I wrote that story to honor my Pop Pop, acknowledge the role he played in my life, and give myself room to grieve. It was personal. I wasn’t trying to teach anybody anything. I just needed to share what was on my heart.
When I published it, I checked the post a few days later.
Three likes. No comments.
I’ll be honest. I noticed.
It’s not that I believe likes decide what matters. It’s just that sometimes, in a world full of numbers, it’s easy to wonder if anyone is really listening.
Then the messages started coming.
The Conversation Happened Somewhere Else
People began reaching out privately. One woman told me the story reminded her to give herself a little grace. Another said she needed to call someone important while she still could. Someone else realized she hadn’t really given herself permission to grieve.
Then I received a message from an entrepreneur that made me stop and read it again.
“I felt your story; thank you for being the lifeline I did not know I needed.”
A lifeline.
I sat for a moment and let those words sink in. When I looked back at the post, I still saw three likes and no comments. But she saw something else entirely.
And that’s when I started thinking about how often we confuse visibility with impact.
What Happens When Your Story Doesn’t Get the Response You Expected?
We’re so used to seeing immediate feedback these days. Likes, comments, and shares are easy to count, so it can be tempting to believe that if we don’t see a response, nothing happened.
But what if something did happen?
What if the woman who needed your words read them quietly and kept scrolling? What if she thought about them later that evening? What if she picked up the phone, gave herself some grace, or finally allowed herself to grieve?
We may never know.
And I think that’s okay.
Maybe I needed that message as much as she needed the story. It reminded me not to confuse what I can see with what is really happening.
Why I Write
It reminded me why I do what I do.
I don’t write because I need a certain number of people to respond. I write because sometimes there’s something on my heart that needs a place to go. Sometimes it starts a conversation. Maybe it helps someone see things differently. Other times it just lets someone know she isn’t the only one feeling what she’s feeling.
And sometimes, apparently, it becomes a lifeline.
I didn’t know that when I wrote the story. I couldn’t have known. I just told the truth about where I was.
Your Story May Be Bigger Than You Think
Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time encouraging women to tell their stories. I’ve seen women hesitate because they wonder if their story is important enough. Maybe someone else has already said it. It’s possible no one will care. Worst case is no one will want to read it.
I understand that.
Sometimes our own experiences feel ordinary just because we lived them. But what feels ordinary to you might be exactly what someone else needs.
I’ve learned we don’t have to know who needs our story before we share it. We just have to be willing to tell the truth about what we’ve lived, what we’ve learned, and what we’re still learning.
You just don’t know who is listening.
What Pop Pop Taught Me About Saying What Matters
Pop Pop taught me a lot about relationships, consistency, love, and showing up. For years, our Saturday conversations were just part of my life. I didn’t know then how much those ordinary moments of heartfelt talks would mean to me later.
During one of our last conversations, we both knew there would come a day when the phone would not ring. That conversation stayed with me. It became the beginning of Nothing Left Unsaid, a life-choice promise I made to myself: if I love someone, I’ll tell them. If someone has made a difference in my life, they’ll know it.
His absence taught me something else. Life is too precious to keep waiting for the perfect moment to say what matters most.
And lately, I’ve been wondering if our stories are the same way.
We keep thinking there will be another time. Another opportunity. Another book. Another post. Another conversation.
But we don’t know that.
Maybe that’s why this response to my story has stayed with me. It reminded me that telling the story is part of the same promise. Say what matters while people can still hear it.
Can Your Story Matter Even If You Don’t See the Impact?
I think it can.
Maybe that’s what happened with my blog. I told my story because I needed to honor my Pop Pop and make sense of what I was feeling. Someone else read it and found a little room to breathe.
That’s the beautiful thing about stories. Once we share them, they don’t just belong to us anymore. Someone else might find courage in them. Someone might find words for something she couldn’t explain. Someone might simply feel a little less alone.
Not because everyone will hear it.
Because someone just might.
And you may never know who that someone is.
Why This Matters to Me
This is also why my work with Talk To Me Publishing matters so much to me. I don’t just want to help people put words between two covers. I want to help purpose-driven women see the value in the stories they’ve lived and understand what can happen when they have the courage to share them.
Because your story might become someone else’s Soulution.
You may never know who needed your words. And maybe we don’t have to.
