New to receiving this newsletter? You can subscribe or unsubscribe anytime.

Change is here, whether or not we notice, are prepared for, or want it. Is your business or life where you want it to be? If not, what can you do about it? The answer is to make your own change.

Think of Bob Dylan's classic folk song written in 1964, which is just as relevant today, The Times They Are A-Changin'. As he sings, "start swimmin' or sink like a stone."

Practical Pointers for Handling Changing Times

My Story

After building and selling my first entrepreneurial venture, Radish Systems 1.0, I began to use my experience via consulting and coaching to help organizations and leaders thrive.

To further help me help others, I became a certified Gazelles Business Coach, now known as Scaling Up, and I learned from Verne Harnish. That's where I first came across the STOP, START, CONTINUE framework.

One of my clients was a non-profit organization, the Colorado Women's Education Foundation, now known as CWEF. Its goal was to help women attain economic self-sufficiency through education. In guiding the strategic planning with its Board of Trustees, we asked and answered these key questions:

	What to STOP doing? Answer: Stop giving out loans. We had been setting these women and the Foundation up for failure. Many of the women did not pay back the loans which resulted in a bad credit rating for them and wasted energy at the Foundation.
	What to START doing? Answer: Start an endowment campaign to raise funds which would be protected into perpetuity. This would allow us to triple our giving and help many more women.
	What to CONTINUE doing? Answer: Give aid to the students, in the form of scholarships to accredited Colorado higher education institutions, thereby helping these non-traditionally-aged students complete their education and earn higher wages.

We changed with the times and took action. The result was a successful endowment campaign that was able to help a larger number of women and their families.

Summary

The times are a-changin'. You must recognize and change so you can swim, rather than sink like a stone. Ask what to STOP, START, and CONTINUE doing. Then take action. You will get results.

Selected Events

April 24, 2025. Private Directors Association - Spring Social. Join us for an engaging and fun evening of networking and connection. Meet other like-minded executives serving on private corporate Boards. 4 PM - 6 PM. Register now.

May 2, 2025. SIM Women Spring Conference. 8 AM - 5 PM, Cielo at Castle Pines. Look for me at the conference wearing a sunflower pin. Learn more and register.

May 7, 2025. Women Powering Change Conference. 3 PM - 7 PM. McNichols Civic Center in Denver. I may be at the GlobalMindED, BPW, or CWEF booths. Learn more and register.

May 16, 2025. SIM Women Virtual Summit. 11:30 AM - 5 PM ET. Theresa facilitates a mentoring circle about "Getting on Boards." Learn more and register.

May 21, 2025. Nebraska IT Symposium. Theresa speaks about "AI to Survive and Thrive: How to Successfully Implement the Right Enterprise Solutions" and "Information Technology as a Pursuit of Passionate Purpose: Success Strategies for a Rewarding Career." Learn more.

June 16-18, 2025. GlobalMindED Conference in Denver. Join me at this event which connects businesses and organizations to a talent pipeline and helps students connect to opportunities. Theresa speaks on "Resilient Leadership" and on "Journey from First Gen to Boards." Learn more and register.

Book Theresa to Coach, Speak, Facilitate, and Consult

See Theresa in action. Theresa's engaging presence, original stories, actionable insights, humor, wide-ranging experiences, and practical pointers have earned her top speaker and consultant rankings at many events and with a wide-range of business clients. Let "The Catalyst for Extraordinary Results" help you and your organization thrive. Learn more at TMSworld.com and see a sample of Theresa's speaking programs.

As Deana Rich, Co-CEO of Infinicept, said, "It is with great confidence that I recommend Theresa Szczurek as an executive coach. I had the privilege of working with her during a time of significant transition at my company, and her guidance proved to be both timely and invaluable. What stood out immediately about Theresa was her ability to draw from real-world experience."

Emily Jarvis at GovLoop said, "Of all the keynoters I've worked with, Theresa is among the best."

Theresa M. Szczurek, Ph.D.
C-Level Executive, Certified Corporate Director, Certified Management Consultant®, Executive Coach, Speaker, and Colorado CIO of the Year

Pass it on. Feel free to share this newsletter, using my name and copyright declaration, with your colleagues.