At Reach Partners, we talk about communication a lot. We know the value of the ideal message, the kind that’s carefully crafted, reviewed by others, and sent with intentional timing. The goal is to deliver a message that is thoughtful, clear, and polished. It’s a beautiful thing.
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And yet, we know there are situations where we don’t have time to carefully polish the messages we need to send.

Some of us are wired to think – and we do so deeply, thoroughly, and in spirals.

We imagine the possibilities. We anticipate outcomes. We consider people, timing, risk, and reward. Thinking is how we prepare. Thinking is how we protect.

It’s good work.

But thinking is only part of it.
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As Eddie Rickenbacker, an American fighter pilot in World War I, said: “The key to success is to think things through and then follow through.”

At a recent networking event, somebody asked Anita what her favorite project management tools are.
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Anita’s answer: she doesn’t have any. As experienced project managers, we use the tools our clients are most comfortable with. Our clients’ favorite tools become ours.
 
The question, however, prompted us to think about our favorite things. What helps us find beauty in the world? In our work? In our lives?
 
At Reach Partners, we emphasize values and process. We celebrate the relationships we build through trust. So, you likely won’t be surprised to see that many of our favorite things are experiences and traditions, ways of connecting with others. Others are simply things that make us smile as we do our job.
 
It turns out we do have a list of favorites! Here they are:

You might know Reach Partners for one type of project—meeting facilitation or event strategy and execution. But did you know our work extends across a wide range of industries and needs?

At Reach Partners, we love helping organizations turn ideas into action. Our work varies, but our purpose remains the same: to extend the capacity of leaders and teams and guide projects from vision to completion.
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One way we showcase our work is through case studies. These real-world examples highlight how we become a trusted partner, helping clients navigate challenges, prioritize solutions, and bring their projects to life.

​Empathy is often seen as a soft skill but make no mistake—it is one of the most challenging and essential tools for effective leadership.
 
Jon Micheels Leiseth, Theatre B’s artistic director, offered a powerful reminder of this during his Creative Mornings session titled Threads. He shared a personal story of feeling miserable while navigating the diverse needs of his collaborators while adjusting to new directing challenges. A mentor’s advice helped him refocus: the project itself is the baby.
 
This advice shifted his perspective from managing people’s emotions to birthing the work. It allowed him to align his skills and energy with the purpose of the project.
 
In both creative and business settings, empathy must be used wisely to avoid frustration. Otherwise, compassion overload can lead to a resource drain.

Reach Partners is fortunate to share office space with a voracious reader. To nobody’s surprise, none of us hesitated to start an interoffice book club when Rachel suggested we read a book together.

The three of us are now on our second book. We don’t have a hard schedule. We jointly determine how much to read for our next discussion, and I find an hour on our calendars that works well with other work obligations.
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We are reading Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. Two of us have read it before, but reading it again is not only helpful but insightful. I find this true of so many personal development books.

​Several years ago, Reach Partners started a practice that has now become an established tradition.
 
We initiated CCC, which stands for Coffee, Cheese Plates, and Cocktails. We are big believers that good food, good drinks, and good conversations go hand-in-hand. By adopting this strategy, we’ve been intentional about framing our relationship-building in a fun, informal way.
 
But let’s face it, this is also our much-more-inviting take on a CRM tool. This is how we stay connected with our current clients while learning about ways we can partner with new ones.

Reflection is more than just looking back on what has happened; it is an intentional practice of processing experiences, considering outcomes, and imagining possibilities. When approached thoughtfully, reflection becomes a tool for growth. It transforms experiences into actionable insights.
 
I like to think reflection is a forward-moving practice that seeks solutions, growth, or improvement. It’s about taking lessons from past experiences and using them to create a better future. Reflection is not the same as rumination, which traps us in the past, replaying missed opportunities or mistakes without resolution. Where reflection acts, rumination stands still.

October is National Women’s Small Business Month, a time to celebrate the accomplishments of women entrepreneurs and reflect on what it takes to build a successful business.
 
At Reach Partners, we’ve spent years growing our business and supporting others along the way. In the spirit of this month, and with a focus on securing new projects, we want to share insights from our own journey while spotlighting women-owned businesses in our network.
 
One of the greatest lessons we’ve learned over and over is that no one succeeds alone. Surrounding yourself with capable, knowledgeable, and inspiring people is a key part of the formula for success. I’m grateful daily for the leadership and excellence shown to me by Anita.
 
By surrounding yourself in a network of women entrepreneurs, you create a support system that has the potential to lift everyone higher. Partnerships can unlock new opportunities and help women-led businesses grow stronger together.

​Trust is a strange, living thing, isn't it? It breathes in the spaces between promises and deliveries, between what’s said and what’s done. It’s nurtured through small actions and gestures, yet it can sometimes feel as elusive as smoke.
 
Why do some clients trust us immediately, while others seem to withhold it forever? What is the alchemy behind trust?
 
Let’s start with a simple ingredient: delivery.