We were lucky to catch up with Nina Anderson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Taking a Risk: My Journey to Entrepreneurship

Taking a risk is one of the greatest life lessons we can gift ourselves. For me, it’s always been both exciting and scary. Risk means stepping into vulnerability—opening the door to rejection, failure, and leaving the safety of a comfort zone. Yet, risk also holds the potential to unlock incredible opportunities, open new doors, create meaningful relationships, and benefit from personal growth.

Sixteen years ago, I took a big leap. I left the stability of the corporate world—a steady income, benefits, the comfort of familiarity—and decided to become my own boss. With a $500 budget and big dreams, I was ready to take on the world as an entrepreneur.

As I stepped into this new world, I felt excitement and optimism about my future. I knew I had the skills, the motivation, and most importantly, the support of my family. But what I didn’t anticipate was how much time and effort would be needed—not just to start a business, but to grow it and make it thrive. I quickly discovered the reality many entrepreneurs face: juggling multiple roles, while lacking expertise in every area of the business.

Like many new business owners, I fell into the trap of focusing on the tasks I enjoyed, the ones that felt familiar. But these weren’t always the activities that would actually grow my business. After a few months, it became clear that if I truly wanted to succeed, I had to take yet another risk. I had to step out of my comfort zone. The idea alone was daunting, so instead of diving straight into the unknown, I told myself I’d “widen my comfort zone”—gradually shifting my mindset to see myself not just as a solo-preneur, but as a CEO and business owner.

This meant developing a business plan and prioritizing every aspect of my business. I had to determine where my attention was most needed, create processes that would stop me from constantly reinventing the wheel, and learn how to manage my time effectively to avoid burnout and overwhelm.

The greatest lesson I learned was that growth requires honesty. I had to acknowledge that what I was doing wasn’t working. And more importantly, I had to believe in myself enough to make the changes necessary to succeed. Risk, I realized, is all about trusting yourself, no matter what. When things didn’t go as planned, instead of beating myself up, I asked, “What can I learn from this?” And when things went right, no matter how small the victory, I celebrated.

Embracing risk has allowed me to grow a successful Productivity Consulting business, and for that, I am deeply grateful. Taking that leap all those years ago was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Sometimes the greatest rewards come from the scariest risks—and I’m blessed I took mine.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Even during my time in the corporate world, before I became a Productivity Consultant, I had a deep appreciation for structure, organization, and a desire to have control over my time. But here’s the truth—I’ve always struggled to maintain those things consistently myself. My desk can get messy, I over-schedule my days, and saying “no” is something I’ve had to learn over time. That’s exactly why I’m so passionate about what I do—not because I have it all figured out, but because I’m right there in the journey, constantly learning and improving alongside my clients.

When I tell people I help with productivity and time management, I often get eye rolls or hear things like, “I don’t need help with my calendar.” But productivity is so much more than just managing a calendar. It’s about managing your life. When you feel in control of your life, you’re better equipped to manage your business effectively.

For me, productivity is about having a vision for your future and putting the right systems and routines in place to make it happen. It’s about realistic goal-setting, prioritizing tasks, creating step-by-step action plans, and setting healthy boundaries. Most importantly, it’s about building a plan that allows you to accomplish what matters most, while staying focused and confident.

This is exactly what I help my clients achieve. I work with solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who want to stop feeling overwhelmed and start working smarter, not harder. Together, we create a customized strategy so they can feel more confident, stay on track, and achieve their goals without burnout. It’s not just about working less and earning more; it’s about enjoying the rewards of being your own boss and building a life you love.

When I’m not consulting or helping businesses grow, I’m a wife, mom, and proud grandma who loves spending time with family. I enjoy golf, cooking, travel, a great glass of wine and reading. I believe in creating a true work-life harmony.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Leadership is such an important part of developing a strong and cohesive team. In my early entrepreneurial years, I was part of a direct sales business and grew a large team with many leaders. One of the biggest lessons I learned was that you can’t do it alone—leadership is about setting the example, effective communication, and recognizing that everyone brings different strengths and personalities to the table.

Here are some key strategies that I’ve found to be invaluable for managing a team while boosting morale:

Lead by Example: Your actions speak louder than words. Be a role model for your team and don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk, and they’ll follow suit.

Empower Your Team: Trust your team with decision making and give them ownership over their tasks. This gives them the space to grow, be innovative and accountable.

Share Goals and Expectations: When you communicate the team goals and expectations, everyone works together as a team with everyone focusing on achieving the goal together.

Have Open Communication: Communication is the backbone of any successful team. Recognize that everyone has a voice, an idea and maybe even a better way to make everyone stronger.

Celebrate Wins—Big and Small: Recognizing both the and individual efforts, whether it’s a big achievement or a small milestone, boosts morale and everyone feels seen and appreciated.

Invest in Growth: As a leader, it’s important to invest in the personal and professional development of your team. Providing opportunities for continuous learning and training can be huge for everyones growth.

Create a Positive Culture: People thrive in environments where they feel respected and valued. Make sure your team culture is one of inclusivity, respect, and positivity.

Encourage Work-Life Harmony: Productivity is important, but burnout is a real risk. Encourage your team to maintain a healthy harmony between their work and personal life.

Leverage Strengths: Everyone has strengths, passions, and areas where they shine. Recognize these assets with your people and create opportunities for them to share with others via training and speaking.

Delegate: Remember there is no “I” in Team so help your people to grow by delegating tasks and training. This allows them to showcase their expertise and also grow as a leader.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Over the years, I’ve experimented with many different strategies to gain visibility and attract clients. Each year, I evaluate where I’ve invested my time and resources, and this exercise helps me identify which efforts are worth scaling up or letting go. The truth is, you never know what will work until you try it. Based on my experience, here are the most beneficial sources of new clients, ranked in order:

Speaking Opportunities: Speaking engagements have been incredibly valuable. They allow me to showcase my expertise, share insights, and give the audience a taste of who I am and how I can help them. It’s a powerful way to connect with potential clients on a personal level.

Referrals: There’s no greater compliment than a referral from a satisfied client. When a past client feels confident enough to recommend my services to their friends or colleagues, it speaks volumes about the impact I’ve had on them. Referrals have been a consistent and trusted source of new business.

Networking Events: I’m a relationship builder by nature, and networking has been key in expanding my client base. Attending events targeted to my ideal demographic allows me to build meaningful connections. Networking is a long-term investment—it’s about give and take, and the more you contribute, the more you receive in return.

Workshops and Webinars: I love offering potential clients a preview of how I can help them through workshops and webinars. These platforms allow me to address their pain points, provide valuable insights, and often lead to deeper conversations about how we can work together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yourproductivityguru.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ninajoanderson59
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ninaanderson

Image Credits

Headshot Credit – Kellie Henriksen, Denver Headshots