Generated by All in One SEO Pro v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# Second Stage Growth

Don't Leave Your Future to Chance

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://secondstagegrowth.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [My Startup Failure Story](https://secondstagegrowth.com/my-startup-failure-story/) - Everyday entrepreneurs don't capture the news or the big VC money, but there are lots of us out there! Here is one story of startup and failure of an everyday entrepreneur, me!
- [Celebrating Independents on Independence Day](https://secondstagegrowth.com/independence-independents-day/) - As we celebrate our country's Independence, let's salute the Independents that make things happen
- [I made a Bingo Card for my year.  Here's how I'm doing.](https://secondstagegrowth.com/i-made-a-bingo-card-for-my-year-heres-how-im-doing/) - How do you set goals? I tried using a Bingo Card this year - let's discuss how things went for me! And how it could help you and your small business.
- [She Who Hesitates Is Lost](https://secondstagegrowth.com/she-who-hesitates-needs-change/) - Change is hard. There are so many hurdles in the way, including ourselves. How do you get out of your own way?
- [My Digital Twin](https://secondstagegrowth.com/my-digital-twin/) - Are you ready to delegate your least favorite tasks to your new favorite employee? You! Or at least your digital twin.
- [I had 20 things on my To Do List.  Now I have 3](https://secondstagegrowth.com/my-to-do-list-got-shorter/) - Do you use To Do lists to guide your activities as you grow your small business? Time to make a change!
- [Grow Your Business 15 Minutes at a Time](https://secondstagegrowth.com/grow-your-business-15-minutes-at-a-time/) - Hop off the hamster wheel and change your business 15 minutes at a time
- [Big Fish vs Little Fish: How to Avoid Being Devoured by Giant Corporations](https://secondstagegrowth.com/big-fish-little-fish-avoid-being-devoured-by-giant-corps/) - Like a school of fish, small businesses need to stick together to support each other and protect themselves from being eaten by the bigger fish. Here are four things you can do to set your small business up for future success.
- [Caution! Step Away From the Chatbot](https://secondstagegrowth.com/caution-step-away-from-the-chatbot/) - AI Chatbots can be handy, but they can't replace humans. Check out my math-y opinions on when and when not to use a chatbot for your small business.
- [The Value of Personal Connections in an AI World](https://secondstagegrowth.com/the-value-of-personal-connections-in-an-ai-world/) - Don't neglect the value of personal connections even as you do look into ways AI can make your business run more smoothly!
- [Kelly's Podcast Interviews](https://secondstagegrowth.com/kellys-podcast-interviews/) - Here are links to the podcasts I have been on in the past few years.
- [In Celebration of Rural Scrappiness!](https://secondstagegrowth.com/in-celebration-of-rural-scrappiness/) - It's not easy being a small business owner. It's even harder in a rural area. Here's to scrappy entrepreneurs and their bootstrapping ways!
- [Support Small Businesses in Small Towns](https://secondstagegrowth.com/support-small-businesses-in-small-towns/) - After moving to a small town, I have learned the value of running and supporting small businesses in small towns!
- [The Simplest Advice is the Hardest to Follow](https://secondstagegrowth.com/the-simple-advice-hard-to-follow/) - Just because you have an idea what to do doesn't mean it's any easier to actually DO it. How can you get started? Read more!
- [Lean in to Your Zone of Incompetence](https://secondstagegrowth.com/lean-in-to-your-zone-of-incompetence/) - Small businesses grow by being excellent at something - but owners sometimes need to be incompetent too
- [Trails in the Snow](https://secondstagegrowth.com/trails-in-the-snow/) - Walking through the snow on a sunny afternoon made me think about small business processes. Same for you? Cool!
- [Cheers to the Everyday Entrepreneurs](https://secondstagegrowth.com/cheers-to-the-everyday-entrepreneurs/) - The news is full of AI funding, crypto, and giant corporation layoffs. Maybe it's time to celebrate our everyday entrepreneurs instead!
