career satisfaction

How to Recession-Proof Your Business

By Laura Berman Fortgang on April 6, 2025

One of the best things about being in business for yourself is that you’re the one in charge. But it’s also one of the hardest things about it. When things get tough, the buck stops with you!

Well, I’m no economist, but last year’s whispers of a looming recession are turning into shouts lately.

Some of my clients and colleagues are starting to panic (“I hear ya!”). But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and throw up our hands in defeat. Remember, you’re in charge, which means you have options.

It’s time to start recession-proofing your business. Here’s what I recommend:

Diversify your portfolio.

Just like your financial advisor would tell you to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket, I’m telling you to add some variety to what you offer.

What can you do to make your services more accessible?
How can you bring clients in at different price points?
Where can you add new revenue streams?

Retain the clients you have.

Excellent customer service should always be a pressing matter, but now more than ever, do what it takes to keep your current clients happy! Think of creative ways to add loyalty perks for staying on board, such as bonus one-on-one time or retainer discounts for paying ahead. Retaining a client is cheaper and easier than attracting a new one in any economy.

Enhance your value proposition.

Make sure prospects know you’re worth the investment. What kinds of returns will they get from working with you? The results you deliver should make the kind of impact they would regret missing out on.

Keep up with your marketing.

If you’re looking for things to cut out of the budget, put marketing near the bottom of the list. Staying top of mind should be a top priority. Switch up your messaging to meet the moment if necessary, but don’t you dare go quiet. Stay out there, and stay consistent.

Upgrade your skills.

The key is to stay relevant, to stay nimble, and to pivot if you have to. Be smart about it, but focus on how you can best add value right now, and how you can make your business more profitable. Do you need to learn new technology or a new method?

Streamline your operations.

What things are nice to have, and what’s a necessity? How can you make your business run more efficiently (truly)? Be mindful and strategic about cutting costs and eliminating time sucks.

Most importantly, stand in your power! Lean into your strengths and gifts. People may be discerning about where they spend their money, but they need you. Remember that.

We’ll get through this!

The Cost of Doing it ALL

By Laura Berman Fortgang on March 23, 2025

In my line of work, people come to me with all kinds of challenges. The solutions aren’t always easy, but the answer to getting unstuck is often simpler than expected.

Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and exhausted? Hitting a ceiling no matter how hard you work? Wondering why opportunities keep passing you by?

It’s not because you aren’t doing enough. You’re doing too much. Chances are, you’re doing it ALL (or at least trying to).

How do you move past what’s holding you back? The simple answer: delegate!

Whether pouring your whole self into your own business, place of employment, family, or all of the above, you need help.

You might be resistant to the idea; I’ve heard it all.
“Who has money for that?”
“I’ve tried; nobody can do it like me!”
“I just can’t trust another person to…”
“It would take me longer to explain it.”

Here’s the truth —

Think you’ve got it covered? Deep down, even the most stubbornly independent, headstrong among us realize they can not (and should not!) do it all.

Think you’re the only person who does it right? You’ve never met a happy control freak; they’re the most stressed-out person in the room. Clinging to control is about trying to make the outside world reflect perfection so that you feel safe and worthy inside, which never works.

To delegate or not to delegate? That’s not the question. Case closed.

Now you’re probably wondering what to delegate. Again, the answer is nowhere near as mind-boggling as you might think.

Delegate anything that’s not in your zone of genius.

If it’s not something only YOU can do, get somebody else to do it. If it feels like a drag, it needs to go. Bookkeeping, errands, tech stuff, housecleaning, administrative tasks – farm it out.

The next question I get is, “What about the expense?” (“In this economy?!”)

I hear you. Think about it this way —

Your time is money, and you’re investing in yourself to get a return. Do the math. What’s your hourly rate when doing your best work? That’s what each hour is worth. When you buy back time at a lower rate, delegating pays dividends.

There’s no reward for trying to do it all; in fact, it comes at a hefty cost. Living your highest quality life requires operating in your zone of genius, focusing on what matters most.

When you get your time back, you can use it to grow your business, pursue better career opportunities, or practice nourishing self-care that enriches your soul.

What would you do next if you didn’t have to do . . . that?

How to Get Better at Operating in a Crisis

By Laura Berman Fortgang on February 9, 2025

Don’t take this the wrong way, but we are in crisis.

What I mean by this is, as human beings, we’re in crisis — often.

I’m not trying to bum you out here, just facing facts. The human condition includes the positives and negatives of the human experience.

The reality is we’re in trouble sometimes. At times (like now!), it seems we’re in a lot of trouble.

Lately, you may feel like you’re seeing a crisis everywhere you look — in your personal life, the lives of your loved ones, in politics, on the news: storms, wildfires, plane crashes, leadership decisions, family emergencies, business mishaps, technological glitches, economic downturns . . . you name it!

You might be thinking, “Tell me something I don’t know!” So here goes . . .

We have to get better at crisis management. Not just the head honchos in charge, but every single one of us. We can’t just expect “somebody” to do something. How?

