Now What? Newsletter Articles

Inspiration as an antidote to division

By Laura Berman Fortgang on September 21, 2025

Last week, we marked the anniversary of September 11th. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I remember most. Not just the tragedy of that day, but also what occurred on September 12, 2001.

We were devastated; still, something powerful happened:
People helped one another. We made eye contact. We were kind. We showed up in service of our shared humanity.

Back then, we were attacked from the outside. The enemy was identifiable, unmistakable, shared, and external. We were united in our grief, and we reached out to each other with compassion and support.

Today, the enemy feels closer. It looks like the neighbor with a different yard sign. The colleague across the aisle. The family member who disagrees with you on values you hold dear.

That’s where we are – Divided.

This isn’t a political message; it’s a human one.

When I sit with clients in sessions, they’re not asking me how to win arguments. They’re asking me how to stay grounded in a world that feels unstable, and how to navigate a career or run a business alongside people who hold differing world views and may lack respect for yours or for who you are.

This is what I tell them: It’s about leadership. We’re all called to be leaders in our lives.

Whether you’re leading a team, a business, a family, or just your own day-to-day decisions, you are a leader. Leadership shows up in how we respond when things feel fractured.

There are two paths you can take:
You can divide.
OR
You can inspire.

Inspiration isn’t about ignoring reality or glossing over deep differences. I’m not asking you to be soft or to pretend the values divide isn’t real. I’m asking you to be intentional: To lead with awareness and courage, and to be someone who seeks to uplift anyway, even when you’re feeling down.

This is what I’m calling “The September 12th Test.”

When you’re tempted to judge harshly, to lash out, or to check out altogether – pause.
Ask yourself: Will this divide or inspire? Am I adding to existing negativity or contributing to creating something better?

You may not change the world overnight, but you can change the room you’re in, the conversation you’re having, and the energy you bring.

We may not be able to unify just yet, but we can choose to inspire.
Right now, that’s exactly what the world needs.

How Committed Are You?

By Laura Berman Fortgang on September 14, 2025

A wise yoga teacher once said to me:
“Who you are on the mat is who you are in life.”

She wasn’t calling us a pack of downward dogs. She was holding a mirror to our souls. In the moments when your body’s screaming to quit, when your legs are shaking, when your breath is short – who are you?

Do you hold the pose and breathe through the fire?
Or
Do you bow out and tell yourself, “Close enough?”

The same thinking applies:
When you’re just short of the finish line in your first half-marathon.
When you’re just shy of your revenue goal.
When one more call could fill your coaching program.
When your next move could be the tipping point for your promotion.

Is close enough good enough? Or do you stick it out and hang in there until the end – and win?

That decision is everything. It’s the difference between almost . . . and all you’ve ever wanted.

Your goals don’t care if you’re tired. Your business doesn’t care if you’re scared. Your health doesn’t care if you’re busy. Your bottom line doesn’t care about the wacky headlines.

The things you want only respond to consistent action; consistent action requires commitment.

I love inspiration as much as the next person. Passion is wonderful; motivation is great, but they’re fleeting. They go on vacation when things get hard.

Commitment stays.

Here’s the best part: When you breathe through the fire, the reward isn’t just another goal checked off.

The reward is sitting on the beach without guilt, like I did last weekend, knowing you earned that time. It’s being fully present with your family because you’re not worrying about money. It’s letting yourself rest, because your follow-through made room for it.

Commitment builds the life you want. Not someday – NOW and for the future.

Mediocrity is a habit, but so is excellence. Every time you hold the yoga pose through the burn, you’re building a commitment muscle. Every time you show up when you don’t feel like it, you’re training your brain to follow through.

Every time you see something through to the end goal – even when no one’s watching – you’re becoming someone you can count on.

I’ll ask you this: Are you quitting too early?

Choose wisely. The mat doesn’t lie. And neither does your life.

The September Advantage: Get On The Bus

By Laura Berman Fortgang on September 7, 2025

Another summer is in the books! I hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend. . .

Because now it’s time to go back to school.

Whether you’re growing a coaching practice or searching for your next big role, the pace likely slowed down this summer, and let’s be honest, so did the income. Not for everyone, but if you’re looking at your bottom line and feeling anxious, you’re not alone.

I heard from many clients that things were slow.

I know the headlines aren’t exactly comforting right now. The economy feels shaky, the job market is awry, and you might be wondering where the heck we’re headed.

But here’s what I want you to remember:
The lull of the past few months was seasonal.
A summer slowdown happens every year.

Right now, you have a major advantage, if you’re willing to take it.

