What Is a Professional Association?
(2 min read)

These are organizations that support like-minded people in pursuing their expertise, providing a networking and education opportunities. They are typically industry specific. The number and cost of available options vary widely. There is something for literally everyone!


Why Are They Useful?
Professional associations typically offer many benefits. 

• Status - "People like us belong here"
• Authority - you can display the logo of the association to denote you're part of "the club" that's respected
• Education opportunities, typically at free or reduced rates for members
• Discounts with affiliated organizations or products
• Sense of professional responsibility - you "pay dues" to belong to the prestige or talking authority for the profession
• Make an impact on your chosen field - every association is grounded in the effort of volunteers
• Decision making authority - payment of dues tends to carry the weight (and responsibility) of voting to determine the direction of the association

How Do I Find One? 
Depending on your career, such organizations may be rather limited (only a couple exist or even just one) and may be well known to those in the profession. Simply talk to folks in the field and ask about professional associations to begin your search for options.

A simple Google or AI search may generate results for you. 

Join groups or activities on social media or locally and you'll likely hear about worthy related associations. 

Challenges
You may feel you relate to or could fit into multiple groups, not simply one. Just start somewhere. 

• Consider something local in your community 
• Look at the bigger picture and consider national-level organizations
• Find organizations that are related to your field of service
• Find organizations or clubs where your clients may be

Test A Few Out
Purchase the shortest length of time you can find - 6 months an option? - but understand most will be a one-year commitment. 

Get involved—like REALLY involved!—to see if it resonates with you. 

• Volunteer - there may even be extra perks or price reductions to offer your time and talents!
• Join discussion groups - interact, participate. 
• Don't just sit on the sidelines expecting any organization to fill your cup for you. 
• Maybe you have multiple interests or focal points to nurture various needs - pick 1-2 to start. 
• Attend events, online and in person, to recognize industry-leading names, resources, and possible mentors.

Once the membership period is completed, consider joining a couple of different ones if available to see if there's a style or benefits you prefer. 

My Take
I have held a membership with the Editorial Freelance Association for two years now. This year, I decided to switch it up and try National Association of Independent Writers & Editors (NAIWE) and Professional Editors Network (PEN) to feed my editing background. I'm also a member of a couple of museum associations to develop that network. I have access to a couple of other in person networking associations locally that enable me to connect with folks in real time in person. 

As a freelancer/solopreneur, involvement in my community helps me keep current on best practices in the field, news of the day, and amazing networking opportunities to learn from others and share what I may know. 

If you're not involved in associations, I highly recommend you consider it! If you'd like to chat with someone to just shoot some ideas, Let's Chat by email or LinkedIn! 

Is a Website Useful for a Small Business?
(2 min read)
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I give this an emphatic YES! 

A website is your business's store front. It's your personal platform and active "calling card" for the world to see what you do and why you do it. It's a space to showcase your work (think Portfolio page or Blog pages).

It's the perfect place to connect with your current and future clients, especially if you include a way to enable visitors to sign up for your newsletter! A website is owned territory, not "rented" land. Relying on social media for your marketing is dangerous as the platform holds all the cards and can cut you off at any time, for any reason. A website and newsletter list are yours forever. 

But AI - How Will I Be Found?
Well, you won't be found without a website! Searches are different these days with far less "type a question in Google" and instead "have a chat in ChatGPT." 

AI is changing the landscape quickly - 6 months makes a difference. This is an article from 6 months ago but from a known source, Forbes. People are certainly still searching, but the queries and searches are different. How we respond to questions through our websites matters. Key words and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) are quickly becoming things of the past. 

Think FAQs Rather than Key Words
It's time to change how we make our websites visible in AI searches. Put yourself in your customer's shoes. Play with how you would search for something that may be answered on your website! Think more in terms of the question rather than key words. Think more like a brief response than website links that may pop up in a search. As AI users ask their questions, best practice suggests they ask AI to cite sources in the response provided. That is how you will be found - do  you answer the question on your website? Here is a rather extensive review of how to improve your content optimization for searchability. 

