Advice from Patty Block

The Wicked Truth

June 10, 2025 “Remember this: Nothing is written in the stars. Not these stars, nor any others. No one controls your destiny.” ― Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times o...

Deciding for the Win!

June 03, 2025 “We need to forgive ourselves. For all the things we didn't do. All the things we should have done. You can't get stuck on the regrets of what shou...

The Power of Potential

May 13, 2025 “Close the doors… fade to black… abandon ship…” All the metaphors running through my mind when the shock of changing course took hold.I was out of time and ...

Making Money But Having Little

May 06, 2025 “For business owners, it often feels like the need to serve is fighting with the need to sell. The spirit of self-sacrifice we learned from our role models steps...

Who is Going to Stop You?

April 29, 2025 “The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." – Ayn Rand, author and philosopherThink back to why you started your business. ...

The Keystone and Cornerstone

April 22, 2025 “Effective pricing is not some simplistic formula. It's a framework that works when you speak with a buyer - every time. You feel comfortable and ...

Avoiding Absolutes

April 15, 2025 “Never give away your intellectual property.” This is advice I give often, even though I normally avoid absolute statements.In the real world, ‘always’ an...

Inside the Jar

April 08, 2025 “As a rule, we think the primary way to generate more revenue is to raise our prices. However, that is only one of many ways to make more money. You don’t have...

It’s Not Enough

April 01, 2025 “It takes courage to push yourself to places you have never been before... to test your limits... to break through barriers. And the day came when the ...

The Whirl

March 25, 2025 “Sometimes you just have to jump out the window and grow wings on the way down.” – Ray Bradbury, Patty’s favorite author and screenwriter, author of Fahre...

The Bottom Line

March 18, 2025 ‘Always start with the bottom line.’ It’s advice I give often and I’m now sharing with you.So here goes: The bottom line is that you will exit you...

Our Invisible Reality

March 11, 2025 “There is an invisible world out there, and we are living in it.” – Bill Viola, Contemporary video and installation artist The trees are swaying but t...

Your Metaphorical Skin

March 04, 2025 “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” – Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States (1933-1945), diplomat, and activist...

Ready for Any Question

February 25, 2025 We’ve all felt it – that split second shock, that constriction and clenching of our bodies, that horrible moment when we don’t have an answer.We feel like t...

The Why Out

February 18, 2025 “I don’t see the way out, but I see the why out.” My client, Jill, has gotten very clear about why she wants to exit her business.Her firm is f...

Outcomes Versus Execution

February 11, 2025 “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” – George Bernard Shaw, playwright, political activist, and Nobel Laur...

Have You Built A Velvet Prison?

February 04, 2025 “I learned to always take on things I'd never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Ginni Rometty, First woman CEO of IBM, systems enginee...

Feeling Successful - and Stuck?

January 28, 2025 Are you peeking out from behind the closed curtain?For me, my business life breaks down like a play - in three acts.If "All the world's a stage…”*, your busi...

What is Your Next Transition?

January 21, 2024 " Transitions are almost always signs of growth, but they can bring feelings of loss. To get somewhere new, we may have to leave somewhere else behind." – Fr...

Are You Hiding in Your Business?

January 14, 2025 "You can't be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute." - Tina Fey, actress, comedian, writer,...

Are You Building a Legacy?

January 07, 2025 "Create your legacy and pass the baton." – Billie Jean King, tennis champion and social activist.Most women business owners I know are so busy with the day-t...

What is the Best Approach For…?

December 31, 2024 “Opportunities – the good ones – are messy, confusing, and hard to recognize. They’re risky. They challenge you.” – Susan Wojcicki, Former CEO of YouTu...

How Do I Talk About…?

December 24, 2024 “Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell.” – Seth Godin, author, entrepreneur, and teacherWhen you make a major...

When is the Best Time To…?

December 17, 2024 Say what you will about Houston and its four seasons (drought, flooding, scorching and sweltering), there are days as summer turns to fall that are spe...

How Do I Get Prepared For…?

December 10, 2024 “Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” – Marie Forleo, entrepreneur, writer and philanthropistWhile I...

Can I Really…?

December 03, 2024 "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt."--William ShakespeareWe all have doubts, from small things to li...

Thanksgiving Memories

November 26, 2024 All the food in my refrigerator spoiled with the heat, and sleeping at night was impossible.July in Houston is searing under the best of circumstances, but ...

How Do I Avoid…?