Specifically, I call it the September advantage – that unique burst of collective energy that comes with a fresh start. You just had time to rest (even a little). Now you’ve got a clear runway ahead . . . until the holidays hit.

Presently, we have two solid months to make some serious progress, so treat this like your own personal breakthrough semester and plan to ace it.

Even if you weren’t the kid who looked forward to a new school year, think back to the last time you started something new and exciting with a beginner’s mindset, such as trying out a new fitness class or exploring a new country for the first time.

Clear your desk. Buy yourself a few office supplies – some nice pens, a new journal, a fall-scented candle – and put on your thinking cap.

Just like students reviewing their new syllabi, I want you to take a look at your work through fresh eyes:

What do you want to learnand to grow?
What skill, system, or shortfall needs your attention?
What’s one area you know you’ve been avoiding that could change everything if you focused on it now?

Maybe you need to practice your sales conversations to improve your conversions, or streamline your systems and optimize operations.
Perhaps you should be working on deepening your relationships, or finally showing up for the visibility you’ve been avoiding.

It’s time to tap into that back-to-school energy. The holidays will be here before you know it.

Pick ONE specific thing that’s been lagging. Then give it everything you’ve got with a deadline of Halloween.

Don’t wait for Q4., tell yourself it’s too late for this year, and
Don’t let the doomsdayers break your spirit.

The bus is here. The door is closing. This is your moment to jump on.

You’ve got this – let’s go!

It’s time to end the empty promises

By Laura Berman Fortgang on August 24, 2025

Have you ever told yourself you’re going to do something (again and again) only not to do it? In other words – making an empty promise.

For two years, I struggled to keep my commitment to exercise, but I can finally say I’m doing it. Seven weeks in, it’s a habit. I got tired of selling myself empty promises.

Empty promises – whether to yourself or someone else – are a surefire path to disappointment.

Maybe you’ve been meaning to make that sales call. Or finally take your job search seriously. Or send the weekly newsletter you keep talking about. Maybe you keep saying you’ll read something inspiring at night instead of doomscrolling. Whatever it is, every delay is another promise left hanging. And it creates a ripple of disappointment – mostly in yourself.

What’s the fix?
Start keeping promises to yourself.
Easier said than done, sure. But worth every bit of effort.

You can’t always control what others promise or deliver. But you can control how you show up for yourself. Others following through becomes nothing more than icing on the cake, rather than what you rely on for sustenance.

So why is it so hard? Because we tend to wait until we’re “in the mood.”

What we seem to forget is that doing “the thing” changes our mood. Action creates the momentum we crave, not the other way around. Once you’re in motion, feeling stuck disappears.

Don’t wait to feel motivated. Move first and meet the motivation where it already is – in progress.

That’s when you start seeing results…
The sales call turns into a dream client.
The tailored résumé lands the interview.
The newsletter connects with your next big opportunity.
The book you picked up reignites your inspiration.
Momentum builds. Promises get kept.

Remember, your mood shouldn’t dictate your actions. Your actions will shape your mood.

Procrastination and avoidance are addictive because they bring temporary relief.

Cringing at the thought of pitching a potential sponsor for your podcast?
Anxious about the networking event on your calendar?
Apprehensive about committing to running a half-marathon next spring?

Skipping the pitch, ignoring your calendar, and clicking away from the registration form. Whew…*wipes forehead*

Avoidance feels like a sedative: Quick, easy, and always available. You’ll regret it later, but the short-term comfort keeps you coming back.

Here’s the twist: Choosing “easy” can still move you forward. Pick the easiest hard. Start small. Break your big goal into the ittiest bittiest possible step. Then do just that.

I started with 20 minutes of exercise. Small, but challenging. Before I knew it, 30 minutes felt easy.

You know what’s harder than doing 20 minutes today? Looking back a year from now and still stuck, still waiting, still sitting in the same spot.

I’ve been there. It’s worse.
Pick your hard.

Will it be the hard that gets you closer to your goals?
Or the hard that keeps you stuck in place?

Don’t make empty promises. Fill them with action!

Your legacy matters now more than ever

By Laura Berman Fortgang on August 17, 2025

When was the last time you thought about the legacy you’re going to leave behind?

I’m asking because, quite frankly, too many of the conversations I’ve had lately are spiraling into survival mode territory. We’re losing sight of things that matter, like meaning, purpose, and impact.

Of course, I know why…

You don’t have to remind me that we’re living in tumultuous times. Between the headlines, the uncertainty, and the sheer volume of noise, it’s no wonder we’re distracted by planning for worst-case scenarios.

