What happens when you write a novel, put it in a drawer, and your adult daughter stages an intervention? In this episode, Laura welcomes Susan Kleinman, author of All Afternoon, who shares her journey from magazine writer to fiction author, and how her daughter's tough love pushed her to finally publish her book.

Susan grew up learning that money means values in action. While there were limits on clothing—no more than $15 per skirt—her mother took her to a book warehouse where Susan could fill a cart with 50-100 books. This clear message about what mattered shaped everything.

After a published cover story in college and a 10-city book tour at 25, Susan's career didn't follow the typical upward trajectory. It looked like the letter U—starting high, dropping to steady magazine work, then rising decades later. When magazines folded during the 2008 crisis, she pivoted to fiction, winning a Sarah Lawrence fellowship and drafting "All Afternoon" in 2010.

The book went through agents, rejections, COVID delays, and her father's death. At 59, Susan quit writing entirely. She made collage cards, slept late, thought she was happily retired. Then her daughter flew home: "You need to get a job. You seem aimless." Her daughter read the manuscript and insisted: "You have to get this book published." Now 61, Susan is self-publishing, learning marketing, connecting with bookstagrammers, and receiving reviews from strangers that make her cry.

Key Takeaways:

💡 Money is how you put your values into action. Susan's parents taught her this explicitly—there were strict limits on clothing, but unlimited books. This wasn't about their financial situation; it was about what mattered. Charitable giving was non-negotiable, but so was thinking deliberately about expenditures that create a life that fits who you are, not just what you want in the moment.

💡 Career paths aren't always linear. Susan's career graphed as a U, not an upward trend—high success at 25, decades of steady but quiet magazine work, then a dramatic rise again at 61. She lost work during the 2008 housing crisis when decorating magazines folded, pivoted to fiction, then quit entirely before returning. The traditional career trajectory doesn't apply to everyone.

💡 Sometimes your family sees what you can't. When Susan thought she was happily retired making cards and drinking coffee slowly, her daughter flew home and said, "This is an intervention. You need to get a job. You seem aimless." Her daughter's emotional intelligence caught what Susan couldn't see—she needed purpose and goals, not just leisure. Sometimes those who love us most can see our truth.

💡 Time is not renewable—spend it deliberately. Susan's grandfather, a European immigrant, told her at 86: "Sometimes life is very long, but even so it ends." This shaped her approach to saying yes to opportunities even when tired or crabby.

Guest: Susan Kleinman is a writer and author of All Afternoon, a novel set in 1978 about a woman confronting what she wants from life.

Resources:

• All Afternoon
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Website

What happens when you follow all the rules—save diligently, work hard, climb the corporate ladder—but lose yourself in the process? In this episode, Laura welcomes Gretchen Schoser, founder of Schoser Solutions and co-host of the podcast "Shit That Goes On In Our Heads," who shares her journey from attempted suicide on Christmas Day 2022 to launching her own consulting business focused on mental health and change management.

Gretchen's father taught her to save relentlessly. She worked at McDonald's through high school and college, put money into her 401(k) for 40 years, and did everything right financially. But beneath the surface, she was drowning. On Christmas 2022, after taking on everyone else's pain, she called 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline. A two-hour conversation saved her life.

After accepting early retirement and launching a mental health podcast, Gretchen faced another transition: starting her consulting firm. On January 2nd, she opened her LLC, funding it with $30,000 from the 401(k) she'd built over four decades.

Key Takeaways:

💡 Financial security doesn't guarantee mental health. Gretchen saved diligently for 40 years, but on Christmas 2022, she nearly didn't live to use that money. She weathered toxic jobs because she couldn't afford to leave, showing up with a smile while dying inside. Financial wellness and mental wellness must go hand-in-hand—no amount of savings is worth sacrificing your mental health.

💡 The 988 crisis line saves lives. When Gretchen was in crisis, she called 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline. You don't need to be suicidal—anyone in crisis can call. A trained professional talked with her for over two hours, saved her life, and helped her find resources. If you're struggling, 988 is available 24/7 in the US and Canada.

