We all have a small inner voice. Call it intuition, soul, or gut feeling. It’s what nudges you when you’ve been stuck too long, whispering (or sometimes shouting), “Get up! Do something! Take charge of the day! Take charge of your life!”
If you ignore that voice and stay comfortable where you are, life just… passes by. You don’t get to discover your full potential. And soon you become uncomfortable because you lose any sense of purpose.
Life isn’t meant to be only about the daily grind of eat, sleep, work, repeat. It’s about experimenting, exploring, observing, and taking risks that scare you just enough to spark change.
And change? That’s where improvement comes from. That’s where purpose can be found.
So how do you start? With small, actionable steps. Push past the comfort zone, step outside of family expectations or the opinions of others, and get curious about you. Meet the version of yourself (along the way) that isn’t a copy of anyone else.
Something I did that made a difference - I changed my routine. Because it’s summertime now, the back deck looked like a great place to enjoy coffee in the morning.
When I changed my routine, the first thing I noticed was how uncomfortable it felt. I was so used to my patterns that even a small tweak…like swapping my morning scroll for a short time on the deck…felt odd. My brain wanted to resist: “This isn’t how we do things.”
Guess what? That discomfort didn’t last long. Within a few days, I found myself looking forward to the fresh air, the quiet, the space to think before diving into the day. I started noticing details I’d completely missed before. Details like neighbors I’d never spoken to, the way the light hit the trees, even new ideas bubbling up that never appeared while staring at a screen.
And it didn’t stop there. That one little shift gave me confidence to make other changes. I tried working in a different spot, reaching out to someone I hadn’t talked to in ages, even tackling a project I’d been avoiding. The ripple effect was real: changing my routine opened up space for new possibilities.
One new possibility came to reality when I started a book club in my town. It was time for me to meet fellow readers, discuss the books that made me think these past few years, and to get out of the house.
At first, I worried no one would come. I imagined myself sitting in the back room of the coffee shop alone with my Kindle, a stack of books, and a hopeful smile. But to my surprise, people showed up. The first meeting had 4 of us, and that seems to be the consistent number these past few months. Strangers became friends, and conversations stretched far beyond the books. We talk about life, family, work, dreams, and all the things we often keep tucked away.
The book club isn’t really about the books at all. It is about connection, courage, and creating something that hadn’t existed until I took that first step.
That’s the hidden gift of change…it opens doors you didn’t even know were there. All it asks is that you trust the voice inside you enough to turn the handle.
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A Marketing Tip
Market Research Isn’t Optional
Oh shush…I can hear you yelling at your screen - I know! I know!But HOW can I do market research that actually gives me the information I need to successfully launch a product? a course? a business?
Remember focus groups? There’s a way to do it virtually now. It’s faster, easier, and with even more authentic feedback because people are testing in their own environment, on their own time. That’s what makes the insights so powerful.
I have such a group. A group of women, 35-50, interested in business, wellness and self-care beyond the bubble bath. The group is small right now, but it will grow in upcoming months.
Recently, the creator of an app approached me to use my group to test the app.
The app was done (so he thought), the sales page was written, and the launch date was circled on the calendar. But there was one big problem…
He had never tested the course with real women.
That’s where my VIP Product Tester program stepped in. A bit over sixty women signed up to go test the app from start to finish…everything from signing up, logging in, and navigating the instructions to completing internal questionnaires and sharing feedback along the way.
What happened? The client uncovered gaps they didn’t know existed, learned what resonated most, got real world testimonials and language to use in their marketing, and walked away with priceless insights to improve the app before launch.
He launched the app with great success - exceeding his goals financially and number of downloads.
This is the power of real market research.
It’s not about guessing what your audience wants. It’s about listening, observing, and adjusting based on how they actually interact with your product.
Your audience is your best consultant. Test with them first, and your launch will thank you later.
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From the Research Files
aka random bits of info you may or may not be able to use in your life
Who knew slurping noodles would be so iconic?
Post-WWII Japan was hungrier than ever and suffering food shortages, so Momofuku Ando stepped into a shed and rolled up his sleeves. Knowing how popular ramen was with his people, he experimented until he invented instant ramen in 1958 aka flash-fried noodles ready to eat with just hot water. Marketed as a luxury at first, it soon became a lifesaver in a packet.
A decade later he leveled up with Cup Noodles, inspired by Americans eating noodles in cups. The genius was in the packaging - cooking bowl … and dinner bowl, all in one.
How impactful was Ando’s creation? Sixty years after its invention, it’s estimated that 100 billion servings of instant ramen are eaten every year around the world. I’ll slurp to that.
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Pun of the Day
It’s been so hot this summer - the cows are giving evaporated milk.
🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
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If you are at all informed /entertained /amused /educated by today’s edition of Burke’s Bits, here's where you can show your appreciation.
