Thanksgiving marks the start of the Holiday Season, the most joyous time of the year… for some.

But what if the merry bells aren’t ringing? And one more rendition of jingle bells or caroler “fa-la-la”ing in the mall is enough to push you over the edge?

Maybe this year has been one of loss? And when you pass by houses full of warmth, light and family, only to come home to an empty house, you are filled with grief.

Maybe you are financially burdened by the Holidays? Overwhelmed by expectations of creating the “perfect commercial holiday” and are left evaluating your budget in frustration or pushed  to spend beyond your means. (more…)

Mindset is the “established set of attitudes held by someone.” These are adopted starting at a young age based off life experiences and interactions with parents and peers. It is then further influenced by popular culture. Mindset shapes our actions, thoughts, perception and response to events. Depending on what you think, feel and do, mindset can quickly change.

Our culture sensationalizes lack and conveniently ignores abundance. After all, stories of growth and success don’t attract millions of viewers, but you can bet a plummeting stock market will.

Scarcity (or fear based) thinking has become more common than abundance (or trust based) thinking.

Does this sound familiar?

You believe life is permanent.  “That is just the way it is.” To those with a scarcity mentality, things are not temporary but fixed in some way. (more…)

Attracting and creating positive things in life can be as easy as counting your blessings each day. You create your own reality. Our thoughts = creation. If our thoughts are attached to emotion (either good or bad) that speeds up creation.

Gratitude means thankfulness, noticing simple pleasures and acknowledging everything that you receive.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more,” said Melody Beattie. “It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” (more…)

The Holiday Season of my childhood was magical. Filled with warm memories of Thanksgiving meals, presents by the beautifully decorated tree and family traditions.

Then I grew up and became an entrepreneur.

Before I learned to balance and plan, I struggled as many entrepreneurs do, with the overwhelming stress monster that took over the Holiday Season as I had known it. Family meals were spent checking e-mails from my phone under the table. I skipped Holiday parties to finish work from home.  What happened to the most “wonderful time of the year”?

Something needed to change, I wanted that magic back.

I read a great piece of advice that I have taken to heart and I think every entrepreneur needs to hear, “If you are not able to take a vacation, it means you have done a poor job as a manager. Your business should be able to run without you if you’ve done a good job at setting up systems and structures.”

Systems and structure take planning. It is a bitter pill to swallow, but from Thanksgiving and Hanukkah to Christmas and New Year’s, employees and founders of small companies juggle current projects, plans for the upcoming year and closing the books for the past year. Don’t make the mistakes of Christmas Past, nobody likes an Ebenezer Scrooge.  Start planning now and avoid the hustle and bustle, and actually enjoy the season’s pleasures. (more…)

“Life isn’t a matter of milestones but of moments”
-Rose F. Kennedy

I have lived much of my life, as many of us do, waiting, planning and pining over the “BIG” moments to come: the next launch, the proposal, the next trip. Sure, these are clearly unforgettable, but when you look back over your life, will these make up your life in its entirety?

No, those are few and far between. Real life is right in front of us each and every day. Moments so small, we sometimes take them for granted, but ultimately, these are what will cumulatively create a life well lived.

It is time to embrace and celebrate these epic, small moments, (more…)