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FLOOR NOTES FOR THE END-OF-YEAR PUSH
Edition 045
Jessica Murray
September 11, 2025
Our featured article either offers a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re up to at Empower or provides a fresh lens on how to grow, operate or think differently about business.
THE FALL POWER PUSH & TAKEAWAYS FROM A LOCAL CONFERENCE
Labor Day has come and gone, and the end-of-year pick-up is in the air. Do you feel it?
I sure do. Everyone’s back in the office, fall conference and travel season is here, and you can feel the mix of energy and angst as business leaders hustle to hit targets or budget by the end of the year.
Empower’s not an exception either. In the past couple of weeks, there’s been a surge in:
Prospects “circling back” on proposal conversations.
Partners are taking a sharp view at the remaining days in the calendar year and working backward to double down on priorities.
My own thinking about how to accelerate velocity and set the end of the year (and 2026) up for success.
Business development conversations and networking opportunities after the August pause. This week, in particular, was a big one.
On that last bullet point, I spent much of the beginning of the week at LaunchTN’s annual 3686 conference. The event is the largest of its kind in the state, bringing together the entrepreneurial community to showcase innovation across Tennessee.
These events are always a whirlwind. And while they take a lot of energy, I’ve found 3686 to be a productive one over the past two years for learning more about what’s evolving, changing and emerging in my own backyard. For example, I somehow missed that Nashville broke into the top 20 markets for pre-seed fundraising last quarter, and it was brought to my attention on Tuesday.
Ten takeaways in soundbites
Since this was an entrepreneur-centered event, and this newsletter’s audience consists largely of current and aspiring business builders, I thought you’d be interested in the sound bites I jotted down.
So, here it goes…the top 10 I remembered:
There are many moving pieces to running a business. If you’re thinking about starting or acquiring one, remember that and do the work.
Don’t lose sight of the people, whether the ones internally helping you build or your customers.
If you’re facing a challenge, seek out the founder who had to overcome that issue nine months ago and survived. They can show you a path.
Deeply understand the customers and build products that fit their lives.
Your customers will give you signals of your relevance.
You can change someone’s day with something as simple as an unexpected “hello.”
Sometimes, constraints can actually bring out the creativity.
Build intentionality about what you want your life to look like, both inside and outside of the business.
Sweat the details.
Your pitch should be the movie trailer, not the entire movie.
Any of those hit home? Reply and tell me which one(s).
What’s next?
There’s more from this week’s events to share. Too much for one newsletter, so expect a sequel in two weeks.
I think you’ll enjoy what’s next.
Yesterday, on the final day of conference events, I took the mic myself as a co-host of one of 3686’s third-day Partner Popups.
The Topic? Read the Signals: What Founders Can Learn from Real-Time Customer Insights.
In Edition 046, you can expect reflections and a recap of the event, including the key messages that could be helpful if you’re trying to interpret and act on customer insights and data.
A peek into another entrepreneurial journey. The wins, challenges, pivots and lessons.
MEET REBECCA SCHWARTZ SMITH, FOUNDER & CEO OF MAMALA ORGANICS
Q: When did you know you were destined to build a business?
A: “No clue. What I do know is I spent a decade helping other founders build their businesses, and that gave me the confidence that maybe I had what it takes, too. Then I became obsessed with the whitespace where functional snacking meets women’s health. My biggest pain point during postpartum was the inability to get the incredible, nutrient-dense foods I knew my body needed—my supplements could only do so much. All I could find were lactation balls, bars, or cookies. Mamala Support Snacks came to me and I couldn’t ignore it—it felt so obvious: the need, and the way we could solve it.“
Q: What’s the most unexpected thing (+/-) that’s happened along your entrepreneurial journey?
A: “Unexpected things happen constantly—it’s hard to pick just one. While production headwinds are always part of the game, I’ll focus on the positive: the outpouring of grassroots support has been incredibly meaningful and genuinely unexpected. Whether it’s a LinkedIn shoutout or an Instagram post, seeing people resonate with what we’re building and share it with love means everything. Another unexpected (and deeply affirming) moment has been the embrace from practitioners—OBs, pediatricians, doulas—who not only recommend our snacks but also see us as a trusted partner in nutrition education. That kind of validation has fueled us more than we could’ve imagined.“
Q: When did you hit your first scaling challenge, and how did you overcome it?
A: “I’m writing to you from the thick of it - as we scale from bench to full production! So far, we’ve overcome challenges with ingredient sourcing and packaging, and I know there will be more ahead in both areas. Creating a high-quality, whole-food, organic product is not for the faint of heart—if it were easy, everyone would do it. But we’ve got an excellent team and strong problem-solvers, and I have full faith we’ll navigate what comes next.“
Q: If you were starting all over, what’s one piece of advice you would give yourself?
A: “I’d say: Rebecca, always remember - you get to do this. Every day on this earth is a blessing. Let that be your North Star. And when the fear creeps in, remember what Steven Bartlett said: Embarrassment is the price of entry. Just keep going—send the extra follow-up, talk to the camera on Instagram, take the leap. If you’re really going for it, give it your all.“
Q: Do you have one ask or offer you would like to share with the Empower community?
A: “I offer myself as a founder friend - if you ever want to talk shop, I’m here. And if you need a hypewoman to like, comment, and boost your work, just say the word. My ask: If you love what we’re building, tell the women in your life—especially those who’ve given birth in the last 10 years. Postpartum is an up to 10-year nutrient-critical life stage, and our first collection is focused on postpartum healing and recovery. Mamala Support Snacks were made for them.“
Q: A fun one, what’s your all-time favorite restaurant and where is it located?
A: “I’m a woman of simple pleasures. Drop me at Mud in the East Village for brunch—I want a scramble with every veggie they’ve got, plus beans and rice. Then I’ll head across the street to Veselka for pierogies with grilled onions.“
Want to learn more?
If you want to take Rebecca up on her offer, reply to this newsletter, and I’ll make a direct connection! For more about Mamala Organics or to order the product, visit the website.
An approachable tip designed for incremental improvement with outsized impact.
Networking notes
Since I just came off several days of conferencing, I’ll share one small move that helps me in scenarios during which I’m in multiple, consecutive meetings with new people, and it can be challenging to remember conversation details at the end of a long day.
Right after I complete a conversation, I immediately either pull up my Notes app or open a notebook and write down four things:
The person’s full name
Company name
One distinctive detail about the conversation
Next step/action item
This quick exercise helps me avoid:
Forgetting people I meet (especially names).
Not recalling key meeting moments or interesting connection points.
Going to conferences can be exhausting, especially if you’re a founder trying to meet investors, prospective customers and others who can support your growth. This quick tip helps reduce stress and will save time when you sit down to send follow-up notes.
Curated reads or listens to spark new ideas or expand your thinking.
WORK FUTURES: LOOKING FORWARD FROM 100 JOBS OF THE FUTURE
TL;DR
There’s no shortage of unease, excitement, dread, unknowns and questions about what careers will look like in the future. The current economic landscape and the rapid pace of AI, in particular, contribute to the elevated chatter. Given the level of conversation and debate, this report seemed relevant and intriguing.
Which future job(s) capture your intrigue?
Playful and purely for enjoyment.
Never forget
This one is less playful than usual.
As someone who was a teenager living in New York on 9/11, it’s hard to let the date pass without a form of remembrance.
This day, 24 years ago, was tragic. There was also something I remember from that time. People came together, felt the impact and supported one another.
So, take a few moments today to remember the past and everything that day in 2001 represented. Maybe it can teach us something in the present, too.
My original copy of The New York Times from September 12, 2001. Yes, it’s gone with me everywhere since that day.
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