Sara Hand's Blog (51)

Several years ago at a conference discussing how to help others recover from bad things. The conversations were of hope, vision, and faith and risk and joy. And although these are all thoroughly entwined there are some very unique differences that can move you toward success or leave you languishing behind…and hope is where it starts.

Hope knows that…

It is easy to get bogged down in the negative messages that we are bombarded with daily. As an entrepreneur – a business owner, those messages can be overwhelming as we face the challenges of navigating in an economic environment that bears little resemblance to our, in hind-sight, relatively safe world of yesterday. So what do you do?

It is crucial that you take responsibility for your own mindset. Here are a few tips to keep discouragement from keeping you from doing the…

Over the last month I have been involved with a number of events whose purpose was to gather data. Questions and discussions were among leaders from across a variety of organizations from formal to informal, and from the business community itself. These were not gripe sessions...although I have heard from enough people like that who complain how our region is not Silicon Valley or not New York or not “wherever.” That is very true and is likely to remain true. However, since we are not any of…

In our daily journey it is so easy to get caught up in the “all” of what we must do. We hide in the busyness of our routines, the desires of our hearts, only to have them surface at odd moments as unrecognized sadness.

It is spring time in Florida. From the balmy breeze, the blue skies, the budding greenery and oh yes the traffic. It is a time of growth, a time of renewal and refreshing. It is a time to open the windows and let the fresh air fill the house, before it again…

The truth is my life changes when I do. It applies to my business, my relationships, and my health...every area of my life. Maybe the economy could be better, maybe your spouse or significant other needs help, or maybe you were in an accident or have a health challenge that hinders you. However the truth remains; …

As I watched the Rose Bowl Parade it was interesting to see the top resolutions for 2011 as they scrolled across the screen:…

Some people will dream all their lives about publishing a book.

What is the difference between those who do and those who don't?

First...discipline? 13 year old Sarasota, Florida author, R.A. Spyder has learned that discipline of writing daily. This has paid off in the recent release of a first book…

As we attempt to make a quick trip to the store, wait in lines or notice that there are cars and people everywhere, it might be hard not to grumble at least slightly.

However, as you look at all those out of state license plates and think of the good ol’ days of summer. Don’t forget those good ol’ days were overshadowed by the fallout from an oil spill and the deflation of the housing market. This summer the discussion was of empty guest rooms across all types of resort…

The holidays are almost here. This year has gone by in a whirlwind. As I journal each day, I have been amazed at how quickly the numbers I write at the top of the page have changed. How could it be the end of November so quickly?

The truth is, with two teenage daughters, a reorganized…

The last couple years for all of us have been ones of significant change. Whether that change has been more than finally getting a Facebook account or not, all of us have been impacted in some way by technology and a changing economic climate. How do we handle change?…

Whether you are hiring a new sales person, an office assistant or a C level position...training is crucial. Yes, I know you hired a skilled professional. You waded through the multitude of resumes and unqualified applicants to find this accomplished individual, yet training can make or break the deal.…

There is a uniqueness that is all about you, that is characteristic of what makes you different…what makes you special, what makes you unlike any other human being. Just as you are unique as an individual so are you as a business. Yes, there may be businesses that provide a product or service that is similar to what you provide. However they are not and you AND that IS important. Because it is in…

The sun rises and sets each day as time goes and the days get shorter. At first it is not so noticeable; but little by little, one change and then the next, as day goes into day, seasons change.…

“Have you ever been on the winning team?” For those that have, we know it is an experience of a lifetime. Yet as good as being a part of a great team can be; the team building experience can also be devastating.

As a business development specialist with a MA in Marriage and Family counseling, my…

Tackling the journey through...Periodic leaps of faith and daily steps. Sara Hand…

The business world we live in is not the same as it was several years ago. As owners and professionals attempt to make sense of a changed landscape, diversification has been a common tactic. For many this may make sense, for others in their attempt to meet every need they have become so…

• My life changes when I do, and if I don’t change...Life doesn’t change.
• If I want better answers, I need to ask better questions...Learning to ask great questions is a skill worth working…

This week on Tuesday, August 24th Sarasota County is holding primary elections. With the kids going back to school on Monday, with the upcoming holiday and the rain we are supposed to experience all this week....Tuesday is likely to be a busy day. Despite the busyness...make a commitment to get to the polls. The decisions we make this week will determine our choices down the road. Those choices will…

It’s hot. It’s rainy. The kids are getting restless as the time to go back to school approaches and so are the parents. Business owners have been playing phone tag around summer vacations and long weekends. In Florida, on August 23rd that will all change and everything will begin to get back to normal…

Every so often I really am tempted to have someone just take care of the yard for me. (That does not mean that everyone reading this with a landscape business should call me.) Because, if someone else took care of it, I would miss out on all the important stuff I am supposed to learn through the experience of getting out there. For those who have received my newsletter in the past, you have read…