As we close out another year, I'm taking time to reflect on the lessons that emerged - some expected, some that caught me completely off guard, all incredibly valuable. These aren't theoretical insights I picked up from a business book; they're hard-won truths from actually living through a year of business evolution. Here's what 2025 taught me.

Let's be honest - calling your accountant isn't typically something you look forward to. For most business owners, it's surrounded by dread and procrastination. But here's the thing: it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, it shouldn't be.

For years, I found myself in the end-of-year scramble, crawling to the finish line with barely enough energy to enjoy the holidays. Now, after becoming intentional about how I approach the final quarter, I enjoy a spacious Q4 dedicated to reflection, planning, and gliding into the new year rather than grinding to the finish line. This year I've taken it even further with new strategies that make quarter four refreshing, motivating, and exciting.

Running a business can so often feel like hiking up a steep mountain alone, carrying the weight of every decision on your shoulders. It's exhilarating, but it's also isolating. Having someone to share the load with - someone who can offer perspective when you're too close to see clearly - can make all the difference.

After six and a half years of building this business, we have evolved into TM Legal Atelier. This is so much more than a rebrand. This is a brand evolution, where our brand is finally catching up to what the business has organically become: a specialised legal practice serving creative and service based businesses with bespoke, tailored solutions in a heart led way.

You know I'm all about prevention over cure when it comes to legal matters. And here's one moment in my career that taught me more about the reality of business law than all my years in law school combined.

Rebranding gets talked about a lot in small business circles—but how do you know when it’s actually time? I recently caught up with Kate Addamo, a mentor to service-based and creative business owners, who’s just been through her own rebrand. Kate’s story and the work she does with her clients provide invaluable lessons for anyone questioning whether their brand still reflects who they are and where they’re going.

Prevention is better than cure - you’ve heard me say it again and again. And today I’m sharing a real client story of a business owner who faced a disaster that could have been completely avoided if she had the right systems and procedures in place.

What if the one thing standing between you and peak productivity isn't your morning routine, your task management system or even your mindset—but something you never thought to question?

A client came to me recently after she lost a $30,000 deal because her generic contract had vague intellectual property terms that couldn't give her potential client the assurance they needed about IP rights and ownership. 

Let’s talk about something crucial for small business owners: the big shake-up in privacy laws and how it intertwines with AI. Trust me, this isn’t just some bureaucratic mumbo jumbo; it’s real and important.

EOFY is a perfect time to step back, assess what's working and make strategic adjustments before diving into the next twelve months. So today I'm sharing the exact process I use every year in my own business and with the clients I work with to realign vision and build strong foundations for the year ahead

Running a business is deeply personal and today I’m sharing a special episode for all my interior design business owners out there. Your creativity, your vision, your late nights perfecting client presentations - it's all an extension of who you are. But here's what I've learned from countless conversations with designers: passion alone won't protect your business when things go wrong.

In this deeply personal episode, I'm revealing the profound personal moments that truly shaped me into the lawyer I am today. I'm pulling back the curtain on three pivotal experiences that fundamentally changed my approach to law and business.

I talk to business owners quite regularly who think they're doing their clients a favour by keeping their legal contracts short and sweet. However by trying to be "nice", they’re doing more harm than good. Providing your clients with a short and sweet contract is not setting them, or you, up for success.

Something quite concerning that I see almost weekly in my business is when business coaches overstep and get it wrong.

With the first quarter rush easing, this time of year gives us a moment that's rare in business - a natural pause. Personally, I take this time of year as an opportunity to look at my business with fresh eyes by asking myself 5 powerful questions. 

Today I’m talking about what I think is a pretty sexy angle when it comes to contracts: money. Yes, the hard cash that can silently slip away if your business's terms and conditions are not watertight, or if they’re lacking altogether. Let's uncover how this happens and what you can do about it.

When I start working with a new client, a question I frequently ask is: "What do you want to achieve in this next season of your business?" Nearly every time, the responses revolve around gaining more clients, revenue or growth. Yet, the tool that most powerfully supports this growth is often misunderstood—the legal documents.

Keeping up with legal updates can be overwhelming and confusing. If you’re like most of my clients, you’ve probably felt unsure about where to source reliable information. With the huge amount of content floating around online, it’s easy to get lost in what's accurate and applicable to you. So, today I’m guiding you through some critical legal changes you need to be aware of as a service-based small business owner.