Maybe our job is simply to tell the story honestly and leave room for it to find the person who needs it.
Before We Leave This Conversation
If you’ve been sitting on a story, maybe think about it a little differently. Don’t worry about whether everyone will care. Think about the one woman who might.
Maybe it’s the woman sitting at her kitchen table, trying to figure something out. Maybe it’s the one awake at two in the morning, wondering if anyone else has ever felt the way she feels. Maybe it’s the entrepreneur who needs permission to give herself some grace. Maybe it’s the daughter who needs to make the call, or the woman who needs permission to grieve.
You may never know that your words reached her.
But that doesn’t mean they didn’t matter.
Tell the story. Let it find its way.
Because your story matters. Your voice matters. And somewhere, somehow, your voice could become someone else’s Soulution.
What happened afterward reminded me that our stories can travel farther than we can see.
That blog didn’t generate much public engagement. But it started conversations. Real ones. Quiet ones. Important ones.
And honestly, I’ll take those conversations any day.
Because when I look back on my life, I don’t want to measure it by how many people clicked a button. I want to know that something I said made someone stop, think, feel, reach out, heal, or maybe simply know she wasn’t alone.
That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave.
And that’s why I’ll keep telling my stories and encouraging others to do the same, while I continue to live with Nothing Left Unsaid.
The Soulutionist Reflection
Sometimes we never get to see where our words land. That doesn’t mean they didn’t matter.
Maybe that’s the part I needed to remember.
Not every meaningful response is public. Not every impact can be measured.
Some conversations happen quietly.
And sometimes, that’s enough.
With gratitude,
Brenda The Soulutionist
The Soulutionist Journal™
Real conversations for women building profitable businesses, meaningful legacies, and lives they don’t need a vacation from.
What My Pop Pop Taught Me About Living with Nothing Left Unsaid
When grief collided with entrepreneurship, I discovered that success isn’t measured by how much we accomplish. It’s measured by whether we’re building a life that honors our faith, our health, our relationships, and our purpose. This is the story of my Pop Pop, the promise of Nothing Left Unsaid, and the legacy that changed how I define success and why I believe your story is someone’s soulution.
The Saturday Tradition
For nearly three years due to pandemic losses, every Saturday began with a conversation between Pop Pop and me. Sometimes he called first. Sometimes I did. Those conversations became part of the rhythm of my life, and I never imagined how much they would one day mean to me.
Looking back, I realize Pop Pop wasn’t just checking in. He was quietly preparing me for life. I didn’t know it then, but those ordinary Saturday conversations would become the foundation for one of the greatest lessons I’ve ever learned.
Who Was My Pop Pop?
Pop Pop had a way of making people feel seen. He listened without rushing, encouraged without judging, and always left me believing life wasn’t quite as complicated as it seemed. That’s why I called him my voice of reason.
I had the blessing of sharing sixty-three years with him, and I never questioned whether I was loved. He showed up for the moments that mattered, and his quiet consistency taught me more than any speech ever could.
We Assume There Will Always Be Another Saturday
In May of 2025, doctors told our family Pop Pop had about three weeks to live. During one of our final Saturday conversations, we acknowledged that one day the phone wouldn’t ring. It wasn’t an easy conversation, but it was an honest one.
After we hung up, I made a promise to myself. If I love someone, I’ll tell them. If someone has made a difference in my life, they’ll know it. That promise became my philosophy: Nothing Left Unsaid.
When Business Doesn’t Grieve
June brought one loss after another. Friends and family members passed away, and by July, I said goodbye to Pop Pop. Through it all, life kept asking me to show up, even when my heart wasn’t ready. My clients still needed edits, meetings, links, answers, and deadlines met. Grief didn’t stop my calendar, and my calendar didn’t make room for grief.
The first Saturday after Pop Pop passed away, the phone didn’t ring. That’s when I realized I had been taking care of everyone else’s needs while quietly ignoring my own heart. I wasn’t just tired. I was grieving, and I had never given myself permission to acknowledge it.
The Success I Thought I Wanted
Saying goodbye to Pop Pop changed how I define success. I used to measure it by completed projects, published books, and crossed-off to-do lists. Those things still matter, but they no longer tell the whole story.
Today, I believe success is measured by something much deeper. Am I protecting my health? Am I making time for the people I love? Am I building a business that supports my life instead of consuming it? Those questions matter just as much as any business goal.
