Dear Reader, When I was growing up, church activities were our entertainment — especially in middle school and high school. And the big event every weekend was a dance. I grew up in Southern California, in Riverside. My dad was a professor at UCR, so we went wherever the dances were happening — Riverside, Costa Mesa, Corona, Irvine — whatever church gym was hosting that week. Now here’s the funny part. My background was ballet. Serious ballet.Nutcracker every year. Pointe shoes.Three to five...
10 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, As you know, we’ve moved to Utah, and lately we’ve been unpacking the garage and closets to get ready for a party this weekend. In the middle of it all, my husband brought me a box from his office and said, “I think this is yours.” Inside were three old, envelope-sized wallets. One was black and sparkly.One had fun pictures on it.One was simple blue leather. And instantly, I was taken back about ten years. Back then, I used a full envelope system. I would literally go to the...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, January always puts compliance top of mind for me. Especially if you run a business in states like California, New York, Illinois, or Oregon—places where employment rules, benefits requirements, and reporting laws change often. If you don’t have a system to track those changes, you’re left hoping nothing slips through the cracks. Years ago, when I owned a large music school in Orange County, I got an email from Gusto that stopped me in my tracks. It said something like:“Hey — a...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, As you start a new year, you’ll hear a lot of advice. Work harder. Push more. Grind it out. But the truth is—growth doesn’t come from effort alone. It comes from systems. My brother David was 6’4” and a serious bodybuilder.He didn’t “wing it” at the gym. You’d call him on a weekday and say, “Hey, want to grab lunch?”And he’d say, “Nope. Today is thigh day. I’m going to the gym.” He had a plan.A schedule.A system so dialed in that the results were inevitable. And trust me—he...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, You’ve seen the commercials. Go to the gym. Eat better. Drink more water. Take your vitamins. Get healthy. But here’s what no one is talking about: 👉 Your business needs to get in shape too. Most entrepreneurs start a business for freedom—more time, more flexibility, more financial security.And yet… somewhere along the way, the business becomes exhausting, stressful, and cash-hungry. Here’s the good news:There are simple things you can do that completely transform how your...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, This is our first year living in Utah, and on December 27th — the morning we celebrated Christmas with all three of my daughters, my son-in-law, and our three grandchildren — we woke up to a light dusting of snow. It hasn’t snowed much since we moved here. In fact, this little snow didn’t even stick to the cement — it only covered the grass. But my son-in-law grew up in Utah, so he knew exactly what to do. He bundled up his daughter, grabbed his son (this photo is of my...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Those of you who know me well know that before Finance MakeOver, I owned a large music school for 10 years with my adult daughter, who graduated in piano performance. At Glee Music Academy, we did it all — private lessons, choirs, music videos, performances. Before we sold the company in 2023, we had 25 employees and were deeply woven into our community. It was meaningful work, and it brought joy to see the progress of our students. This week, I received a picture that completely...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Have you ever noticed how easy it is to avoid your finances? There’s no deadline.No one’s waiting on it today.No fire to put out. So we tell ourselves: I’ll do it tomorrow. Stephen R. Covey said it best: “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” As business owners, finances often fall into the important but not urgent category. And because they aren’t urgent, they get pushed aside while we chase revenue, answer emails, and put out...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, As many of you know, I own a short-term rental business in Lake Arrowhead, California — we own a big, beautiful home we host for family reunions, birthdays, events, and even church retreats. 🏔️🏡 This week, a property manager friend called me asking about insurance for her cleaning company. Totally valid question — but as we talked, I realized something that stopped me cold… She had formed an LLC over a year ago for liability protection — but all of her income and expenses were...
2 months ago • 1 min read