- [A Tale of Two Sides (of business)](https://secondstagegrowth.com/a-tale-of-two-sides-of-business/) - Just like on social media, as small business owners we tend to show one version of ourselves in public, and hide the scary stuff - to our detriment.
- [Time to Channel Your Inner Bigwig?](https://secondstagegrowth.com/time-to-channel-your-inner-bigwig/) - If you run a small business, perhaps you're grateful to avoid all the red tape of a giant corporation - but don't forget to learn from the Big Business bigwigs too!
- [Too much work?  Take a break!](https://secondstagegrowth.com/too-much-work-take-a-break/) - Too much work on your plate? The best time management tip is to stop working to get more done! Take a break!
- [Are You a T or an F?](https://secondstagegrowth.com/are-you-a-t-or-an-f/) - How does your personality affect your role as a business owner? We all have to work together even if we approach things differently.
- [Centers of Influence: Your Strategic Partners](https://secondstagegrowth.com/centers-of-influence-your-strategic-partners/) - Take last year and increase everything 10%. Is THAT your strategic plan for your small business? Maybe it's time to turn to your centers of influence for some help!
- [Glue Stick Guy: Right Person Right Spot](https://secondstagegrowth.com/glue-stick-guy/) - What is a glue stick guy? And when is the right time (or the wrong time) to hire an employee like this for your small business?
- [How to become successful?  Simple!](https://secondstagegrowth.com/how-to-become-successful-simple/) - The best way to grow your business? It's easy! All you need is tons of money and fame. Or maybe a few pointers.
- [Three Ways to Lessen Your Stress](https://secondstagegrowth.com/three-ways-to-lessen-your-stress/) - You can’t control everything – but here are three things you CAN do to help lessen the stress of being a small business owner
- [Never Enough: Let’s Talk Time Management ](https://secondstagegrowth.com/lets-talk-time-management/) - When was the last time you said that you've got "too much time on your hands" (like the old song)? Let's talk about time management for small business owners and solopreneurs!
- [The "Guaranteed" Way to Grow Your Business](https://secondstagegrowth.com/the-guaranteed-way-to-grow-your-business/) - There are so many "get rich quick" ads, posts, courses+ out there, but do they really work for YOUR business? Check out MY "guaranteed" way to grow your business instead.
- [Why Growing a Small Business Is Like Solving a Puzzle With No Picture on the Box](https://secondstagegrowth.com/growing-small-business-solving-puzzle-with-no-picture/) - Growing a small business is like solving a puzzle with no picture on the box. Challenging to say the least! And better with a team to support you.
- [Why Weak Ties Might Be Your Secret Growth Tool](https://secondstagegrowth.com/weak-ties-your-secret-growth-tool/) - Every weak connection can widen your circle just a little bit more, like a giant Venn diagram with you right in the center.
- [Your Personal Advantage](https://secondstagegrowth.com/your-personal-advantage/) - As a small business owner, you DO have many advantages over big business, including the personal connections you have with employees and customers.
- [What Big Business Forgot (and You Still Get Right)](https://secondstagegrowth.com/what-big-business-forgot/) - Big business is beholden to shareholders. But your business has stakeholders. How can that be your competitive advantage?
- [From Owner-Operator to Growth Generator](https://secondstagegrowth.com/from-owner-operator-to-growth-generator/) - The hardest part of growing your business is giving up - not on the business - but on you running everything. It's hard to give up control. It's equally as hard to give up money that was yours that will lead to growth.
- [Too Much Change, Too Many Hats](https://secondstagegrowth.com/too-much-change-too-many-hats/) - Running a small business is hard even without tariffs and a pending recession! Learn 4 tips on how to manage in such an unpredictable environment
- [Don't be a Commodity!](https://secondstagegrowth.com/dont-be-a-commodity/) - Your small service business is not a commodity - so stop trying to be the lowest price option! Stand out and focus on value instead.
- [The Piñata vs the Charts: Taking Action vs Planning](https://secondstagegrowth.com/pinata_vs_charts_action_vs_planning/) - How do you make decisions to grow your business and put them into action? Are you a piñata whacker? Or a Chronic Planner and Chart Analyzer?
