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ARTICLES BY ROBERTA
The Power of Structure
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Stepping Toward Sustainability
I have been Rick’s strategic partner for over four years. During that time, he has evolved from a man with a vision to a successful entrepreneur and a leader in the emerging field of sustainable land management. Of course, he is still a man with a vision, but now he also has experience.
As a result of our work together Rick has:
- Substantially grown his business
- Strengthened his use of financial reports in decision-making
- Clarified his personnel needs and expanded his staff
- Obtained business loans
“Roberta helps me see what I already know and has absolute confidence in my ability to achieve my goals. I would never run a business without her.”
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Keeping Design Grounded in Passion
Wendy is one of those rare individuals who combines fine art with practical skills. She and her team design and create print-and-web-based-advertising, specializing in the emerging boutique wine industry. Now that she has been discovered, it is no wonder our work together has been to maintain her sanity in the midst of tremendous business growth.
As a result of our work together Wendy has:
- Developed a team of subcontractors to collaborate with and delegate to
- Begun using Excel spreadsheets to monitor production and cash flow
- Eliminated overdue projects
- Increased her income
“Roberta created order out of the chaos of my project list, which has since allowed me to visualize the next step for this business.”
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Building Community One Relationship at a Time
Anthony Styskal, President and Jacques Levy, Vice-President, North Coast Builders, Inc.
www.northcb.com
To know these guys is to love them. Their commitment to craftsmanship and integrity runs throughout their building projects and all aspects of their business. They came to me to help refine their marketing, which entailed coordinating the design of their new logo and website. Wave to them when you see their trucks.
In order to accomplish this, I helped them:
- Develop a marketing plan
- Clarify the direction they want to steer their company
- Select and hire a graphic/web designer and writer
- Stay on task — as best I could
“Roberta is essential to the success of North Coast Builders Inc. With her unflagging enthusiasm, creative and insightful business suggestions, and constant emphasis on maintaining focus on our goals, she has helped us make key decisions, enabling our company to grow and prosper.”
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A Literary Project with Deep Significance
 AnnMarie’s profound vision grew from her own need to write her story of being a young widow with children. She founded WidowSpeak, a non-profit organization, and launched its website. Widows from around the world contribute material and look to AnnMarie for help as an editor. Our work together focuses on fulfilling the mission of this important organization.
As a result of our work together AnnMarie has:
- Developed clear communication with her Board of Directors
- Clarified WidowSpeaks’ mission
- Increased services offered
- Begun developing a clear plan and timeline
“Roberta helps me connect the dots of ideas to create form. I may feel muddled at the start of a session, but by the end I have checklist and am re-inspired. Everyone who has a business he or she wants to see grow, would benefit from keeping Roberta around, the way we do a cell-phone or a pocketbook.”
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My First Clients
About twenty years ago, I was sitting with Dan and Mattie Bosch in their living room, casually talking about their business. After a while, I posed the question, “What do you really want to do?” My question hung in the air as we looked at each other with wide eyes. Little did we know how significant that moment would be for all three of us.
This powerful question inspired them to follow their passions: Mattie as a landscape designer and Dan as a stone artisan. For me, it gave words to my understanding of what is at the heart of manifesting lifework.
Through the years, I have continued to refine my ability to help small business owners run profitable businesses based on work they love doing.
I do this by helping them take actions that move them toward their goals and create balanced lives: write ad text, monitor cash flow, hire sub contractors, set prices, and resolve conflicts.
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Wellness From The Inside Out
 Kathy’s primary clients are women who have tried numerous weight-loss programs without lasting success. She blends her experience as a registered dietician with her training as a life coach, to guide them to increased self-awareness. She knows that when we trust our body's wisdom, healthy habits are effortless.
When we started working together, she already had launched a fabulous website and published her book, Coming Home to Body and Self: A Journal for Daily Reflections, and had several e-books in production.
Together, we have increased the impact of her marketing by:
- Identifying the core business and message
- Coordinating projects and activities with focus on core message
- Developing/refining printed materials
“I have the gift of many ideas and the ability to see endless possibility. The problem is that when I get going in too many directions, I get overwhelmed, and then my work is no longer fun and exciting. Roberta has helped me focus on my core message, select my projects with more discrimination, and create a total, integrated package. This has energized me and increased my client load.”
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Writing as if Words Matter
Tara brings tremendous depth and experience to her work as a writer, editor, journalist, and researcher. She also brings life-long commitments to social change and spirituality. Over the past several years, I have enjoyed coaching her in applying practical financial and marketing principles to her values-based business.
During our work together, Tara has:
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Increased and stabilized her cash flow
- Refined her approach to marketing
- Gained confidence in client negotiations
“When I began working with Roberta, I had lost hope that I would ever be able to support my life with work that really matters to me. Now I not only believe it is possible; it is happening. Oddly enough, one of the most valuable tools Roberta has given me is a cash flow management spreadsheet.”
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A Dental Wellness Visionary
 First and foremost, Tom is a long-term friend. I have watched him evolve into an author and international expert on the health effects of mercury amalgam fillings. One of my roles has been to create structures to capture and productively use the vast amount of information he generates. My other role has been to listen and witness his ever-expanding vision, and provide feedback.
For him I have created:
- Production spreadsheets
- Bookkeeping systems
- Complex to do lists
"Roberta’s clear, consistent guidance inspired and empowered me to bring to fruition what I have been talking about doing for many years. Had it not been for her support and knowledge, I might not have undertaken the project of launching a website and writing my latest books. Thanks to her guidance and timely support, I have done both. She filled a role that was missing and I learned that you can’t do everything alone.”
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Creativity as a Life Practice
 Molly approaches life as a work of art, trusting and respecting the creative process. It is no surprise that in addition to creating art from vintage objects, her work includes helping others connect with their creative processes.
The focus of our initial work together was to close her existing business so she could reconnect with what she loves to do. Currently, I am helping Molly and new business partner Cathleen Yaksic fully utilize their talents and wisdom.
As a result of our work together Molly and Cathleen have:
- Increased their time doing creative projects
- Stabilized their cash flow
- Dramatically changed how they sell their products
- Developed a line of personal care products
"The way the year has unfolded astonishes me. The structure of the business is very different from what I imagined it would be, yet we both feel focused in our work and aligned with our core values. Roberta was right there as we made key decisions”
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