November 19, 2024 I hate scary movies but love scary books. Why do I avoid one and not the other? I think it comes down to control.In my mind, I can control the pace and...

How Do I Know…?

November 12, 2024 I have long believed that the real job of an entrepreneur is to experiment. Be curious – ask strategic questions – try something new – succeed or fail – and...

Real Questions from Real Women

November 05, 2024 I’m trying something new. After writing almost 100 original long-form articles, I noticed some patterns in the questions women business owners are a...

Deconstructing the Dots

October 29, 2024 Finding our purpose is a tricky thing.I find great purpose in my work, but I also believe my role as a parent, raising good humans, has impacted where I...

Our Missing Link

October 22, 2024 One of my favorite quotes always makes me smile: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” (anonymous, often attributed to poet and playwright Oscar...

Unconscious Competence

October 15, 2024 “You can be miserable before you have a cookie and you can be miserable after you eat a cookie, but you can't be miserable while you are eating a cookie.” - ...

A Validating Surprise

October 08, 2024 “But I’m not ready!”“It feels great that someone recognizes what I’ve built but…”“I can’t believe what that company is offering…”“I guess I better take it be...

Why You Do The Work You Do

October 01, 2024 One of the most popular ways to talk about yourself and your business has a name: business storytelling.And while I believe in the power of a good story...

Your Best Mistake

September 24, 2024 “Eek, that’s a sour note!” she admonished.I knew it the instant it happened – maybe before it happened. I was playing an especially difficult piece of...

The Magic of Moments

September 17, 2024 I recently read a phenomenal book and there are many things that stuck with me.If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you won’t want to miss this one....

Does Your Business Have Legs?

September 10, 2024 Empowerment: an overused buzzword that I find irritating. The only person who can empower you is you!You don’t ‘empower’ your clients, and neither do I. We...

4 Root Causes of Epic Fails

September 03, 2024 We all know the game-show Jeopardy, where you are given statements and have to determine the question.Imagine you’re playing ‘Leadership Jeopardy’ with ‘De...

Not Knowing Your Way

August 27, 2024 There is no magic answer to running your business successfully. There is no one-size-fits-all formula. No one else has the recipe that will work for you....

The Doing Dilemma

August 20, 2024 “Hoping and wishing are excuses for not doing.” – Dr. Robert AnthonyI heard this recently and felt confused. I can see the wisdom behind it, but I still ...

I’m Not Sorry

August 13, 2024 Like most humans, I am extremely confident about some things – and not so much with other things.I’m cautious that my confidence doesn’t spill over into arrog...

The Diplomatic No

August 06, 2024 Crafting a message that is clear, concise, and conveys value will boost your confidence. You will feel more in control and less likely to feel knocked of...

The Confidence Game

July 30, 2024 Are you working too hard for too little?Have you fallen into the trap of thinking you need to work harder to make more money? Worse, have you invested time...

Our Tongue-Tied Tango

July 23, 2024 When someone expresses interest in working with us, we regularly make the mistake of thinking their interest is purely about the work.We may launch into te...

The Nuance Knot

July 16, 2024 Many years ago, I worked with a client who thought I hung the sun, the moon, and the stars. She sang my praises and told me how much she appreciated me and my w...

Plan Like a Politician

July 09, 2024 I was caught off guard last week – and I started thinking about what that really means.In that moment, I felt surprised, unprepared, frustrated, and a bit ...

Your Third Act

July 02, 2024 I felt startled by what she said – but not really surprised. How very sad.My client Jill recently told me: “I don't think I realized the level of dissatisfactio...

Strategic Repetition

June 25, 2024 There’s an old maxim for public speaking: “Tell them what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them”.Why does this struc...

Key Point Killers

June 18, 2024 Your primary role as a business owner is to position your company in the marketplace. Yes, you work with clients, run your company, and handle sales. But unless...

Anchors Aweigh!

June 11, 2024 Once upon a time…When I was growing up…On a dark and stormy night…There are as many ways to start an engaging story as there are to end it. Using stories to bri...

“Once Upon a Midnight Dreary…”

June 04, 2024 I can hear them in the kitchen – Mom talking, listening, and laughing with the ‘old folks’. One after another, every couple of days, she records someone el...

Just Done!

May 28, 2024 “I’m just done! I’ve had it with the daily frustrations, demanding clients, and bending over backwards to keep my staff happy. I want to spend my time on people ...

