Life and Goals. My Renewed Focus after Loss.
It's Sunday morning at 8:30am as I sit at my dining room table, black coffee in hand, reflecting on the last few months.
I'm not sitting out on my porch as I normally am from Spring to Fall because it's a chilly 45 degrees this April morning and I refuse to wear socks after mid-April.
It's a morning of reflection. Reflecting on me, my career, my age, my goals, and my Mom's recent death.
I'm a writer. I've had a successful corporate career writing and getting paid for it. I currently provide ghost writing services for select private clients, advise aspiring business owners, and write nonfiction business books focused on marketing, sales, staffing, and funding best practices for starting a business. This is my new Startup Over Lunch series.
I'm also dipping my toe into fiction with a new cozy mystery series I've been outlining and dreaming about writing for decades.
But recently, my Mom passed away. Dad passed away a few years ago, so now with Mom’s loss, I feel alone. Of course, I'm not alone. I have a brother, cousins, friends, and business colleagues that I talk to and interact with every day. But I still feel alone.
For a few months, I haven't wanted to write a thing. Why bother? What's the point? Is my writing really that important? Do people really want to read what I write about? Are my nonfiction business books helpful or am I just wasting my time? Does it mean anything to anyone? Does anyone care?
While I've kept writing to complete projects for specific clients, I haven't worked on my Sales Strategy book, which is 80% complete, since Mom died. I haven't begun the first draft of my Staffing Strategy book, and I haven't thought about my Funding Strategy book. With Mom's death, it just didn't matter. What's the point?
Then I received a call from a woman who works with a community of 350 freelancers, side hustlers, gig workers, and other aspiring small business owners. They started a nonfiction book club to be proactive in learning about business strategy, tactics, and best practices. This woman asked if I would be interested in speaking to the group about my books, providing actionable advice, and answering specific questions about their businesses. They want to hear from someone who has started and grown their own business. Someone who's been there, done that. I agreed to speak.
The conversation got me thinking about another group of people experiencing homelessness and former incarceration that I spoke with last year. Their desire and drive to start a business of their own were infectious. They had passion. All they needed was support, direction, and information. I was happy to share my expertise and encouragement to help them flourish.
So, I sit here at my dining room table this Sunday morning, thinking about the individuals I have met. I realize that while I may question whether what I’m writing is making a difference, the powerful and positive interactions I have with freelancers, side hustlers, crafters, stay-at-home parents, veterans, and grads who want to work for themselves inspire me to keep going.
My goal in starting my nonfiction business book series, Startup Over Lunch: Marketing, Sales, Staffing, and Funding Strategies to Fire Up Your Business, was to support and educate those dreamers who need a hand getting started.
And that’s what I need to get back to doing.
So, for those of you who are wondering why my Startup Over Lunch Sales Strategy book has taken so long to publish, now you know. Mom's death and questioning myself about my current place on life's journey caused me to stop for a while and pause. But I'm here. Renewed.
Startup Over Lunch business book series featuring Marketing Strategy, Sales Strategy, Staffing Strategy, and Funding Strategy in 60 minutes to fire up your business.
My plan for the rest of 2026 is to finish and publish my Sales, Staffing, and Funding nonfiction books and begin writing the first draft of my cozy mystery fiction series.
I know many of you are in a similar situation. You might also be facing the death or illness of a loved one. Or caring for elderly parents while also being a parent to young children.
We feel so alone at times, even with people all around us. Just know that you aren't alone.
Say hi in the comments below. Let me know what's going on in your life. Share an encouraging word with one another. What you may think of as a small gesture can do wonders for pulling someone out of their funk and reminding them of the wonders of life.
I hope you have a blessed day.
With love and gratitude.
