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.
LET THEM, LET ME
It was one of those spiral moments. If you’re an entrepreneur, maybe this will sound familiar.
I’d worked almost every evening, had been on the networking circuit for months and found myself another late night typing away. Catching up on emails, responding to Slack, developing content so I didn’t let marketing slip and toiling through my to-do lists.
There was so much I was doing for my business, and I found myself asking that familiar question: “Am I doing enough?”
Put differently, “Am I doing the right things?”
I started down the comparison rabbit hole (never a good idea): Others seemed to be moving much faster, that person just closed a huge deal, I wasn’t meeting the high expectations I put on myself or this business.
That’s when I knew I needed to reset.
I took a beat and zoomed out from the daily noise.
When I relieved myself of the judgment, I actually saw all the progress.
The truth was:
My business was in a much healthier place than six months prior.
I was working with the right partners and enjoying the work.
People were referring their network to me.
I had made an intentional pivot to primarily focus on new, revenue-driving activities, and it paid off.
I was being recognized for my work, building a valuable network and making an impact on my community.
As I’ve spent more time recently reflecting on this year and these moments, I’ve also thought about lessons I’ve picked up from other sources.
Not to be cliché by referencing Mel Robbins’ viral book of the year, but there are four words she uses that I do keep coming back to, not just for personal development, but also for business and leadership development: Let Them and Let Me.
In Robbins’ book Let Them, she introduces these simple words to convey a message: We have no control over what others do. However, we do have agency in our response.
In business, I think about it slightly differently:
Let Them handle their business and have their successes.
Let Me take ownership of what’s mine: creating the strategy, systems and rhythms that will allow me to propel the business forward with intention and increase the likelihood of achieving my goals.
I said it at the beginning…”Maybe this will sound familiar.”
I’m not the first entrepreneur to have these moments of doubt, questioning or isolation.
I’m not the first entrepreneur to be tempted by a shiny new object when something else feels stale.
I’m not the first entrepreneur to compare myself to peers or competitors.
I’m not the first entrepreneur to wish things moved faster.
The point isn’t to avoid these moments. It’s to remember that you hold far more power than you think. It’s in both how you respond and what you do next.
I recently came across a quote:
You don’t improve your life by doing more. You improve it by doing less of what doesn’t matter.
Maybe that’s the key. The real work required to build sustainable leadership and help you design a business to last. Not reacting faster, but responding better.
A peek into another entrepreneurial journey. The wins, challenges, pivots and lessons.
MEET ASHLEY OBRYAN, FOUNDER & CEO OF FLUFF & BOOTS
Q: When did you know you were destined to build a business?
A: “I realized I was destined to build a business the moment I couldn’t find quality, everyday products that truly worked for my cats while blending seamlessly into my home and lifestyle. While juggling the needs (and kneads) of my own cats and witnessing the ongoing stray and feral cat crisis, I not only recognized a gap for products that blend comfort, function and design, but I also discovered my ‘purpose spark.’ I wanted to create a brand that improves life for cats and their humans, brings cat lovers together through our FAB community, and contributes meaningfully to the wellbeing of animals everywhere. That clarity sparked Fluff & Boots, and I knew then that building a brand around this mission was exactly what I was meant to do.“
Q: What’s the most unexpected thing (+/-) that’s happened along your entrepreneurial journey?
A: “The most unexpected part of my journey building Fluff & Boots has been realizing how difficult it is for small businesses to create ethical, well-made products in an industry that often prioritizes cost over conscience. From sourcing materials that are luxurious, durable and safe to ensuring manufacturing operations uphold clean, safe working conditions free from forced labor, every decision requires careful consideration and often comes at a higher cost. The pet industry is largely dominated by mass-market brands that rely on low-cost manufacturing practices, which can include unethical labor, toxic dyes, and poor quality products with short life cycles that are wreaking havoc on landfills.
Small brands like ours face the challenge of doing the right thing without the economies of scale or resources of the larger companies that perpetuate these norms. Yet, this commitment to ethical practices has not only differentiated Fluff & Boots but has also resonated deeply with our community of cat parents who share our values. It’s shown me that when we put quality first and operate with integrity, we can build a brand that’s both compassionate and commercially sustainable. In short, simply doing the right thing has been harder than anticipated, but worth it.“
Q: When did you hit your first scaling challenge, and how did you overcome it?
