearly.

    Then, assess your reality.
    What’s real, and what’s just fear talking? Are you reacting to facts, or to a story you’re telling yourself?

    Next, check your intentions.
    Are you staying on mission, or veering off course because you’re uncomfortable? Stick with your purpose. That’s where the power is.

    Finally, act with focus.
    Not perfection. Focus. What’s the next right move, not the flawless one? Do that.

    Grace under fire doesn’t mean you’re emotionless. It means you’re purposeful. It means you lead with intention, even when the heat is on.

    And yes – people are watching. In high-pressure moments, your response matters. It defines outcomes, shapes reputations, and opens (or closes) doors.

    Here’s my challenge to you: The next time the pressure builds, pause. Breathe. Choose what’s next with clarity.

  • Why is Everyone Acting Like Nothing’s Happening?

    Why is Everyone Acting Like Nothing’s Happening?

    Why is everyone acting like nothing’s happening?

    Let me guess: You’ve been wondering the same thing. I’m beginning to think I should add this to my FAQs.

    My clients, colleagues, and friends are looking around at the world – headlines filled with war, rollbacks on rights, disorienting shifts in leadership, and everyday tragedies – and wondering how they’re supposed to just go on . . . like, business as usual.

    They’re grieving. They’re angry. They feel powerless.

    If that sounds like you, you’re not crazy. It is surreal. Our identities, our sense of freedom and justice, the progress and safety many of us thought were secure – it’s all being shaken. Meanwhile, life doesn’t stop. There are bills to pay, kids to raise, goals to meet, and dreams that still matter.

    How do you live, work, and lead through times like this?

    Here’s my answer: You learn to be of two minds.

    You can feel heartbreak and joy. Despair and laughter. Being of two minds isn’t denial; it’s integration. It’s what allows us to stay human, even when the world feels inhumane.

    Here’s how to start:

    1. Practice full presence. Step away from the chaos and drop into a moment: Your breath, gazing up at the leaves on a tree, the sound of laughter. That’s what keeps you grounded.
    2. Limit your exposure. Stay informed, but constant news and social media will fry your nervous system. Give yourself windows of peace and distraction.
    3. Make meaning. Host a dinner. Hug your friend. Take your elderly neighbor a plate of food. Reconnect with what reminds you of who you are.
    4. Take action. Write to your reps. Volunteer. Give to communities on the front lines. Start where you are. Do what you can.

    As a coach (and an interfaith minister), I help clients hold both — the pain and the possibility. My job isn’t to fix the world. It’s to help you navigate it, to see things from new angles, to shift your inner narrative, and to create a plan that honors what matters to you most. Then, perhaps, we fix it, one person at a time.

    You can’t ignore grief, but you also don’t have to drown in it. There is a way forward. You deserve to find joy, even now.

  • Perfectionism: The Smart Person’s Trap

    Perfectionism: The Smart Person’s Trap

    Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot from clients who are wrestling with perfectionism. Some of them don’t even realize it’s at the root of what’s draining them. If you’ve ever felt like you need everything to be flawless to feel okay, welcome to the club.

    Here’s what I’ve learned over decades of coaching (and living) — Perfectionism is the ultimate lack of self-acceptance.

    It’s an inner need to have the outside world confirm that we’re “perfect” so we can feel worthy.

    Some might disagree with that definition, but in my experience, it holds up.

    Here’s the real kicker:

    Perfectionism works – at first! It gets you promotions, accolades, and a reputation for excellence. People admire your dedication and drive. You’re often the smartest person in the room.

    But it also takes a toll. Living with perfectionism is like staging a one-person Broadway production every single day – lights, camera, costume changes. Exhausting. Plus, you become your own harshest critic, way tougher than anyone else could be.

    Eventually, the show can’t go on. It’ll either fizzle out to disappointing reviews, or burnout, stress, and anxiety will become the perfectionist’s final bow.

    You’ll think you’ve lost your edge, but you’re actually on the verge of healing.

    If your high standards cause you to suffer, they’re too high. I know that might be a shocker. After all, those standards have become your identity, your validation, your way of being. But ask yourself: Is it worth the price?

    What is perfectionism costing me emotionally?
    What is it doing to my relationships?
    How is it affecting the work I care about most?

    If aiming for perfection is getting you rave reviews all around (especially from that human being in the mirror), keep it up.

    But if you’ve built a beautiful prison, brick by brick – outwardly impressive, inwardly miserable – it’s time to start dismantling it.

    Practice letting go. Let people screw up, let things be flawed, let the picture hang crooked on the wall. Feel the discomfort, and let it ride.

    What might happen if you let “good enough” be enough? Consider this: Perfectionism might actually be holding you back by slowing you down, keeping you small, making you harder to work with.

    If your pursuit of excellence is working, great. But if it’s making you miserable, it’s time to break out of the trap. Where can you loosen the lock, open the door, and let in some fresh air?

  • You Can’t Build Success on a House of Cards

    You Can’t Build Success on a House of Cards

    Lately, I’ve found that far too many of the people I talk to have been telling me they feel stuck. They’re overwhelmed by the economy, discouraged by the job market, or trying to grow a business without any traction.

    I have to say, it’s tough to hear. It sounds an awful lot like defeatism, which never does anyone any good.

    Don’t get me wrong; I’m not in denial! Nobody’s operating at “business as usual“ and seeing the same results these days. If you’re having a tougher time than usual, you’re certainly not alone.

    But the way I see it, that’s all the more reason to make a shift and evaluate your current situation. One of the key components to have in place is structure.

    Without structure, you’re building a house of cards. One small gust – bad news, a missed opportunity, a tough day – and the whole thing collapses.

    Whether you’re job hunting or running a business, structure isn’t optional. It’s the foundation that holds it all together, creating and conveying the kind of confidence that attracts opportunities.

    If you’re in a career transition, structure means having a consistent schedule, a straightforward process, and real accountability. Otherwise, it’s too easy to spiral into self-doubt or sit in front of your computer all day “researching” and calling it progress.

    If you’re trying to grow your coaching business, winging it won’t work anymore (even if it did in the past). You need a plan: Consistent outreach, clear offers, and systems to stay focused.

    Think like a seasoned architect or contractor: Start with the blueprint. Know what you’re building and why. Then, follow a process that’s organized, efficient, and rooted in your goals. That’s how you create something solid that can weather a storm.

    It doesn’t have to be perfect. But you need something concrete – a plan, a schedule, an edifice to shelter and support you.

    If structure is missing for you, it’s time to put it in place. Remember, you don’t have to do it alone.