- [Why a chatbot should be your next hire](https://secondstagegrowth.com/why-a-chatbot-should-be-your-next-hire/) - Are you using an AI chatbot to grow your small business? You should be! Learn 3 ways (other than content marketing) that a chatbot can help you in this video
- [Scale or Fail: The Strategic Power of No](https://secondstagegrowth.com/scale-or-fail/) - How do you scale your small business? Don't let "Present You" say yes to projects that "Future You" will regret. Focus on your key deliverables and customers.
- [What is a second stage business?](https://secondstagegrowth.com/what-is-a-second-stage-business/) - Second stage businesses are the job creators of the economy, but they often are left to figure things out on their own. Let's bridge the gap and come together!
- [Top 10 Challenges of Growing Your Small Business](https://secondstagegrowth.com/top-10-challenges-growing-small-business/) - Let's take a look at the top 10 challenges of growing your small business, along with some resources to help!
- [Welcome to Rise Over Run!](https://secondstagegrowth.com/welcome-to-rise-over-run/)
- [Commodity Concerns](https://secondstagegrowth.com/commodity-concerns/) - Do you sometimes, maybe more than you'd like to admit, compete mainly on price? Then yes, you should have a commodity concern
- [Who helped get your business going?](https://secondstagegrowth.com/who-helped-get-your-business-going/) - Who helped you get your business going? And have you thanked them lately?
- [Diversity Can Fuel Business Success](https://secondstagegrowth.com/diversity-can-fuel-business-success/) - Beyond Your Bubble, or how diverse perspectives fuel business growth. Diversity is not a bad word! learn how to embrace it and grow your business!
- [I know someone who does that](https://secondstagegrowth.com/i-know-someone-who-does-that/) - The world is run by people we know. Maybe it's time to get to know a few more of them?
- [Future-Proof Your Small Business](https://secondstagegrowth.com/future-proof-your-small-business/) - The world is full of uncertainty and constant change. How do you manage? Learn how to future-proof your small business
- [Goal Setting for Haters](https://secondstagegrowth.com/goal-setting-for-haters/) - Where do you stand on New Year's resolutions - or setting annual goals? Let's talk about what works - and what doesn't.
- [Independence Day](https://secondstagegrowth.com/independence-day/) - Celebrate Independence Day by honoring independent business owners who embody freedom, innovation, and self-governance. Learn about their growing impact.
- [Never Enough Time On Your Hands](https://secondstagegrowth.com/never-enough-time-on-your-hands/) - Overwhelmed by daily tasks? Learn how to prioritize, delegate, and break down goals into manageable steps. Achieve more with these effective strategies.
- [Your #1 Goal = A Sustainable Business](https://secondstagegrowth.com/your-1-goal-a-sustainable-business/) - Create a sustainable business that thrives without you. Learn mission, vision, delegation, automation, and accountability strategies for long-term success.
- [Anti-aging tech bros, Tesla's issues, and Angry Girlfriend Chatbot](https://secondstagegrowth.com/anti-aging-tech-bros-teslas-issues-and-angry-girlfriend-chatbot/)
- [Inflation, Graduation, and Transportation - what's going on?](https://secondstagegrowth.com/inflation-graduation-and-transportation-whats-going-on/)
- [Journalists, Politicians and Tech Bros, oh my!](https://secondstagegrowth.com/journalists-politicians-and-tech-bros-oh-my/)
- [Create Your Successful Future](https://secondstagegrowth.com/create-your-successful-future/) - Create a successful future for your small business. Discover how to navigate change and stay ahead with peer groups, environmental scanning, and more.
- [See the Opportunity in Trends for the Future](https://secondstagegrowth.com/see-the-opportunity-in-trends-for-the-future/) - Prepare your small business for the future. Learn essential job skills for 2025 and key trends for 2030 in Part 4 of our Future Focused series.

