I’m out of the office.

As a result, this newsletter was written and scheduled in advance to minimize disruption during my time away. It’s also going to be brief.

I’m a big believer in working hard, AND taking time for rest.

I’ve written before about the importance of creating this space (scroll down to Weekly Dose of Empowerment) to:

In my life philosophy, there’s space for that statement to be an AND (hard work AND rest); not EITHER/OR. Not everyone will agree with me there, and that’s fine. But it likely won’t change how I operate either.

Why?

Recharging is an important ingredient to sustaining high levels of performance over time.

Throughout my career, the moments I remember having the most clarity and creative inspiration were on a scenic walk, during a weekend or while on vacation.

When I decided to leave Wall Street early in my career, I traveled to New Zealand solo, and for the first time in a long time had time to think about something outside the job. On that trip, I became more confident in what my next chapter should look like and came back energized to start the search.

The initial spark for Empower lit while I was reading a book in Spain. I started pulling that thread, and here we are.

There’s something about getting out of the usual routine, exploring a new place or simply sitting still that opens the door for those “aha” moments.

R&R looks different for everyone. It doesn’t have to be exotic or long. Sometimes, filling your cup is as simple as one day away.

When you’re building a business, it can feel even more overwhelming and high-pressure to step away from the grind. If that sounds like you, read that post above or this one (scroll down to One Small Move) for a handful of practical tips to make taking a break feel more attainable.

As for me, I’m soaking in this view for a few more days.

Vondern is a visual discovery app designed to help people scroll less and explore more by making it easy to find unique towns, local businesses, events, and experiences. At the same time, it gives small businesses and destinations a powerful and affordable way to be discovered by people actively looking for something to do.

Q: When did you know you were destined to build a business?
A: “Being an entrepreneur was the last thing I ever saw myself doing. The idea for Vondern started during my sabbatical from teaching, when my husband and I spent a year traveling around the world for our honeymoon. We visited incredible places, but I kept running into the same frustration. It was so hard to find the unique spots and authentic experiences that make a place special. Years later, I had three kids under three, and COVID hit, and we weren’t going anywhere. I realized this wasn’t just a travel problem. It was the same challenge trying to find fun places close to home. That was when I knew I had to build something to solve it. Once an idea gets into my head, there’s really no turning back. I saw a problem that affected both people looking for fun things to do and small towns and businesses struggling to be discovered, and I knew I had to do something about it.“

Q: What’s the most unexpected thing (+/-) that’s happened along your entrepreneurial journey?
A: “One of the most unexpected and rewarding parts of this journey has been realizing how many people are quietly cheering you on behind the scenes. Complete strangers, people I had never met, have offered advice, made introductions, and helped in ways they didn’t have to. Some of my biggest supporters have been people who barely knew me. It has been a powerful reminder that there are a lot of genuinely good people out there, and that you never know who is watching, believing in what you're building, and willing to help.“

Q: When did you hit your first scaling challenge, and how did you overcome it?
A: “I thought it would be easy to get businesses to sign up. As I started talking to small business owners, I saw that many of them are doing everything themselves. Most are already stretched thin, so asking them to take on ‘one more thing’ felt unrealistic. That realization actually strengthened my belief in what I’m building. It made me even more determined to create a platform that helps businesses get discovered while requiring as little effort as possible on their part. If Vondern is going to succeed, it has to make life easier for small business owners, not add to their workload. In many ways, this challenge confirmed that the problem is even bigger than I originally thought and that solving it could make a real difference for the people who need it most.“

Q: If you were starting all over, what’s one piece of advice you would give yourself?
A: “When you’re bootstrapping a business, I feel like your instinct is to save every penny. I definitely fell into that mindset and tried to do as much as possible on my own. If I were starting over, I would tell myself not to be afraid to invest in professional help when it really matters. Getting the right support early on can save you a tremendous amount of time, frustration, and even money in the long run. As entrepreneurs, we often think doing everything ourselves is the cheapest option. But sometimes the faster and smarter path is knowing when to ask for help.“

Q: Do you have one ask or offer you would like to share with the Empower community?
A: “My offer is: if you own a business or promote events, I would love to help shine a spotlight on what you’re doing through Vondern. My ask is this: if you believe life is meant to be lived beyond a screen and our mission of ‘Scroll Less. Explore More.’ resonates with you, I’d love for you to check out Vondern. And if you know someone who would enjoy discovering new places, experiences, and local businesses, please help spread the word.”

Q: A fun one, what’s your all-time favorite restaurant and where is it located?
A: “My all-time favorite restaurant is James Ranch Grill, located just outside of Durango, CO. It’s a farm-to-table restaurant set on a beautiful working ranch with incredible views of the surrounding mountains and pastures. The setting alone is worth the trip. They also serve some of the best burgers I’ve ever had, made with beef raised right on the ranch.”

You can find out more about Vondern here or follow the journey on IG.