No Cookie-Cutter Approach

May 21, 2024 I typically don't read business books. I find that, rather than building on other people's ideas, I like to develop my own perspectives.In fact, I’m very protect...

Jumping Off the Revenue Rollercoaster

May 14, 2024 When my children were small, my home office doubled as a playroom for the kids. On this memorable day, all three kids were sitting at my feet, playing with toys ...

Painting Yourself Into a Corner

May 07, 2024 Judy is scared. I know because she told me. Flat out, direct, and honest, I can see the fear in her eyes.I get it – the stakes are high, and she doesn’t wan...

The Magic of Needle and Thread

April 30, 2024 “Shears, not scissors”, he growled. The giant metal shears were so heavy I could barely hold them, let alone use them.A talented tailor, my great-grandfat...

Betwixt & Between

April 23, 2024 Our foundational beliefs, especially as women, are limiting how we build, optimize, and exit our companies.As Henry Ford famously said: “If you think you ...

Crossing Thresholds

April 16, 2024 I’m not generally a fan of the Romantic Age poets, but William Blake enchanted me with his reflection:“In the universe, there are things that are known, and th...

The Wizard or the Witch?

April 09, 2024 “Would you rather be ‘the man behind the curtain’ or ‘the Wizard’?” he asked me.My colleague Mike and I were talking about how we promote our companies.In my v...

The Curse of the Linear Thinker

April 02, 2024 At some point, you will exit your business, whether it’s voluntary or not.Are you leaving your life’s work, your impact, and your legacy in the hands of f...

Better, Not Bigger

March 26, 2024 Small-business owners have a conundrum. Everyone around us uses the concept of scaling as the primary measure of business success.If you believe the road ...

Giddy-Up with a Steady Hand

March 19, 2024 Growing up in South Texas, my favorite times at our family ranch were riding a young horse named Red. He was chestnut brown, but his coat sparkled red in the s...

Claim the Whole Cookie

March 12, 2024 Currency is a symbol, and like any representation, it means what we say it means. In each country, the government defines the currency, flag, and anthem.O...

Revenue Versus Value

March 05, 2024 A break-even year?! Norah studied the forecast I built and couldn’t believe it. She and her staff were working way too hard not to realize a profit!As the owne...

Recognizing Red Flags

February 27, 2024 It’s a bright, sunny day – hot even by South Texas standards. But the sun is glittering off the water and there’s nowhere I’d rather be. I spent so muc...

♪♫ I Can See Clearly Now… ♪♫

February 20, 2024 There are many things you can control and many things you can’t. As women business owners, we often feel responsible for issues, people, and actions over which we...

The Succession Fallacy

February 13, 2024 I see it over and over… one of the biggest mistakes women business owners make when they start thinking about exiting their business.It is such a big mistake that it ca...

Vitalize Your Value Muscle

February 06, 2024 “How much is my business worth?”“Will someone out there really value what I’ve built?”“I’m hoping my business is my retirement plan. How realistic is that?”These are re...

Your Exit Readiness Secret Ingredient

January 30, 2024 Growing up, my mom made these fabulous cookies. The whole house smelled good, the cookies were warm and gooey - I mean these were seriously good cookies - and my entire ...

The Top-Secret Strategy

January 23, 2024 I love a puzzle. I love the cleverness that went into devising it. I love learning new things and creating new approaches. I love bringing others into the process becaus...

Not Knowing What You Think You Should Know

January 16, 2024 There is nothing quite like working in politics to hone your communication skills. In my first business, I was a political consultant and lobbyist. I loved the work, it ...

The Trouble with Trust

January 09, 2024 The numbers are shocking.It's estimated that only 30% of owners successfully sell their small business, leaving 70% of small businesses without a viable plan...

No Hiding

January 02, 2024 Walk down almost any fashionable street and you’ll see them. Star-studded films and photo galleries are brimming with them. They come in hundreds of varieties and yet, the...

The Magic of Hidden Diamonds

December 26, 2023 Glass doorknobs sparkling in the sunlight were really hidden diamonds. The crystal multi-level candy dish on the coffee table held other secrets. Delicious smells were ...

Hitting a Nerve

December 19, 2023 I’ve written many, many articles over the past decades. In fact, I often wonder if anyone is reading them.Then, along comes an article I wrote that clearly hit a nerve ...

