Unexpected Outcomes

Sometimes we challenge ourselves in new and different ways - and the outcome is growth in ways we couldn’t have anticipated.

Yesterday I shared a bit about my journey to better health, which began many years ago with a sense of curiosity and a self-imposed 30 day challenge.

Have a listen here to learn more about the unexpected outcome I experienced as a result, and how it’s helped to shape who I am, in life and in business, today.

Would you believe that “I could never give up cheese” is the most common response I get when someone learns how I eat? Our love for cheese is legit!

Is there something - food-related or not - that you’re certain you couldn’t live without? Would you consider giving it up for 30 days? Tell me in the comments below!

Our Customers Have Options

There’s no shortage of opportunities in our daily lives to learn essential business lessons.

Yesterday was no exception.

Many years ago, feeling uninspired and wanting to test my own boundaries, I challenged myself to change my eating in a dramatic way. I chose what I perceived to be the most restrictive diet, and set out to eat vegan for 30 days.

And it stuck.

While Chicago is an exceptionally vegan-friendly city, periodically I find myself away from home and in search of food. I was happy to learn years ago that a certain fast food restaurant that might be known for their, let’s say, tacos, could accommodate in a pinch.

I always place my order very carefully. “That’s right: no meat, no cheese, no sour cream. Right, no dairy. No, I’m grateful it’s not an allergy, just a preference.”

More often than not, the result is not what I ordered. I smile as I walk back to the counter and it’s prepared again.

Would your customers keep coming back if you failed them 75% of the time?

Our customers have options - far more than a hangry vegan in search of tacos at a truck stop in the middle of America - and they may not give us another chance to get it right.

Do you pause for lunch or eat on the fly? Let me know below!

What's In A Title?

If you make your living earning commission from the sale of insurance products, you might be an insurance agent. You might also be a producer, or even an account executive or a broker. Even still, you could be a risk management consultant or a risk advisor.

The title may vary from one organization to another, but the job function is the same.

In the insurance industry, unless you are in - or inching toward - the C-Suite, titles rarely translate.

In fact, I’ve been largely oblivious to titles in our industry as my own career path has taken shape. The focus has been on the function of the job - the responsibility, authority and opportunity.

This isn’t always the case, though, as I was reminded when a friend in an unrelated industry recently turned down a job offer. The title was Manager, not Director, a title she’d earned in her last position, and one she wasn’t willing to let go.

And yet another negotiated a substantial raise with the stipulation that the VP title she coveted must be bestowed within 6 months - and it was.

Titles can be a non-negotiable - or they can be a non-issue.

What weight do titles hold in the industry you serve? Let me know in the comments below!

Meg Time

Hitting the ground running this morning after a delightful weekend exploring Milwaukee with friends. Our hearts hurt a bit after a disappointing loss on Saturday night, but hope was restored with a win yesterday - such is the life of a Chicago Cubs fan!

I love trips like this - new neighborhoods to discover, interesting food choices, lots of laughter, easy conversation and strengthened connections.

And I also love when these trips come to an end.

It’s taken me time to recognize - and honor - my need to recharge after being “on.”

These days, “Meg Time” is a real thing for me. Sometimes I hold this space as an appointment on my calendar when life is particularly messy. Or, as it was yesterday when I returned home, it was a long walk with a favorite podcast to clear my mind.

However it takes shape, I know it is necessary for me to take this time in order to be able to show up wholly for those in my life.

Love to know - do you get your energy from being with others? Or do you need time to recharge? Let me know in the comments below!

Lessons Learned | Lesson Five

Sharing the last of just a few of the lessons I’ve learned as Adjunct Advisors, LLC celebrates its first year in business.

Lesson Five: We don't have to do this alone.

Perhaps you’ve noticed the posts I make here each Friday, highlighting a woman in my network and the work that she does - the #HaveHerBack series.

These women, and so many more, made space for me just after I’d left my corporate job two years ago, when curiosity was the only thing I had to offer them. They shared their wisdom and their knowledge freely and honestly, expecting nothing in return from me.