But I want to remind you that survival mode is no place to live, regardless of the circumstances.

Leading with Focus and Not Fear

If you’re not careful, coping becomes your default. You start leading with fear instead of focus. You begin preparing for basic necessities instead of building for the best. Your biggest goal is no greater than getting through the day.

Here’s the truth: You still have so much to give.

Now more than ever, I want you to remember what you’re really here for – not just to hustle, to pay bills, and to scroll headlines. You’re here to create something meaningful; something that lasts.

That something? It’s your legacy.

You might think that legacy is just what you leave behind after you’re gone. But it’s also what grounds you right now. It keeps you aligned when the world feels unsteady and helps you stay connected to your deepest values. Leaning into legacy brings your most impactful work to the surface.

Whether you’re in a corporate role, building a business, or just trying to find your footing, your legacy matters.

To help my clients reconnect to that long-term vision, I often introduce what I call the Legacy Lens, which is a simple framework for legacy thinking. Think of each potential type of legacy – Treasure, Truth, Purpose, or Touch (TTPT) – as a different angle, forming a prism that shapes your perspective and aligns your vision.

● Treasure – What financial gifts or resources might you leave behind? How are you using money to make an impact?
It could be a foundation funding the arts for generations or a donation to your local food pantry.

● Truth – What knowledge, ideas, or innovations are you putting into the world?
It might be a major scientific breakthrough, a bestselling book, a popular TEDx Talk, or a simple framework shared in a newsletter, like this one.

● Purpose – What causes, missions, or values are you standing for?
You could be organizing protests in your community, hosting transformational retreats, or choosing to do business only with those you believe to be on the right side of history.

● Touch – Whose lives have you shaped? Who will carry your love and influence forward?
This may be the impact you have on your children, nieces and nephews, classroom students, workplace mentees, the neighbors you teach how to garden, or the friends you host for dinner parties.

Ask yourself: “If I were 90, would I be proud of how I spent my time? Would I feel good about what I’m leaving behind?”

I think of Mother Teresa, who said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” She didn’t set out to become a saint; she started with one small act of compassion in response to suffering.

Your legacy doesn’t need to be grand or flashy. It needs to be real. From the heart and intentional.

As I always tell my clients: You don’t have to be famous to be unforgettable; you just have to be intentional.

Don’t let chaos steal your vision. Come back to focus on what makes a difference. Let’s strive to leave a legacy that matters.

Do you have a capacity problem?

By Laura Berman Fortgang on August 10, 2025

Let me share with you something I’ve observed repeatedly, especially in my most driven clients:
They have big goals, but all too often, not nearly enough capacity to carry them out.

Your dreams need room to breathe and to grow. For this reason, that means you need to create the capacity for that to happen.

Capacity is your ability to handle more: More responsibilities, more opportunities, more failures and wins, more meaning and fulfillment. If your capacity is maxed out before you hit your goal, you probably won’t make it. In the off chance that you do reach the finish line, chances are you’ll be too run down to enjoy it.

The good news? It’s even more likely that your capacity has room for expansion.

Building More Capacity to Achieve Goals and Dreams

How do you build more? Here’s what I teach my clients (and practice myself):

1. Strengthen Your Resilience
Your body, mind, and spirit need elasticity and toughness. Healthy habits like meditation, movement, and maintaining a balanced diet keep you from cracking under pressure and help you recover faster when life hits.

2. Manage Your Energy, Not Just Your Time
You’ll never create more hours in a day, but you can use your energy differently. Prioritize what matters most at any given moment, and protect your energy from distractions that drain you. Accomplishing one paramount thing each day beats attempting to check off a bunch of insignificant to-dos.

3. Build Flexibility, Not Rigid Plans
Real life changes. Sometimes pivoting is the only way to avoid hitting a brick wall. Having backup resources in place is the best way to create wiggle room – setting aside financial reserves, establishing trustworthy relationships, and developing skills that keep you adaptable.

4. Assess Wisely
When you’re overwhelmed, everything feels urgent; it’s not. Building capacity requires discernment. Stop reacting, and start asking yourself questions such as, “What actually matters right now, and what’s just noise?” or “What’s immediately urgent versus non-critically important?”

5. Reframe Your Failures
Stop viewing setbacks as defeat. They’re data. Ask yourself: What can I learn from this? Then move forward with your newfound information.

6. Say No
No is a complete sentence. Every yes is a tradeoff. Say yes to what matters most and only that.

In essence, the people who achieve big things don’t just have talent or drive. They’ve built the capacity for what they want.

In short, if you’re maxed out, it’s time to retool so that capacity can expand.