Tripping Over Pitfalls

December 12, 2023 Filters: we all have them and sometimes they make it hard to see clearly. It’s challenging to know who to trust and who really has your best interest at heart.That’s th...

What Will Be Your Legacy?

December 05, 2023 Legacy is typically described as what you leave behind when you are gone - the ideas, concepts, work product, and spirit of what is most important to you.Ma...

Three Key Questions to Guide What

November 28, 2023 What’s next for you and your business? Are you going through a transition that seems hard to manage?Have you figured out how you will let go of the old...

Best Thanksgiving Ever!

November 21, 2023 I’m laughing so hard; I can hardly breathe. Everyone is laughing: my Mom, my brothers, my sister and sisters-in-law, my children, and my nieces and nephews....

What Happened at the What’s Next Roundtable?

November 14, 2023 Even over video, I could sense the excitement. There was a buzz in the air and lots of smiling faces. Webcams were on!This is the first time I’ve hosted an ...

Want to Create Your Own Little Black Dress?

November 07, 2023 There I am, sitting on the floor of the children’s department like a protest.My mom loved to tell the story of buying doll socks because I was such a t...

Orienting to the Sea

October 31, 2023 A very wise colleague recently shared her thoughts about how to orient yourself to something new, as you’re managing a transition in your life or business. S...

Evolving Through Transitions

October 24, 2023 In 2022, I went through several important transitions: my Mom died suddenly, I became a grandmother, and I moved my home and office. There was sadness a...

Future-Casting: Shaping What’s Next

October 17, 2023 Many years ago, I heard someone say that ‘big pictures are painted with small brushstrokes.’ That really stuck with me because I find it to be true in both l...

The What’s Next Roundtable

October 10, 2023 I recently shared my vision and concerns about future-proofing your business.If you’ve ever wondered what’s next for your business, whether it’s expansion, n...

What’s Next for Your Business?

October 03, 2023 Not long ago, I invited a small group of seasoned women business owners to talk about future-proofing their businesses.These experts in accounting, law,...

Embracing the Chill of Winter

September 26, 2023 In a picturesque town nestled at the foot of snow-covered mountains, lived a remarkable woman named Sarah. For two decades, she owned a highly successful...

It’s Not About the Exit

September 19, 2023 A sound business strategy is timeless.Positioning your company for your exit is a foundational strategy that will help you generate more revenue, stre...

To Pivot or Pirouette?

September 12, 2023 “You’ll ruin your feet”, he said. “I don’t care”, I murmured; almost whispered.I was too young to stand up to my Dad. He was a tough dad and wasn’t one to negotiate.Da...

Women Don’t Retire

September 05, 2023 Have you ever dreamed of the next chapter in your life?Yes, you love your business, your people, and your clients. That sense of purpose you’ve found in your work is r...

What Does It Mean To Be Exit Ready?

August 29, 2023 The past 25 years of my life have been one giant exercise in letting go.I remember sitting in a shiny, pink vinyl booth at my favorite diner like it was yesterday. I felt...

Don’t Be the Solution

August 22, 2023 Jodie was frantic. She was making calls and dashing off emails as fast as she could. One of her largest clients had booked a three-day training that was a thousand m...

The Elegant Exit

August 15, 2023 At some point, you will exit your business, whether it’s voluntary or not. If you needed to step away from your business today, due to a health problem or a famil...

Every Good Intention…

August 08, 2023 Business owners know better than most people the critical need for setting and achieving goals. But more often than we’d like to admit, we’re building the ship as we sail...

All Roads Lead to Winter

August 01, 2023 We often think of our lives as falling into four seasons and it’s a handy way to think about your business too. What do the seasons mean for you? Spring – Starti...

The X-Files as Therapy

July 25, 2023 Wednesday nights were the hardest for me during my divorce. My children’s father had talked me into having the kids sleep over with him every Wednesday, promising to g...

Reject The Myth of More

July 18, 2023 What does The Broken Cookie Effect® look like in action? One of our most common and troubling beliefs is that the road to consistent revenue is pa...

The Subtle Art of Reframing

July 11, 2023 Our thoughts, beliefs, actions, and habits frequently work to protect us. If I believe my pricing is “fine,” that preempts my anxiety of feeling hurt by imagined objections...

Are You Stuck Under the Glass Ceiling?

July 05, 2023 We all have false foundational beliefs, and they’re deeply ingrained. We learn them early and can struggle with them all our lives. These limiting beliefs – our own personal myths – ...

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