## Pages

- [Home](https://secondstagegrowth.com/) - Second Stage Growth: Helping you to navigate the transition from owner-operator to growth-generator through support, information, connections, & time management
- [Payment - Founding Rural Peer Group](https://secondstagegrowth.com/payment-peer-groups/) - Intentional Growth Circles Founding Rural Group — Monthly Payment Months 1–6 $150 / month Month 7 and on $300 / month As a founding member, your rate is $150/month for your first 6 months, then moves to $300/month. Payments are billed monthly through Stripe. Click below to set up or make your payment securely. Pay
- [IGC Info Session](https://secondstagegrowth.com/igc-info-session/) - Intentional Growth Circles — Free Information Session presents Free Information Session · April 30, 2026 Intentional GrowthCircles A peer advisory group designed specifically for rural small business owners who are ready to grow with intention — alongside a small, trusted circle of fellow owners who understand the landscape you're operating in. Limited to 6–8 members
- [Skeptic Pencil](https://secondstagegrowth.com/skeptic-pencil/) - Do you want to be a part of the founding Rural Peer Group? Sign up for a chat with me to learn more and see if you qualify! Video Transcript Hi – I’m Kelly. If you’re watching this, you probably received a pencil in the mail from me. And not just anyone received one.
- [ResourceAbility](https://secondstagegrowth.com/resourceability/) - Marketing Strategy and Market Research Supporting Small Business Owners Hi! I’m Kelly Berry, and I have been helping small businesses since 2005. How can I help you?Check out the services I continue to offer through ResourceAbility below, or visit Second Stage Growth to learn more about how a business owner roundtable group can help you
- [Your Results](https://secondstagegrowth.com/your-results/) - Thank you for completing the Readiness Quiz! Expect a personal email from Kelly sharing your results in the next day or two.For now, think about how you answered the questions on the quiz about some of the issues that go along with being a business owner. Did you Answer Mostly 4s and 5s? “Okay you
- [2026 Peer Group](https://secondstagegrowth.com/2026now/)
- [quiz](https://secondstagegrowth.com/quiz/)
- [RSVP Page](https://secondstagegrowth.com/rsvp/)
- [Rural Groups](https://secondstagegrowth.com/rural-groups/) - Learn more about what’s involved in joining our rural groups or Intentional Growth Circle for rural business owners and how they can help you & your business.
- [Western WI Business Owner Roundtable Groups](https://secondstagegrowth.com/western-wi/) - Western WI Business Owner Roundtable Groups: Learn more about what’s involved in joining an Intentional Growth Circle and how it can help you and your business.
- [Peer Groups](https://secondstagegrowth.com/peer-groups/) - Join Intentional Growth Circle peer groups and participate in facilitated, confidential meetings with peers from non-competing markets. Grow your business!
- [WBC](https://secondstagegrowth.com/wbc/)
- [StartupCV](https://secondstagegrowth.com/startupcv/)
- [Contact](https://secondstagegrowth.com/contact/) - Contact Second Stage Growth or Book a Consultation to begin to grow your business now.
- [About Me](https://secondstagegrowth.com/about-me/) - Wouldn’t it be nice to have a super-organized, nerdy researcher by your side as you work to grow your business? Learn About Kelly and how she works with you.
- [Insights](https://secondstagegrowth.com/insights/) - Let me be your competitive advantage! I can also support your business by sharing my insights from 20 years of working with small businesses just like yours!
- [case-study-1](https://secondstagegrowth.com/case-study-1/)
- [Rise Over Run Live Event](https://secondstagegrowth.com/rise-over-run-live-event/)
- [Rise Over Run](https://secondstagegrowth.com/rise-over-run/)
- [Cookie Policy](https://secondstagegrowth.com/cookie-policy/) - Please wait while the policy is loaded. If it does not load, please click here to view the policy.
- [Privacy Policy](https://secondstagegrowth.com/privacy-policy/) - Please wait while the policy is loaded. If it does not load, please click here to view the policy. Please wait while the policy is loaded. If it does not load, please click here to view the policy.
