Reinventing Yourself

When the Storm Hits: Your Guide to Weathering What Comes and Emerging Stronger

By Laura Berman Fortgang on February 1, 2026

The meteorologists saw it coming days in advance. The grocery stores emptied of bread and milk. Batteries flew off the shelves. Everyone knew the storm was approaching, yet when it finally arrived, many still found themselves unprepared for its full force.

Life’s storms work the same way. Sometimes we see them gathering on the horizon – a organizational restructuring, a relationship reaching its breaking point, a business model that’s clearly running out of road. Other times, they hit without warning, leaving us scrambling to find our footing while everything we counted on gets rearranged.

The question isn’t whether storms will come. They will.
The question is: How will you prepare, how will you weather them, and how will you use what they teach you?

Before the Storm: The Art of Strategic Preparation

Here’s what most people get wrong about preparation:
They stockpile supplies, but they forget to strengthen their foundation.

When I work with leaders and entrepreneurs facing major transitions, I ask them a simple question: “What are you anchoring to?” When everything else is moving, you need something solid to hold onto. For some, it’s their core values. For others, it’s their sense of purpose or their commitment to the people they serve.

The coaches I work with who navigate industry changes most successfully aren’t the ones with the biggest emergency funds (though those help). They’re the ones who’ve built what I call “foundational flexibility,” which is a clear sense of who they are and what they stand for, combined with the agility to adapt their methods without compromising their mission.

Practical preparation looks like this:

Know your non-negotiables.
What absolutely must be protected?
What defines you at your core?
When you’re clear on this, you can let go of everything else with much less anxiety.

Build your support system before you need it.
The middle of a crisis is not the time to start looking for allies.
Invest in relationships during the calm, so you have people to call when the winds pick up.

Create options, not just plans.
Plans assume a predictable future.
Options give you choices when the unexpected arrives.
What are three different ways you could respond if X happens?
What resources could you access if Y occurs?

When You’re In It: Weathering the Storm

There’s a moment in every storm when you realize – this is happening.
The preparation phase is over.
Now you’re just trying to stay upright.

This is when your previous work pays off, or when you discover what you missed.

The most important skill for weathering a storm isn’t strength; it’s presence.
The ability to stay aware, stay responsive, and resist the temptation to panic-react your way into worse problems.

I’ve watched brilliant people make terrible decisions in the middle of storms because they were so desperate to make the discomfort stop that they grabbed at the first solution that presented itself.
They pivoted their entire business model after one bad quarter.
They blew up a relationship because they couldn’t tolerate the tension of uncertainty.
They abandoned their vision because it got hard.

Weathering a storm means accepting that some things are out of your control while staying active in the things that aren’t.

You can’t stop the storm, but you can:

Protect your energy.
This is not the time to take on new commitments or push yourself to maintain “business as usual.”
Give yourself permission to focus on essentials.

Stay connected.
Isolation is the enemy of resilience. Reach out. Ask for help. Let people know you’re struggling.
The vulnerability you show now will deepen your relationships later.

Look for the small wins.
You don’t need to solve everything today.
You need to take one right action, then another, then another.
Progress compounds.

After the Storm: Mining the Meaning

Every storm deposits something. Sometimes it’s wreckage that needs clearing. Sometimes it’s nutrients that will feed next season’s growth. Your job is to examine what’s been left behind.

The entrepreneurs I know who’ve built the strongest businesses didn’t do it by avoiding failure. They did it by getting exceptionally good at learning from it. Each setback became data. Each crisis revealed something they didn’t know about themselves, their market, or their model.

The question isn’t “Why did this happen to me?”
The question is “What does this make possible that wasn’t possible before?”

Maybe the storm cleared out deadwood – projects that were draining energy without producing results, relationships that had run their course, assumptions that were holding you back. Maybe it revealed strengths you didn’t know you had. Maybe it showed you who really has your back.

Coming out positive doesn’t mean pretending the storm didn’t hurt.
It means refusing to let the hurt be the only thing that defines what happened.

The storms will come. They always do.

The only real question is: When the next one arrives, who will you be?
Someone who merely survives it, or someone who uses it to become more of who you’re meant to be?

Start preparing now. Not because you’re pessimistic, but because you’re committed to staying in the game no matter what the weather brings.

The September Advantage: Get On The Bus

By Laura Berman Fortgang on January 16, 2026

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 learn?
How do you want 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. 
Don’t tell yourself it’s too late for this year.
Don’t let the doomsdayers break your spirit.

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

Don’t Beat Yourself Up! 10 Reasons Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work

By Laura Berman Fortgang on January 4, 2026

Pulling a classic from our archives . . .

Admit it. Even though you predictably set them year after year, your New Year’s resolutions rarely stick. 23% of us break them in a week and 45% by the end of the month. A lot of people don’t even bother anymore.

Let’s take a look at ten reasons why you may be frustrated, and how to turn things around if you are genuinely interested in making a change in your life.

1. You haven’t made room in your life for a new priority.

The odds are that something’s got to go if you’re really serious about achieving a new goal. Determine and declare your top 3-5 priorities (research shows we can only focus on five areas or less and succeed) and be willing to let go of the rest – at least for now.