How Do I Get Started with a Website?
This prior blog post should help with the basic how-to when creating your website. Let's Chat if you'd like assistance or to simply kick around ideas for how you'll get started. 

Who Should Have a Website?
Anyone who owns a business, no matter the size. There are very affordable options available to create something that looks good, isn't hard to create with or update, and that you can learn to manage once it's created if you need a hand. One of my special talents is teaching clients how to update and do the work themselves if they'd like. Visit this blog post for a few website platforms I recommend for small businesses and solopreneurs. 

Let's DO This!
If you don't have a website yet and would like a hand or ideas, I'm very happy to brainstorm with you! Let's Chat using your favorite method or message me on LinkedIn. 

I am your biggest fan and cheerleader! I would love to help you get your message to your ideal customer. I specialize in serving small to medium-sized nonprofits, fellow entrepreneurs, and non-fiction authors with tools that will help you ENGAGE your customer - Let's Chat!

Entrepreneurs in an AI World
(2 min read)

This post is in follow-up to a recent blog post. I'm not sure I made my point clear at that time so will aim to improve in this edition. 
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Considering Being an Entrepreneur
I suggest there is no better time than now to begin your journey down this path! 

• Job changes and losses are happening and will increase. 
• It takes Time to build a business let alone to gain traction (a client base). Many suggest plan on three years before you turn a profit. 
• Plan on oodles of mindset work and self-education to figure out how to be a business let alone how to market it. 
• It's common to start broad - see how your offer resonates with your perceived client - before niching down and getting more specific. 
• Those with an entrepreneurial spirit also tend to be leaders in figuring out AI. We're in the perfect time to learn all you can about business + AI and even AI in your business.
• While jobs may not fully go away, reductions and changes are nearly guaranteed. Getting an entrepreneurial venture started now will provide future options to blend part-time, gig, or project incomes.
• You may have already "retired" or are considering a change in career. Creating your own business is a great way to call your own shots, potentially work from anywhere in the world, and on your own schedule!

"Constraints Breed Creativity"
I'm not finding this quote attributed to any one person but it seems to be more of a general philosophy. I do like this concept related to it - Theory of Constraints by LeanProduction. 

How this relates to the current job market and entrepreneurs? If you're feeling the winds shifting at work, in your job or your career field, it's time to get creative in how you'll weather the storm. An entrepreneurial venture may be just the trick for you to supplement your current status or jump ship completely.

You may decide you just don't have an entrepreneurial bone in you and need to consider retraining to a different career field or look at retirement. Both are very valid options we'll all be reviewing. 

I caution that "early retirement" is becoming harder for many to realize as savings have drained for many in recent economic years. We're living longer and generally healthier. However, when health takes a turn—boy, does it get expensive! Many need or want something to do to keep mind and body busy, even if a sizable income isn't critical. A "side gig" or entrepreneurial endeavor may be just the thing for you.

The Time is GREAT to Become an Entrepreneur!
Have courage. Take heart! You've got this! Consider this an opportunity rather than a loss. The weather may be stormy, but how will you ride the waves?

If you'd like to chat ideas with someone about what being an entrepreneur entails, my door is always open - Let's Chat! Email me or message me on LinkedIn any time!

If you need a hand getting plans into place - none of us are experts in all things - I'd be honored to be of assistance. I'm a whiz at supporting small to mid-sized nonprofits, fellow entrepreneurs, and nonfiction authors to make their dreams come true! I assist in developing/maintaining websites, social media management, email distribution, newsletter and PR material creation, proofreading and editing - a variety of services. 

I'm also a great listener and problem solver with over 35 years developing care plans and strategies for return to home and independence as a hospital physical therapist. Happy to chat strategy if useful - Let's Chat! 