Start by dealing with what’s REAL. There is no need to catastrophize and make the crisis bigger than it already is by projecting the “worst case scenario” into the atmosphere. What’s actually happening right in front of you? (there is plenty of REAL bad stuff–just don’t make it worse.)
Focus on what you CAN do. What can you control? That’s where you look; it’s where you take action.
Keep things in perspective. Remaining calm matters. We don’t do our best thinking in a chaotic brain.

Take one thing at a time. One day at a time. That is not to make light of anything that is going on personally for you or in the US and the world.

Use your imagination for solutions, not for worsening the problem.

What Makes an A-Lister?

By Laura Berman Fortgang on February 2, 2025

If you want to win at business, bringing your “A-Game” isn’t enough anymore. You have to be an A-Lister.

This isn’t Hollywood, of course. You don’t need the star power of Julia Roberts or George Clooney, but you must be a star in your field.

Top-tier. A cut above. Premier.

I know, I know . . . it can feel like a lot to ask of yourself, especially if you’re not one for the spotlight.

This isn’t about achieving celebrity status, but the right people should be asking for you by name.

Here’s what becoming an A-Lister in your field means:

You’ve established a reputation — for results!
You’ve created something people want, and they keep coming back for it.
You’re known as the go-to person for the thing you do.

Think about it. A-Listers don’t have to audition for roles anymore. Writers, directors, and producers had their names in mind from the earliest stages of a film.

A-Listers are bankable, considered a sure thing.

I want YOU to be the one who comes to mind – here’s what it takes:

Identify the results you create. What is your best service, program, or strategy in your area of expertise?
Nail your messaging about those results. Make it compelling.
Get visible. Speak in person or online, or both. Let people see you!
Establish authority. Write a book. Teach a course. Position yourself as the expert.
Lift as you rise. Bring people up with you by coaching, mentoring, and collaborating.

Becoming an A-Lister is how your inbox fills with opportunities. It’s how you get the phone to ring. It’s the way to reach your goals and dreams.

Does Life Keep Lifeing at You?

By Laura Berman Fortgang on January 26, 2025

Do you ever feel like you can’t catch a break?
Like one thing after another keeps going wrong?

As soon as you recover from a disaster, hardship, or challenge, something else threatens to throw you off track again.

Life keeps lifeing at you.

Over the past month, I’ve been dealing with —
A child hospitalized with a terrible autoimmune disease.
A sibling affected by the California fires.
Friends and family impacted by all sorts of chaotic events.

And I know I’m not the only one. Life has been lifeing at me, at many of my clients, and people I speak with daily. There’s a lot going on!

But no matter what’s going on in your life and the world around you, the show must go on.

We have work to do. Businesses to run. Families to care for. Households to manage.

You’re not alone if you ever feel like you have no idea how you get through it all.

Here’s what I suggest.

1. Surrender

Surrendering doesn’t mean lying down, rolling over, and letting life walk all over you. It means accepting that sometimes there’s not a darn thing you can do to stop what’s happening. Trouble has come knocking, and you have to face it.

2. Set Priorities

You can only do so much on any given day. Be highly selective about what gets your attention and effort. Focus only on one thing at a time — the thing that will make the most significant difference.

3. Practice Self Care

Crisis mode isn’t the time for spa days, but you must take care of yourself. Set boundaries. For example, preserve your energy and time by limiting status updates to concerned loved ones to once daily.

If you’re dealing with difficult stuff right now, my heart is with you.

Whether grappling with the hectic pace of every day or facing tragic devastation (or both!), life can be hard on the nervous system.

Successful coping requires calm.

Remember: Surrender. Set priorities. Practice self-care.

How to Start a Network from Scratch

By Laura Berman Fortgang on January 23, 2025

When I started my coaching practice, I didn’t have a network.

I was an actress and a waitress with friends in the theater world, but I didn’t know anyone in business — nobody whatsoever to pay me for what I was trained to do.

In other words, I started from scratch. Maybe you can relate.

Things were tougher back then without social media, but there was also less noise. Even today, building a following isn’t the same as building a network you can tap into.

So what did I do? And what do I recommend my clients do now — whether starting a business or navigating a career?

1. Get out there!

Hiding behind your screen won’t cut it. You need to get to know people, look them in the eye, and spend some time together. (Introverts, this includes you!)
Meet people in person. Join industry groups, clubs, masterminds, or religious and civic organizations. Attend events, conferences, or workshops. The goal is to get face-to-face and let them get to know you.

2. Don’t just show up; really show up.

Be a giver. Contribute your time and skills.
Volunteer, serve on committees, and sign up to be a speaker. Find opportunities to be seen, interact with people, and make it known that you’re reliable, trustworthy, and have something valuable to offer.

3. Connect wisely.

Use social media strategically. On LinkedIn, focus on building connections with people who could benefit from your expertise and whose knowledge can help you grow.

Will these tips immediately lead to clients or job offers? Probably not. But everyone knows somebody, and this is how you get started.

It’s never too late, and you’re never too old. But the sooner you begin, the better prepared you’ll be when you need a network.