Resistance and Hope for Calm Businesses during Turbulent Times
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Change & Transition Coach Nicola Holmes about navigating these challenging political times as sensitive small business owners.
In our Calm Business Conversation, we discussed the impact of recent political events on our businesses and personal lives. Both of us are deeply concerned about the U.S. Administration’s move towards authoritarianism and the resultant threats to democracy, particularly in the US and Canada. Nicola, who is Canadian, shares why she has chosen to address world events in her coaching business, where she, for instance, creates group gatherings to help people deal with mass destabilization. A big driver for my being vocal about political events is growing up with my German grandparents’ stories from the Third Reich. I see many parallels to what is happening in the U.S. and around the world today.
☞ Watch our heartfelt, hopeful conversation if you, too, have been feeling anxious.
☞ Please scroll down for the resources we mentioned at the end of the conversation.
Speakers and Resources
About Kerstin (me!)
Originally from Germany, I am a US-based online business educator and late-bloomer solopreneur who built a successful internet business with only a small audience and no ads. As a neurodivergent HSP, I am passionate about teaching overwhelmed solopreneurs how to manage, grow, and scale calm and sustainable businesses without the hustle. My online courses and educational products focus on leveraging simplified systems, gentle marketing, and organic growth. I deeply believe in acting from a place of integrity and kindness to build a business that fuels a joyful, rich, and grounded life.
Links
Kerstin’s Resources
Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American provide calming and comprehensive daily updates and historical context.
David Whyte’s words always soothe and remind me of our shared humanity and humility.
Jo Hanlon-Moore has a knack for words, and her True Nature essays ground me and remind me that we belong to earth, to each other, and to ourselves.
The graphic edition of On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder, stark and a powerful reminder of my grandparents’ warnings.
Music: Rainy Sunday Mornings make me feel all the feels, and Summer Party, because sometimes you just have to turn it up and dance it out! 💃
Art that makes me happy, gives me a nice dopamine hit, and is soothing.
Bike rides, nature, family, friends, homemade food, journaling.
About Nicola
Nicola is a Change & Transition Coach who helps people turn their questions, dreams, and goals into inspired action. She's a Certified Self-Belief Coach with degrees in Human Development and Adult Learning, and spent two decades working in the non-profit sector. She's a proud late bloomer and mama of two living with her family near Toronto - and she's always had a lifelong fascination with personal transformation and collective evolution.
Links
Nicola’s Resources
Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change, by April Rinne.
Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose, by Martha Beck.
To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings, by John O'Donohue.
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds, by adrienne maree brown.
The Unfolding: poems, by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer.
21 Lessons for the 21st Century, by Yuval Noah Harari.
Your True Home: The Everyday Wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh, compiled and edited by Melvin McLeod.
The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief, by Francis Weller.
Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth, by Wahinkpe Topa (Four Arrows) and Darcia Narvaez, PhD.