2. You’re trying to change something that’s a symptom of a bigger issue.

You may be trying to change a bad habit or a certain behavior, like smoking or overeating, by developing more self-discipline. Why not do the real work by looking within yourself to understand how you got there in the first place?

3. You’re changing something because you think you should change it, not because you want to change it.

External pressures or doing the “right” thing won’t cut it in the end. What really counts is what you want. Figure out what inspires you from the inside and then devote yourself to it.

4. You’ve chosen a goal that’s too big.

Although you may be initially excited about the prospect of achieving a large goal, you could feel deflated once reality sets in. Chop your resolution down into bite-size pieces and accomplish it one bite at a time.

5. You haven’t learned to say “no” to people and projects that’ll distract you.

As much as you want your resolutions to stick, you may find yourself devoting precious time and energy elsewhere, whether it’s on “want-tos” or “have-tos.” You can only do so much, so get comfortable using the word “no” to avoid distractions.

6. You don’t set up the structure for making change happen.

You may be adding a resolution into your mix without coming up with a master plan and schedule to make it a part of your life. Put a system in place that’ll support the change by giving you the structure you need.

7. You don’t seek out someone to hold you accountable.

It’s easy to lose focus when we don’t have accountability. Whether it’s a coach, trainer, doctor, relative, or close friend, seek out someone who you can trust to be there for you. Plus, tell him or her on the front end when and how you want support.

8. You let the resolution rule your life.

If you go overboard pursuing your resolution, you may put too much pressure on the rest of your life and find it hard to maintain it. Set realistic expectations, plan for them, and get support. Plus, give yourself some extra room by telling your family, friends and colleagues in advance that your attention may be off them for a while. Full obsession starts to affect other areas of your life and become unsustainable.

9. You don’t take consistent action.

You won’t go the distance with sporadic spurts of activity. Commit to do one thing a day – no matter how small – that puts you closer to your goals. Consistency is key.

10. You don’t celebrate the small victories.

If your eyes are glued on the prize, you may be “living in the gap” between where you are and where you want to be. Set yourself up to succeed by celebrating the small victories. Success breeds success, so make them all count.

If you’re going to bother to use January 1 as a RESTART button, just remember that you can pick any day or hour to start again.

Take the pressure off, and gift yourself the gift of change with these tips.

What’s your story? (Is it time for a new one?)

By Laura Berman Fortgang on September 28, 2025

The stories we tell ourselves are powerful. They determine how we show up, what risks we assume, and what actions we take (or avoid) – whether those stories hold truth or not.

That’s why rewriting your story is such a central part of the work I do with clients. Especially now, when so many people are feeling anxious about the economy, the job market, or what’s coming next.

Understandably so. But even in uncertain times, your story is what determines your next move – not the headlines.

If you’re telling yourself,
“It’s pointless to try right now,” that’s a story.
If you’re saying, “No one’s hiring people like me,” or “I don’t have what it takes to build a business,”
those are stories, too. . . . and you’ve written yourself into a dead end.

Let me ask you something that I often ask my clients:
How’s that story working for ya? 🤨
If the answer is “not great,” it’s time for a rewrite.

Take one client of mine who’s dealing with chronic health issues. That’s real; it’s her truth. But her underlying story was, “I can’t succeed because of this.” And that story was keeping her stuck.

So we rewrote it. She started saying, “I can still succeed at a high level in ways that work with my energy and time.” That story opened up possibilities.

Instead of traveling to speak, she started hosting webinars.
Instead of offering hourly services, she packaged her expertise into group offerings.
Same person. Different story. New actions.

Where do your stories come from? Some are generational. Others are cultural, religious, or formed from early life experiences. Maybe you were told to be “realistic.” Maybe you saw someone fail and vowed never to take the same risk.

The truth is, you’re not stuck.

In my Now What?^® coaching work, we look at how your career path has been shaped by the story you’ve told, and how we can rewrite it to get you where you actually want to go.

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Here’s a quick exercise:
Imagine stepping out of your life like it’s a movie. Watch yourself as the main character. What story are you playing out?

If your character is accepting underpaid work because adults in their life said they’d never amount to anything. . . What happens if that character starts developing skills and learning how to land high-paying clients or climb the corporate ladder?

If your character is working around the clock, missing time with their kids, like their divorced mother had to just to survive. . . What if they started building a business that prioritizes family and flexibility instead?

If your character is stuck in a job they hate because they once saw an uncle’s business fail and their dad called entrepreneurship irresponsible. . . What if that story becomes fuel to learn from others’ mistakes, or build something safer and more sustainable?

You can’t rewrite the past, but you can change how it drives your future.
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The stories we tell ourselves are the scripts we live by. Stop letting a dead-end story dictate your next move.

Write a story that opens doors. That sparks creativity. That leads to action.
Because the story you choose is the life you live.

What’s your next chapter?

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.

Are You Addicted to Your Reality?

By Laura Berman Fortgang on July 6, 2025

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.

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?”