The Freedom I Want for Every Woman
Several years ago, I made a decision to live more intentionally. I became debt-free except for my mortgage, stopped making emotional money decisions, and built a business that allows me to take every other month away from client work. I don’t work weekends because I’ve learned that rest isn’t something we earn after everything is finished. It’s part of a healthy life.
That’s the freedom I want for every woman. I want her to build a profitable business without sacrificing her health, her family, her faith, or her peace. Success should create freedom, not captivity.
Why Stories Matter
I’ve loved stories since I was a little girl because stories help us feel less alone. They remind us that someone else has walked a similar road and found hope on the other side.
That’s why Talk To Me Publishing and my Beyond The Book™ process is so important to me. We don’t simply help people publish books. We help purpose-driven leaders transform their stories into books, and their books into businesses that create impact, income, and lasting legacy. I’ve learned that when someone has the courage to share their story, it often becomes someone else’s Soulution. More importantly, your legacy begins the moment you share your story
Before We Leave This Conversation
As I think about Pop Pop, I realize the greatest gift he left me wasn’t advice. It was the way he lived. He showed me that relationships deserve our time, encouragement should never be delayed, and love should always be spoken while people can still hear it.
If someone came to mind while you were reading this, don’t wait. Make the call. Send the text. Write the note. Tomorrow is a gift, not a guarantee.
Until Next Time
Every Saturday reminds me that life is precious and relationships are worth protecting. Pop Pop may no longer be on the other end of the phone, but his voice still guides the way I choose to live. That’s why I choose to live with Nothing Left Unsaid.
My hope is that you’ll do the same.
The Soulutionist Reflection
Every story teaches us something. My hope is that today’s reflection encourages you to live intentionally, choose wisely, and leave Nothing Left Unsaid.
With gratitude,
Brenda The Soulutionist
The Soulutionist Journal™
Real conversations for women building profitable businesses, meaningful legacies, and lives they don’t need a vacation from.
Jalen Brunson for the Win: What Women Entrepreneurs Over 40 Can Learn About Consistency and Confidence
I Have a Confession
Until recently, I had never heard of Jalen Brunson.
Then one basketball game sent me down a YouTube rabbit hole that completely changed how I think about entrepreneurship.
The more I learned about him, the more I realized his story isn’t just about basketball. It’s about discipline. It’s about consistency. It’s about believing in yourself when other people underestimate you.
And that’s exactly what so many women entrepreneurs over 40 experience every single day.
People question our ideas.
Sometimes they question our abilities.
And if we’re honest, sometimes we question ourselves.
So the question becomes:
How Do You Keep Moving Toward Your Goal When People Doubt You or When You Start Doubting Yourself?
The answer is simple.
You stay focused on the goal, trust the work, and let consistency speak louder than opinions.
The noise around you will always exist, but your future depends on what you do every day, not on what someone else says you cannot do.
Why This Matters
As women business owners over 40, many of us have heard the comments.
“Maybe it’s too late.”
“The market is too crowded.”
“You should just play it safe.”
But sometimes the loudest criticism doesn’t come from other people.
It comes from the voice inside our own heads.
That voice whispers:
What if I fail?
What if no one buys?
What if I’m not qualified enough?
What if everyone else is better than me?
Here’s the truth.
Every minute you spend entertaining doubt is a minute you could have spent building your dream.
Your competition is not the business across town.
Your competition is inconsistency.
Research on habit formation found that building automatic behaviors takes an average of about 66 days, although the timeline varies from person to person. The lesson is simple. Success is built through repeated action over time, not overnight breakthroughs.
Win Your Game
Block Out the Noise
Everyone has an opinion about your business.
One person says your prices are too high.
Another says your idea is too risky.
Someone else says the market is already saturated.
If you listen to every opinion, you’ll spend your energy changing directions instead of moving forward.
Focus requires boundaries.
Not every voice deserves a seat at your decision-making table.
The people sitting in the stands don’t determine the outcome of the game.
The players on the court do.
Stay on the court.
Practice When No One Is Watching
Many people believe successful entrepreneurs wake up motivated every day.
They don’t.
Successful people show up anyway.
They write the post.
They make the phone call.
They improve the product.
They serve the customer.
