Life First Business Strategy

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for Entrepreneurs​
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This week’s Better Together Round-Up is here! Think: one game-changing strategy, the resources you didn’t know you needed, and a few fun favorites we’re loving right now. Quick to read, packed with value—you in? 🕒 3-minute read, unlimited inspiration.

Hi Reader,

Right now, I’m writing this on my way with my husband to a quiet dock in Georgia. I imagine sitting by a still, blue lake, with trees that are a full-on firework display of gold and orange, and for a few rare hours, nature is the only thing asking me for attention.
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​Except I'm still in the airport, which is a hot mess. But prayers we get there. 🙏

It’s our annual planning weekend—a weekend my husband and I take just the two of us. Usually, we just do it at home when the girls are at school. This is only the second time we’ve traveled alone in the 12 years since the girls were born.

We came here not just to rest, but to dream. The goal is to sketch out what we want next year to actually look like—for our family, our business, and our life. This weekend is our space to reimagine what’s possible.

But this year, as the trip got closer, the doubt tagged along.

Our biggest event of the year—the Co-Op Open House—starts Tuesday. There are a lot of moving pieces to pull this off with our team behind the scenes (i.e., it is not just me).
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Back home, the girls have a 6th-grade formal coming up (since when did homecoming-style dresses become a thing at 12? Why?!) And just for fun, we’re smack in the “nothing fits” and "I don't like anything today" clothing phase. 😳
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Plus, in addition to the airports being a hot mess because of the government shutdown, we found out our family insurance is doubling. As in starting at $2,500 a month for basic coverage. Because we’re both self-employed. 😳 Sigh.

I had a moment where I wondered: Should we even be here? Should I be doing more?

But that’s the exact reason why this space matters. Because real-life stuff doesn’t stop when you run a business. If anything, it just gets more… real.
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I can't steer the ship with a blindfold on. This weekend gives me the vision.

Which is why I love what’s happening next week.

​The Open House isn’t just about our offers—it’s a chance to see what it looks like to build big dreams with support. To ask hard questions. To be around women who get what it means when insurance goes up and dresses don’t fit and launch season collides with real life.

We’re sharing the exact tools we use to plan our year—including:

• A 2026 revenue roadmap
• Our go-to profit checklist
• And what it actually feels like to be in a room with women walking the same path

​Come hang out with us →​

Want more on why we prioritize trips like this—and how we budget for them? I wrote a blog post about it here and even shared some juicy details in this podcast episode.​

Whether you join us or not next week, I hope you remember this:

You don’t need to do this alone.

Catch you next Friday,
Holly

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P.S. NEW! Want to choose how often you hear from us?
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P.P.S. Our annual holiday mixer invite is dropping soon... stay tuned! 🎄 Save the date for December 18th, at 12pm EST!

Planning Doesn’t Need Perfection—It Needs Perspective

This weekend reminded me that waiting for the “perfect time” to plan is a myth.

Clarity doesn't come from having everything figured out. It comes from creating space to think clearly in spite of the chaos.

Here’s how you can find that space this week:

🧭 Try a “Planning Power Hour”​
Block off just 60 minutes to answer these three questions:

1. What do I want to be true by the end of 2026?
2. What’s already working that I can double down on?
3. Who do I need around me to make it happen?

✨ Bonus points if you do this somewhere inspiring: a coffee shop, a park bench, or even just a cozy corner with your favorite playlist.

Then ask: Am I giving myself the support I’d recommend to someone else?

If you need a little mindset reset, grab Who Not How. It’s 99 cents right now and packed with the kind of reminders that help you stop asking “How do I do it all?” and start asking “Who can help me?”

You don’t need a full weekend retreat to reconnect to your vision. Sometimes, all you need is one honest hour—and a reminder that the “how” isn’t solo work.
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Not ready for class yet? Download our workshop and private podcast to get started for free.

This newsletter is sponsored by the Collective Co-Op. Looking strategic direction and support for 2026?

The Collective Co-Op is where strategy meets support, without the fluff. If you’re craving honest convos, proven tools, and a room full of women who get it—come take a peek inside.

Join us at the Open House this Tuesday to see how it all works (and get your 2026 plan started).
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P.S. Want to sponsor an upcoming issue? We love spotlighting our community. Sponsorships are open for 2026—just reply to this email to learn more.