Are You Ready For The “What Ifs” and the “Oh Nos”?

As business owners and leaders, we spend a lot of time thinking about what we want for our companies.

We set revenue targets, define our ideal clients, and create growth strategies.

But how often do we apply that same intention to our lives as a whole?

What if… the most powerful business plan you could ever create wasn’t for your business at all, but for your next decade?

Five years ago, a milestone birthday made me confront a powerful question: Was I just letting life happen, or was I actively designing it?

It felt like I was at a crossroads, with the pre-determined milestones of a traditional career path no longer guiding me. I craved autonomy and a sense of purpose that went beyond titles and compensation.

I realized I needed a new North Star—one that was entirely my own!

So, I decided to do something radical…

I sat down and wrote my own eulogy.

It might sound morbid, but it was one of the most clarifying exercises of my life.

I imagined what I would want people to say about me at the end of my life. My family came first—my husband and children, my parents and siblings. I wanted my legacy to be one of support, presence, and joy. I realized my desire was to send ripples of positivity into the world, to make others successful, and to use my wisdom to help those around me.

And then you know what happened?

This eulogy became my design.

It revealed what I truly valued and the kind of impact I wanted to make. It informed a 10-year vision, which I then broke down into three-year goals, one-year commitments, and a 12-week action plan.

I won’t lie and say that everything has been a perfectly executed checklist. My “working genius” strengths lie in galvanizing and enabling, not in the day-to-day grind of tenacity.

But I read that plan every single day. It set my intention and kept my focus on what truly mattered.

And then, last month, that plan was put to the test.

My mom went in for what we thought was a routine heart test. The diagnosis came back as an emergency double bypass surgery.

In that moment, everything I had designed for became real. I packed a bag and was on the road for a seven-hour drive within 90 minutes. In my former life, this would have been a logistical nightmare of clearing a schedule, finding a place for tasks to go, and putting a career on hold. But because I had designed my decade to prioritize a flexible, portable business and a manageable home life, I was able to go without hesitation.

I was calm, I was present, and I was available when it mattered most.

My work was portable, and I had clients who understood and supported my need to be with my family. I had designed a life where I could be a dedicated daughter and a supportive spouse and still run a successful business. I was ready.

Creating a life and a business that serves you is about being intentional.

It’s about deciding what you want your legacy to be, not just your profit margin.

So I leave you with this my dear reader…

What would your eulogy say? How would you design your decade to make it a reality?

Set up a time to chat and let me know,

Laurie