What I learn about business from Halloween

Seeds of Wisdom

October 31, 2025•4 min read

As the veil thins, what wisdom from your past successes (and mistakes) is whispering in the wind?

I put the garden to bed last week.

Piled all the dead plants on top of the compost heap.

Added new soil to some beds and closed the gate.

Happy Samhain (aka Halloween)!

Tis the season of transitions, completions, new beginnings, & listening to wind.

This season, when the veil between the seen and unseen worlds is thin, is one if my favorite times of the year.

There is opportunity to rejoice, reflect, realign, and recommit.

I’ve been celebrating this threshold season for more than 50 years.

I’ve also been helping Solopreneurs become CEOs for more than 35 years.

I’ve learned some important business lessons from this season of reflection & release.

Plant Next Year’s Success in This Year’s Lessons

Last week’s frost was the final blow to last few stalwart vegetables & flowers.
I don’t begrudge the tomatoes, peppers, zinnias, & dahlias for succumbing to the freeze, rather I celebrate their generous service as I add their skeletons to the compost pile.
Just as next year’s fruits begin with this season’s compost, next year’s success begins with today’s review and reflection.
November is the best month to create your strategic plan for next year so you can lay the groundwork in December to have a powerful start to the new year.

Letting Go Creates Fertile Ground

Throughout the past month, I have gradually emptied one bed after another and prepared the soil for next spring.
I removed the weeds, added nutrients that will give next year’s garden a strong start.
As I review my results from the past 11 month’s business activities, I consider what can be repurposed or repackaged, and what needs to be retired next year.
This year I discovered that a series of lead magnets can be transformed into a mini-course and that integrating a smaller program into a larger program brings will bring it to the next level.

The unseen world is equally important as the seen.

Throughout the growing season, I make “notes to self” about new systems & methods I will use the following year to ease my workload, increase my harvest, & focus my energy.
Visitors & guests in my garden only experience the beauty & bounty of the garden.
Taking time to create, maintain, & improve your systems, procedures, & technology will help you grow sustainably, delegate effectively, and serve your clients with more joy.
The only times my clients are aware of my back-end systems is when they malfunction.

What old ghosts of your business are ready to be thanked and released?

Which “spells” of strategy or mindset need rewriting for the year ahead?

As the veil thins, what wisdom from your past successes (and mistakes) is whispering in the wind?

Gratefully,
Markey Read

Connection Is the New Currency

Let’s be honest—social media is noisy and the algorithms aren’t on your side.
But there’s a smarter way to grow your business: real relationships that lead to real referrals.

Join me for The Connection Advantage, a free live masterclass for women entrepreneurs who want to grow with authenticity, generosity, and strategy.

You’ll learn how to move beyond likes and follows to create a network that consistently feeds your business—without the hustle.

November 12 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT

Reserve Your Seat – It’s Free!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Worth Every Penny: Mastering Your Pricing

Pricing is the key to prosperity, yet it’s one of the most challenging aspects of running a business. Without knowing your WORTH, attracting your best customers can feel impossible. Join Markey Read in this lively and empowering presentation to discover how to price your services confidently and create amazing offerings based on your Cost of Services Sold (COSS).

CHAPTER

San Joaquin Valley

DATE & TIME

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
11:30 AM-1:30 PM

Grab Your Tickets Here

Where’s Your Business Thriving—And Where Are You Leaving Money on the Table?

You don’t need another random strategy—you need clarity on what moves the needle.

Take The Entrepreneur’s Garden Self-Audit to uncover:
What’s working beautifully in your business
Where small shifts can unlock major growth

It’s quick. It’s free. And it could change your next 12 months.

Start the Self-Audit Now →

Markey Read

What I do is help people like you create the lives they really want to be living. How I do that is to create a focused space where you can identify and articulate what you really want. Then we can identify the short- and long-term steps that will help you manifest your vision.