They keep learning.
I’ve learned that some of the biggest opportunities in business didn’t come because I felt confident.
They came because I kept showing up long after the excitement faded.
Confidence often comes after action, not before it.
Waiting until you feel fearless is like waiting for perfect weather before planting a garden.
You’ll miss the season.
Study Your Playbook
Social media has created the illusion that success happens overnight.
We see the celebration but rarely the sacrifice.
We see the highlight reel but not the years of practice.
We see the victory but not the setbacks.
Stop comparing your Chapter 3 to someone else’s Chapter 20.
Your journey belongs to you.
Your timeline belongs to you.
Your responsibility is not to outrun everyone else.
Your responsibility is to keep moving forward.
Trust the Scoreboard
Imagine two women starting similar businesses.
The first spends months worrying about what everyone thinks. She changes her strategy every week because she’s trying to please everyone.
The second woman chooses one goal and works toward it every day. She learns from mistakes, makes adjustments, and refuses to quit.
After one year, who is more likely to succeed?
It probably isn’t the woman with the better idea.
It’s the woman with the better consistency.
Businesses are not built in giant leaps.
They’re built one decision at a time.
One customer at a time.
One lesson at a time.
One day at a time.
The Final Buzzer
People will always have something to say.
Some will doubt your ability.
Some will question your vision.
Some will never understand your purpose.
None of those opinions pay your bills.
None of those opinions build your legacy.
Jalen Brunson didn’t wait for everyone to validate his gifts.
He put in the work.
He stayed focused.
He let his performance do the talking.
There’s a lesson in that for every woman entrepreneur over 40.
Keep your eyes on your goal.
Stay consistent when motivation fades.
Block out the noise.
Then let your results speak for themselves.
Because the greatest response to doubt is not an argument.
It’s success.
Your Challenge
Today, write down one business goal that matters most to you.
Then identify one action you can complete before the day ends that moves you closer to it.
Ignore the opinions.
Skip the excuses.
Do it again tomorrow.
And the next day.
Small, consistent actions create the results that eventually silence every doubt.
What Do Women Entrepreneurs Need This Week to Be Successful?
Your life is full, and it will take all of your wisdom, experience, and strength to handle becoming a small business owner. Women entrepreneurs over 40 often carry the pressure of running a business while balancing family, finances, and personal responsibilities. The truth is, many women business owners focus on others’ needs and forget to pause and ask themselves an important question:
What do I need this week to be successful?
Asking yourself this simple question can change how you lead your business, manage your energy, and protect your peace.
Signs You Need a Weekly Self-Check-In
Constant exhaustion
Difficulty focusing
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed
Lack of business clarity
Trouble setting priorities
If any of these sounds familiar, it is time to do your self-check-in.
Why Self-Check-Ins Matter for Women Entrepreneurs
Many women small business owners carry more than just a workload. They also carry emotional labor, decision fatigue, and the constant pressure to keep everything together.
A weekly self-check-in is a simple habit where women entrepreneurs pause to evaluate their emotional, mental, physical, and business needs before planning their week.
According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2024/2025 Women’s Entrepreneurship Report, many women entrepreneurs cite lack of profitability, personal pressures, and financial challenges as major reasons for closing businesses.
A weekly self-check-in helps you move from reacting to leading with intention.
It shifts your mindset from thinking:
“How do I survive this week?” to
“How do I set myself up to succeed this week?”
This shift makes a real difference.
Success Starts Before the To-Do List
Many entrepreneurs begin their week focused on tasks instead of what truly matters.
Before you open your planner, answer emails, or post online, pause and check in with yourself.
Ask Yourself These Questions
What is draining my energy right now?
Maybe it is overcommitting. Maybe it is lack of sleep. Maybe it is trying to do everything alone.
You can only fix what you are willing to face.
What support do I need this week?
Asking for support is wise, not a sign of weakness.
You may need:
More rest
Better boundaries
Help with marketing
Quiet time to think
Encouragement from trusted people
Time away from social media
Be truthful with yourself.
What is the one thing that would make this week feel successful?
Not perfect. Not busy. Successful.
Sometimes success is landing a new client. Sometimes success is finally finishing one project. Sometimes success is simply protecting your mental health while staying consistent.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Should Stop Measuring Success by Exhaustion
Many women have learned to believe that being tired means they are working hard enough.