💡 Starting a business after 60 requires strategic planning. Gretchen used ChatGPT to calculate startup capital needs, factoring in personal expenses, projected customers, and 1099 contractor realities. She withdrew $30,000 from her 401(k)—after 59.5, you avoid early withdrawal penalties. She hired a CPA, opened business and savings accounts, and sets aside 20% of every payment for taxes.

💡 Being your own boss means being your own caretaker. Working from home makes it easy to overextend. Gretchen schedules reminders to step away, greet her spouse, and eat. She keeps overhead low, watches those $10/month subscriptions that add up, and prices below big consulting firms while protecting her time and energy.

💡 Success shifts from chasing money to making a difference. Gretchen chased money and dreams for decades. At 60, she realized she had enough: a roof, food, her spouse, security. Now success means doing what makes her happy, helping companies protect employee mental health during transitions, and being the happiest her wife has seen her in 20 years.

Guest: Gretchen Schoser is founder of Schoser Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in change management and employee mental health, and co-host of "Shit That Goes On In Our Heads" podcast. With 45 years in corporate America and expertise in UKG Recruiting and Onboarding, she's now a mental health advocate helping companies navigate transitions while protecting employee wellbeing.

Resources:

• Company Websire: schosersolutions.com
• Podcast: "Shit That Goes On In Our Heads" at shitthatgoesoninourheads.net
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (available 24/7 in US and Canada)
• LinkedIn

What does it take to fight for what matters most and build a thriving business on your own terms? In this moving episode, Laura welcomes Alexandra Gonzalez, founder and CEO of Savvy Marketers, who shares her journey from corporate marketing executive to entrepreneur, driven by a life changing pregnancy and unwavering commitment to her values.

Alexandra's story begins with her Cuban immigrant parents who arrived in America with only the clothes on their backs, instilling in her the power of hard work, resilience, and education. After building a successful corporate career managing multi-billion dollar businesses at Johnson & Johnson, she faced the fight of her life during a high-risk twin pregnancy. Doctors recommended aborting 24 times, but Alexandra refused, fighting for her daughters through challenges.

This experience transformed her definition of success. Shortly after giving birth, she launched Savvy Marketers from her home, landing a nearly $400,000 contract with her first presentation. Over 13 years, she's built a full-service boutique agency with 8,000 square feet of space and 10 innovation labs, navigating pandemic highs and challenging quarters while never losing sight of her values.

Key Takeaways:

💡 Faith and purpose provide direction through uncertainty. Alexandra's deep spiritual foundation helped her navigate impossible medical decisions, turbulent markets, and entrepreneurship challenges. She believes we're all interconnected citizens of the same planet, and our actions impact others beyond our immediate circles, giving us responsibility to work for the greater good.

💡 Build your business in phases with financial guardrails. Alexandra self-funded Savvy Marketers, starting from home and gradually expanding from freelancers to employees, small offices to 8,000 square feet. She emphasizes planning one, three, five years out and understanding that corporate clients often pay in 90-120 day cycles, requiring careful cashflow management.

💡 Quality of time matters more than quantity. As women we are our own worst judges, we put immense pressure on ourselves to balance everything perfectly. Alexandra teaches her three daughters that success isn't about hours spent but about being fully present. Self-care must be a priority based on intention and quality, not duration.

💡 Resilience means adjusting, not abandoning. When 2024's first quarter hit hard, Alexandra sold personal items to make payroll rather than fire her team. When troubles hit at home, you don't fire your kids; you adjust and prioritize. This commitment to values over short-term gain defines authentic leadership.

💡 True success is loving what you do and being able to keep doing it. Success isn't measured by awards or monthly revenue but by waking up every day to do work you love, staying healthy, being surrounded by good people, and using your talents for something greater. Financial success means covering costs, saving, and having freedom to live meaningfully.

Guest: Alexandra Gonzalez is founder and CEO of Savvy Marketers, a full-service boutique marketing agency in Princeton, NJ. With nearly 30 years in marketing, she's managed multi-billion dollar businesses across banking, food, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, and private equity before launching her own firm over 13 years ago.

Resources:

• Savvy Marketers: Savvy Marketers | Award Winning Marketing Agency
• Connect on LinkedIn: Alexandra Michelle Gonzalez