They’ve been there with a hug, a high five or a kick in the you-know-what - depending on what I needed at the time! Being part of this community of knowledgeable, confidendent, supportive and generous women has been a true gift.

I couldn’t do this alone, and I’m grateful I don’t have to.

How do you know when someone has your back? Let me know in the comments below!

Lessons Learned | Lesson Four

If it’s true that life begins at the edge of your comfort zone, then my life began when I launched Adjunct Advisors, LLC one year ago.

This week I’m sharing a handful of lessons I’ve learned this past year.

Lesson Four: If it feels clumsy and awkward, you're doing it right.

I’m a recovering skeptic - I still struggle, though, with money-back guarantees and a one-size-fits-all approach to most things - including building a business.

You already know I believe that we learn by doing. We gather information and we process it. We decide where it aligns with our tolerance for risk, and then we act. Or we don’t.

This year, I’ve learned there is indeed no magic formula for growing a business. Instead, it’s an ongoing cycle of trial and error, good days and not-so-good days, more trials and more errors. Days when it all makes sense and days when nothing does!

I was asked recently if I have any regrets, and I said that I’d instead prefer to call it advice I might give to someone just starting on this path, as our journey is our own.

I’d love to know: What advice would you give someone new to your industry? Let me know below!

Lessons Learned | Lesson Three

So many lessons learned this first year in business!

Sharing today the one that is proving to be far and away the most challenging.

Lesson Three: Half price wine tastes just as good.

When more goes out than comes in, shifting my money mindset means, very practically, re-prioritizing where the money goes.

It’s saying “no” to those nice-to-haves: an “I’ll only wear it once dress,” spendy dinners with friends at trendy hotspots, and last minute trips to catch a musician I love.

It also means saying “yes” to software subscriptions, all the taxes, and pretty awful health insurance (don’t get me started).

It means digging even deeper within to acknowledge my own beliefs surrounding worth and money, and to honor the value of the investment I’m making to create a different future for myself.

Let’s just say this particular self-development “opportunity” hasn’t exactly been a perk of entrepreneurship!

Let’s lighten the mood: If you happened upon $50 right now, what would you do with it? Leave your response below!

Lessons Learned | Lesson Two

One year down, so many to go!

This week, I’m sharing a few of the many lessons I’ve learned since launching Adjunct Advisors, LLC one year ago.

Lesson Two: People have an inherent desire to help. Well, most of them do.

Building the foundation of a business is a series of very solitary activities. In the early days, I whiled away hours - sometimes entire days - identifying my ideal customer, perfecting a website, a logo, business cards and building the first product I’d launch.

Then it was time to start telling the world what I was up to - and I panicked. It was one thing to sell a product - and totally another when the product was one that I’d researched, developed and then brought to life...and had my name on it!

I started connecting with those closest to me - those I knew would love me no matter what - and told my story. With one single exception, every person I’ve connected with since has been open to learning more about the work I’m doing.

And that one exception - well, she’s a story for another day! :

Have you been pleasantly surprised when you’ve asked for help? Let me know in the comments below!

Lessons Learned | Lesson One

Adjunct Advisors, LLC is one year old this week!

I’ll be taking a trip down memory lane over the next few days as I share a handful of the many lessons I’ve learned as I’ve navigated this first year in business. Off we go!

Lesson One: Not having a plan is still a plan.

When Adjunct Advisors came to life, I knew the problem I was out to solve and I knew how I was going to solve it. I also knew how much revenue I needed to generate for the business to sustain itself - and that I was the one most capable of doing this work.

I also knew of my love for lists and plans and that, for me, building a traditional business plan was an exercise that I could’ve spent months perfecting - a crutch for me that could’ve easily stalled my progress.

And, because mine is a service-based business and required very little capital to get off the ground, though some were curious about it, no one asked me for business plan.

So I pushed play - careful to stay nimble and recognize when I’m veering too far off course, and to pivot when instinct tells me I’ve done just that.

I’d love to know - are you a “read the instructions first” kind of person? Or do you just wing it? Let me know in the comments below!