This belief can harm both your business and your well-being.
Being exhausted is not a business strategy.
Burnout does not make you more valuable.
The strongest business owners are not those who do everything alone. They are the ones who manage their energy, set priorities, and stay focused.
Allow Yourself to Adjust
Your needs may change every week.
One week you may need discipline. The next week you may need rest. Another week you may need clarity, courage, or confidence.
Self-awareness helps you respond to your current situation instead of forcing yourself to work the same way every week.
Being flexible is a strength.
Create a Weekly Success Reset Routine
You can use this simple process every Sunday evening or Monday morning.
Step 1: Pause for 10 Minutes
Sit quietly without distractions.
No emails. No scrolling. No multitasking.
Step 2: Write Down Your Honest Answers
Ask yourself:
What do I need this week to feel focused?
What do I need emotionally?
What do I need physically?
What do I need financially?
What do I need spiritually?
Step 3: Choose Three Priorities
Not ten. Three.
Having clear priorities helps you feel less overwhelmed and make better decisions.
Step 4: Protect What Matters
Set aside time on your calendar for the things that help you succeed.
If rest matters, schedule it. If marketing matters, schedule it. If prayer, exercise, or family time are important to you, make sure to protect that time.
Women entrepreneurs over 40 have a unique kind of power
Building a business at this stage of life is powerful in its own way.
You know who you are. You value purpose over performance. You understand that PEACE IS PART OF SUCCESS.
You no longer have to prove your worth through constant hustle.
You can lead your business with wisdom, intention, and purpose.
Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is pause and ask yourself:
What do I need this week to be successful?
Your answer might be the breakthrough you have been looking for. Before your week gets busy, pause and ask yourself: “What do I need to be successful this week?” Write down your answer, choose three priorities that support it, and build your week around what truly matters instead of what simply keeps you busy. Be Blessed.
The Reflection We Cast: Reconciling Perception and Reality
How others see us and how we see ourselves are often very different. For women entrepreneurs over forty, our experience is shaped by our internal struggles, quiet sacrifices, and the daily work of building a business. This difference in perspective shapes both how we move forward and how we are perceived.
Others often see something different. They notice our strength, resilience, and achievements. We might feel like we are still figuring things out. Still, clients and peers see someone who builds a business with strong values and purpose.
I realized this difference during a recent talk with a trusted advisor. She has played a big role in my career. I thanked her for her support, especially her advice on helping other military veterans grow their businesses.
Her response surprised me and changed how I think. She told me she prefers to be called a “guide” instead of a “mentor.” To her, “mentor” sounds too formal and suggests a hierarchy she does not want.
The Weight of a Title
To see why this matters, think about the different roles people have in our lives.
Mentor Versus Guide
A mentor usually shares lessons from their own experience and helps you move up. A guide walks with you, helping you find your own path and answers.
Both roles are important for long-term business success. According to SCORE (an SBA partner) and The UPS Store, 70 percent of mentored businesses last more than five years. That is twice the rate of businesses without mentoring.
This data shows why I am so grateful for her support. As a retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, I know how hard it is for veterans to move from military life to starting a business. We are trained to complete missions, but business requires a whole new set of skills.
Navigating Business Growth
That is why having a reliable guide helps veterans move from military service to success in civilian life.
The Veteran Transition
Guides help veterans and driven women use their leadership skills to build rewarding and successful businesses. They do not solve our problems for us, but they help us see what is ahead.
Recognizing the value of these individuals makes us reflect on ourselves. Ask yourself how your community, clients, and family see your role. You may see yourself as just a business owner managing tasks. To someone else, you are the guide they need for a breakthrough.
Who Are You to Others?
Acknowledging how others see us allows growth. This requires embracing our role as perceived guides or leaders, even when we doubt ourselves.
Choosing to Make The Shift
This year is about building a strong mindset and making the shift. We must close the gap between our doubts and the strength others see in us.
When we accept that others see us as leaders, mentors, and guides, we step into our true purpose. Whether you prefer to be called a mentor or a guide, your impact is important. Your experience lights the way for new business owners.
Now is a good time to thank those who helped us along the way. Think about the people who supported you in your business journey. Send a quick thank you to your mentors or guides for their support and wisdom. Be blessed.
