September 2025
I realized again recently that I’m in good company in my efforts to find new opportunities to improve and learn. Best-selling author and podcaster Gretchen Rubin, one of my gurus who studies happiness, habits, and human nature, always talks about how September is the other January. For many people it’s new routines (or a return to one after summer), structure and motivation.
I love structure, and I’m highly motivated, which I will credit for my willingness to work on strategic planning lately. I was encouraged – ok, pushed – to pull back the lens on my business, reflect and ensure my business practices are aligned with my goals.
I thrive on minutiae, not the big picture, so this was challenging. But, the strategic-planning exercise reminded me that for anything to be productive, especially a small business, taking the time to work on your business and not just in it is very important.
With some newcomers around here, and given my strategic-planning efforts that drive marketing and communications with you, now seems like a great time to share some of my principles and my why.
Core Principles of Workflows by Ronna:
Get to-dos out of your mind and write them in a centralized location: Clear your brain bandwidth.
Create documents for repeatable processes: Save time by not reinventing the wheel.
Be proactive, not reactive, and pace your tasks: Minimize stress and chaos.
Improving how you manage your to-dos gives you more time to excel at work, enjoy your hobbies, and spend time doing what makes you happy.
That last one points to a lot of my why for myself and for you. Working with me should make more time for you to do what makes you happy. Productivity in your work and/or personal life will allow you to set your own new intentions, whether it’s September or January, or any month of the year.
- Ronna
Reading outside with Bailey
My Favorite Things
I love reading, which I know I’ve shared before, and thus I just love my Kindle.
Lately, I’ve been making a concerted effort to carve out more time for it. Because if we love something, why not make space to do it more often?
So, like most things I want to make happen in my days, I’ve planned for reading time. And get this… it’s not just on the weekends or when everything else is done. I’m reading at the start of my day! It’s a simple switch, but it’s been impactful.
I’m always reading a fiction and a nonfiction book at the same time. So, lately, I’ve felt pretty proud of myself when I sit down to read during the day, learn something to improve myself or my business and then move on to my next task, meeting or call. I’m prioritizing this favorite thing because it brings me joy, and it’s good for me and my business.
Me, Ellie Ander of Chicago North Shore Moms, Nina Badzin of Dear Nina, Jill Rivkin of Jill Rivkin Communications, Leslie Randolph of The Coach Chronicles, and Dr. Julia Millman of Dr. Julia Millman Esthetic Medicine at Nina’s live podcast event; photo credit: Tony Mazur
What I’m Thinking About
Workflows by Ronna was featured in a podcast ad! You must know by now that I love podcasts, so I’ve definitely bought products from ads and I value what my favorite podcasters choose to promote. This felt like a big milestone for my business.
It got me thinking about how important milestones are for small-business owners. So many of us have put countless hours and efforts into building our businesses, so when we cross a threshold or reach a milestone, we should celebrate!
So, here, I’ll celebrate my podcast ad (you can listen to it here!) on a great podcast called Dear Nina, which is all about the ups and downs of friendship. Her practical and compassionate voice has been very helpful to me.
Recently, Nina hosted a live event nearby so I went and got to experience her recording a podcast with an audience. Connecting with her in real life was great, and there were many other small-biz women there who I’ve met through the DearFoundHer community.
Give Dear Nina a listen, and be sure to download a recent episode with The Coach Chronicles’ Leslie Randolph, another small business (and podcaster and friend) wracking up the milestones as she takes on confidence coaching for girls.
Dear Nina will always hold a special place for me as the first place I heard Workflows by Ronna promoted.
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