Sprinkled throughout today’s conversation is a phrase I absolutely love. No matter the situation or the statement, the response is simple, “Let’s talk about it.” Chanda Coston is a Navy Veteran, PMP, and Business Strategist who helps purpose-driven entrepreneurs—especially women over 40—turn chaos into clarity and grow businesses that make sense (and money). In our time together, we talk about the need for clarity, the importance in telling our stories, and having people in our corner. Chanda also talks about her life as a professional pivoter, the reality that nothing happens overnight, trusting yourself, starting over and carving new paths, and systems as self-care. If you’re looking to make some changes, let this sink in: If Chanda can do it, so can you.

• Chanda Co. Strategist
• Chanda Co. on Instagram
• Free Ebook: Barriers to Breakthru
• 1:1 Tiny Challenge ($21)
• The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P Moran and Michael Lennington
• Episode photo from Envato Elements: Study Of Patterns And Lines

I’ve been slowly waking up to the reality that I’ve been running my business and living my life on autopilot for far too long. It’s been six years since I really felt like I was in control and not operating by the whims of others and the seat of my pants. But here I am, staring at 2026 off in the distance, ready to shake the sleep from my eyes and do something completely different. In this episode, I’m going to share why I’m ready to shake things up, how I’m reconnecting with my vision, passion, and action, and how you can, too.

Before I go any further, I have some reflection questions for you. It might be useful to open your notes app or get a journal and pen out to write down your thoughts to these four questions:

1. How loud is your fear?
2. What is your fear saying to you?
3. Do you know where you’re going?
4. How long has your autopilot been engaged?

Okay, before I dive into what these three words mean for me and my future, take a few moments in your notes app or journal and write down some initial thoughts to these three questions:

1. What is my vision?
2. How does my passion help bring that vision to life?
3. What actions am I taking to make sure that my vision and passion become a reality?

Now that I’ve shared a little about my own vision, passion, and action, I want you to return to your notes app or journal and go deeper with these questions:

1. What really is my vision?
2. What are my passion levels teaching me?
3. What is the next action I need to take?

• Airplane! (1980)
• This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
• Innovators of Vancouver
• Episode photo from Envato Elements: No people in empty captain cabin with dashboard navigation

I always enjoy meeting people who think deeply about the work they do, but also have a lot of fun doing it. Izzy Poirier is a designer, brand strategist, zine publisher, and community builder. From her earliest years, she’s been intrigued with the nature of people, their stories and identities, and making sure that they have a place to belong. In our conversation, we talk about the intersection of design, brand strategy, community building with the Ottawa Design Club, craft, and the art of zines. We also dive into Pivotal Moments, a zine featuring stories from creatives around the world, produced in collaboration with the Ottawa Design Club and New York Design Club. Izzy shares what went into producing the zine, curating the stories, the impact, and how a single font changed everything in the design phase of the project. If you’re looking for some inspiration as you consider new projects or pivots in your own future, then this is the episode for you.

• Izzy Poirier
• Ottawa Design Club
• New York Design Club
• Pivotal Moments
• Heather Crank (Crahmánti)
• Bend Design
• Cadillac LYRIQ
• The Running Man (2025)
• Non Foundry
• Non Ophelie
• TYPE01
• Xerox – Graphic & Print Design Solutions
• Brand – International Brand Design Magazine