The secret weapon most founders have but rarely use (and it doesn't cost a penny).

There’s something incredibly powerful about hope. It lifts us up, gets us through, and helps us dream bigger.

But in small business - especially when you’re the founder- hope can quietly turn into pressure. The pressure to have it all figured out. To be up and at them at sparrows. To keep the team motivated. To always know what’s next.

I see this all the time in my work as a GM On Demand. Founders with vision. Teams with heart. Big goals and the energy to chase them.

And yet… sometimes we’re dreaming so far ahead, we miss what’s right in front of us.

We project revenue growth, plan new hires, and imagine the next big launch- but when we slow down and look at what’s actually happening today, it tells a different story. And not in a bad way. Just… in a real way.

Here’s what I’ve come to learn: There’s so much power in being real. Looking at what’s really going on inside the business. Looking at what’s working-and what’s not. Getting curious about the actual data, the actual team, the actual customer feedback.

It doesn’t mean abandoning your vision. It means giving it roots.

So what does being real actually look like?

It means checking in on your true revenue and profit- not just projections. It means reviewing your org chart and asking, “Is this working for us right now?” It means reflecting on your own leadership strengths and limits- with kindness. It means listening to your team when they share what they’re seeing on the ground.

And most of all- it means inviting clarity, not labelling it as criticism.

I’ve seen first-hand how grounding a team in real information builds trust. Not because everything is perfect- but because everything is transparent. When the leadership team knows where things actually stand, they feel empowered to take action, not stuck in confusion.

Some of the most incredible change I’ve seen has come from founders who were brave enough to pause, take stock, and re-align- not from a place of panic, but from a place of purpose.

I’ve been lucky to surround myself with brilliant people like Cate Kemp and Liz Jarvis CA - FemPowered OG’s, who’ve helped me see the real story behind the numbers. Because that’s what data does-it tells the truth, and gives us a shared starting point to move forward together.

The same goes for your customers. Their feedback-whether glowing or a little confronting-is a gift. Don’t be afraid of a less-than-perfect review. Respond with heart. Use it to shape what’s next. Run the NPS survey. Ask what they value. Get into their world and see what changes you can make.

Being real isn’t the opposite of being visionary. It’s the foundation for building something that truly lasts.

So if you’re in a season where the future feels fuzzy, or you’re unsure what your next step should be- come back to what’s real.

That’s where the clarity is. That’s where your team will rally. That’s where the transformation begins.

And if you need support to cut through the noise, get clear, and move forward- FemPowered Women and GM On Demand are here for exactly that.

Real, grounded, and always in your corner.

L 💕