The Future is Here
(4 min read)
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The disruptions are beginning. We are on the cusp of another leap in acceptance and advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Reports are increasing of "enterprise" (large-scale) employers not hiring and letting AI use evolve among employees. Employees aren't necessarily being trained in ways to use AI, but are expected to "figure it out" and be productive in using it. 

Early Reports
Paul Roetzer has shared recent podcasts of The Artificial Intelligence Show compiling news from AI developers about the increasing usefulness and "intelligence" of AI. Employers are staking a claim they simply will not hire until staff demonstrates a human need that AI is unable to fulfill. People are being urged to be prepared to be "AI Supervisors," overseeing AI tools or "agents" to ensure output is accurate and ready to share with a human-centered voice. Employers are proclaiming they are "AI First" more than "AI Forward." Refer to this May 6, 2025 blog post by Mike Kaput for specifics. 

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic (home of Claude AI), was interviewed May 28, 2025 in Axios and it has gotten everyone's attention. He predicts AI will soon eliminate half of all entry level jobs within the next couple of years. (mic drop) He predicts US unemployment could reach 10-20% with the impact on white-collar jobs. So much for the benefit of that college degree. 

Where to from Here?
There has to be a way to prepare ourselves and our children for this unsettled future. I have two college students nearing graduation. I recall when I was graduating college years ago the doom & gloom predictions about the job market, and that was before the advent of AI. That part isn't new. But we really seem to be on the precipice of new territory as much as the development of AI has been pushed.

Human First
Consider jobs or at least aspects of jobs you enjoy that require a human touch, interaction, or synthesis. Those will continue to need humans. A massage therapist and many in healthcare use hands to treat. 

AI currently is computer-based. The introduction of robots - machines who will do things - will add a different wrinkle not addressed in this post. Physical activities will remain human in the near-future. 

Become AI Educated
Training abounds and is increasing in how to use AI tools, many free or very affordable. Find those. Invest in the time to get comfortable with AI tools and resources. Play and practice with various AI tools. Be curious. Explore. Be prepared to be a leader, supervisor, or synthesizer of AI tools and output, validating and verifying information generated. 

Become an Entrepreneur!
As more "traditional" jobs go away, the opportunities will abound for non-traditional roles. This is an amazing time to start your own business and go in unexpected directions! Find unfilled needs and be the one to fill them. Take courses including webinars, read books, listen to podcasts - much is available for free. 

Different Way of Thinking
It's all well and good to start thinking outside of the box and strive to blaze your own trails, but the entrepreneur role tends to be patchy, "gig" based, and project oriented. You pull many single or limited number projects together to create your income. Marketing is continual on top of the workload. There is "back shop" work to be done on any business to keep finances, taxes, and project planning (your calendar and your sanity!) in order.

Plan on Challenges + Time
Marketing and the business of your business are not intuitive. Most of us were not trained in such things, so there's a learning curve. Plan on a minimum of three years to start to see a return on proceeding down this path. That doesn't get the immediate bills paid when you're facing sudden job loss.

Start building that emergency fund and nest egg to offset this transition. Work on educating yourself and do market analysis while you're working to build a "side job" that may well become your fully entrepreneurial job. 

AI Will Impact All Jobs
There's really no way around it. AI will disrupt the job market - it's beginning already. None of us can plan on decades at the same job. Jobs, whether through an employer or on your own as an entrepreneur, are likely to be cobbled together - many part-time roles strung together. Creativity will become a must for how you position yourself - identify your skill set, quantify successes, and think broadly about job titles. 

Some current entrepreneurial roles will become absorbed by AI. However, many other opportunities await, perfect for those with an entrepreneurial spirit willing to put in time and effort, predominantly focusing on talking to people or partnering with others. SmarterX (Paul Roetzer) offers a number of tools to help you analyze jobs, tasks, and problems using ChatGPT. 

If you'd like someone to talk through ideas and talk strategy if you're considering an entrepreneurial adventure, I'd be thrilled to chat! Let's Chat by email or find me on LinkedIn and message me.