- [Terms of Service](https://secondstagegrowth.com/terms-of-service/) - Terms of Service for Learn Start Grow LLC, dba Second Stage Growth including information on refunds and cancellations.
- [Your ROI Club](https://secondstagegrowth.com/your-roi-club/) - Join Your ROI Club for accountability and dedicate 15 minutes each week to work ON your business instead of IN it. Take small actions to build big changes.
- [Speaking and Writing](https://secondstagegrowth.com/speaking-and-writing/) - [et_pb_section fb_built="1" fullwidth="on" admin_label="Hero" _builder_version="4.16" background_image="https://secondstagegrowth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Canva-Laptop-Coffee-cup-and-Graph-Chart-on-a-Wooden-Surface.jpg" parallax="on" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_fullwidth_header title="Speaking and Writing" subhead="For Small Business Organizations and Owners" content_max_width="700px" _builder_version="4.16" title_font="Playfair Display|700|||||||" title_font_size="70px" title_line_height="1.5em" content_font="Nunito|600|||||||" content_font_size="20px" subhead_font="Lato|700|||||||" subhead_font_size="30px" subhead_line_height="1.8em" background_color="rgba(0,0,0,0)" use_background_color_gradient="on" background_color_gradient_direction="220deg" background_color_gradient_stops="rgba(53,80,160,0.27) 0%|#3550a0 100%" background_color_gradient_overlays_image="on" background_color_gradient_start="rgba(53,80,160,0.27)" background_color_gradient_end="#3550a0" custom_button_one="on" button_one_text_size="16px" button_one_text_color="#3550a0" button_one_bg_color="#ffffff" button_one_border_width="10px" button_one_border_color="rgba(210,159,104,0)" button_one_border_radius="100px" button_one_font="Lato|900|||||||" button_one_use_icon="off" custom_button_two="on" button_two_text_size="16px" button_two_text_color="#ffffff" button_two_bg_color="rgba(255,255,255,0.15)" button_two_border_width="10px" button_two_border_color="rgba(210,159,104,0)" button_two_border_radius="100px" button_two_font="Lato|900|||||||" button_two_use_icon="off"
- [FUTURE Together](https://secondstagegrowth.com/future-together/) - [et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="Hero" _builder_version="4.16" custom_margin="||||false" custom_padding="0vw||0vw||true|" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="0|0px|0|0px|false|false" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" background_color_gradient_direction="270deg" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding_tablet="|5%||5%||true" custom_padding_phone="|7%||7%||true" global_colors_info="{}" padding_phone="|7%||7%||true" padding_tablet="|5%||5%||true" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.24.2" text_font="||||||||" text_font_size="18px" text_line_height="1.8em" header_font="Playfair Display|700|||||||" header_font_size="70px" header_line_height="1.5em" header_3_font="Lato|700||on|||||" header_3_text_color="#3550a0" header_3_font_size="20px" header_3_line_height="1.5em" custom_margin="|||" header_font_size_tablet="50px" header_font_size_phone="32px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|tablet" header_3_font_size_tablet="50px" header_3_font_size_phone="32px" header_3_font_size_last_edited="off|desktop" locked="off" global_colors_info="{}"]Future TOGETHER Business Owner Roundtable Groups Facilitated monthly meetings focused on growth and goal setting[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row

## Tags

- [peer groups](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/peer-groups/)
- [growth](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/growth/)
- [small business](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/small-business/)
- [delegation](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/delegation/)
- [marketing](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/marketing/)
- [scaling](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/scaling/)
- [culture](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/culture/)
- [goals](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/goals/)
- [time management](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/time-management/)
- [pricing](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/pricing/)
- [commodity](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/commodity/)
- [value](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/value/)
- [economy](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/economy/)
- [challenges](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/challenges/)
- [strategy](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/strategy/)
- [genius](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/genius/)
- [management](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/management/)
- [rural](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/rural/)
- [small town](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/small-town/)
- [failure](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/failure/)
- [action](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/action/)
- [technology](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/technology/)
- [ai](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/ai/)
- [startup](https://secondstagegrowth.com/tag/startup/)