A: “We are working through our first scaling challenge as we speak, which is the consideration of wider retail distribution and a wholesale model. By staying focused on direct-to-consumer growth we’re able to protect the customer experience, ensure our products reach cats and their humans exactly as intended, build a loyal community that shares our values, and it allows us to contribute the most financially to our Pawesome Mission. It’s not the fastest path, but it’s the one that preserves our integrity and impact, and is something we must heavily weigh in any decision to scale our distribution. Regardless, we would be seeking like-minded retail partners and prioritizing small, women-owned businesses to best ensure alignment with our values. I will keep you posted on how we overcome this one!“
Q: If you were starting all over, what’s one piece of advice you would give yourself?
A: “As a solopreneur, I’d tell myself to start even smaller and slow things down more than I think I should. It’s so easy to get excited and eager to launch, but when you’re essentially wearing every hat in a business, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed once things start taking off. For example, I decided to pull myself back from plans to launch in the EU and UK within our first 1-2 years post-launch in the U.S., even though I had already put time and effort into market research, partner evaluation, logistics, planning, etc. If I can still manage to launch in one or both of those markets by October 2026, then that’s great, but staying small and focused on the U.S. isn’t a bad decision.“
Q: Do you have one ask or offer you would like to share with the Empower community?
A: “As a thank you to fellow small business supporters and the Empower community, I’d love to offer a $20 gift code to help cats and their owners enjoy cozy, stylish spaces together! Simply use code EMPOWER20 at checkout. And good news- this can be combined with any other discounts or promotions, and shipping is always free.“
Q: A fun one, what’s your all-time favorite restaurant and where is it located?
A: “Tao Downtown in NYC was a staple when I was living in the city. I have so many good, fun memories there from various occasions and random nights out, plus the food is consistently good and the menu has plenty of options for everyone.“
Want to learn more?
An approachable tip designed for incremental improvement with outsized impact.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE: ONE-WAY / TWO-WAY DOORS
Earlier in my career, I was introduced to Jeff Bezos’s decision-making concept: one-way / two-way doors. It’s a useful framework when you’re moving fast and facing a constant stream of complex decisions daily.
If you’re not familiar with the concept, here’s the breakdown:
One-way doors (Type 1 Decisions): Consequential and irreversible decisions. If you walk through it, there’s no turning back to where you are today. Be methodical, careful and deliberate in the choice you make.
Two-way doors (Type 2 Decisions): Changeable and reversible. These make up most decisions we’re faced with day-to-day. These should be made quickly by high-judgment individuals or small groups.
The trick is recognizing which is which, and not over-analyzing decisions that can be more easily reversed if they turn out to be the wrong move.
Before overthinking a choice, ask: Which type of door am I walking through?
Walk swiftly through two-way doors, and save the heavy deliberations for the few that truly matter.
Curated reads or listens to spark new ideas or expand your thinking.
21 WAYS PEOPLE ARE USING AI AT WORK FROM The New York Times
TL;DR
Pretty much everyone I speak to, myself included (yes, I may, from time to time, speak to myself), is trying to glean insight into how other people and organizations are getting value from AI.
This piece from The New York Times summarizes survey responses and provides a glimpse into use cases across industries:
Restaurant owners are brainstorming creative sales strategies.
A botanical garden curator using AI to identify millions of dried plant specimens.
A company president is using it to more effectively detect leaks in water systems.
Doctors are using it to automate patient notes.
Call centers enabling more human capacity via AI.
The list goes on. Definitely several in there I didn’t think of previously. Worth a quick read.
Any use cases you would add to the list based on recent experience? Reply to the newsletter and share. I would enjoy learning from you!
Playful and purely for enjoyment.
NAME YOUR FAVORITE HALLOWEEN CANDY
I’m not big into the spooky or costume aspects of Halloween. But I can definitely get into the candy.
My hands-down, all-time favorite? 100 Grand Bars.
Caramel. Milk chocolate. Crispies. Chef’s kiss.
What’s yours? Hit reply and let me know.
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