Ties that bind

The weekly newsletter, now in blog form.

The Flexibility to Fight for What’s Right
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

The Flexibility to Fight for What’s Right

So when you see the project of freedom and democracy taking blow after blow like we continue to see in Minneapolis, it can be hard to drag yourself to your keyboard. But if we let the dismay demoralize and silence us, we squander our power and forfeit to forces that we know are simply, clearly, morally wrong. 

Instead, here are 3 ways to use the freedom and flexibility of entrepreneurship to follow the path of brave womxn who preceded us and build a more just world.

Read More
Getting Paid for the Results, Sleep Masks & Baby Feet
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Getting Paid for the Results, Sleep Masks & Baby Feet

The proposal was accepted. The work got done. The client is happy.

But when you look at the numbers (and the energy it took to get there), you can’t help but wonder:
Did I charge for the right thing?

This week, a gentle (but firm) reminder:
You’re not being paid for the deliverable. You’re being paid for the result.

Read More
Evolving Relationships, Chic Wine Glasses & Hollywood Glam
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Evolving Relationships, Chic Wine Glasses & Hollywood Glam

You’re growing. Your business is expanding. You’re thinking differently about money, time, and what you want next.

But lately, some of your relationships… feel a little off.
Not dramatic. Not broken. Just quietly mismatched.

This week, we’re talking about what happens when your career evolves faster than your relationships, and how to navigate the tension with grace, honesty, and just enough self-protection.

Read More
WT/SB Updates, Substack, & Edible Glitter
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

WT/SB Updates, Substack, & Edible Glitter

New year. Same unpredictability.

With the economy shifting, the political landscape (still) roiling, and everyone's capacity feeling just slightly maxed, we’ve been paying close attention to how you’re showing up (and what you’re showing up for) in our current moment.

Read More
Jobs within Jobs, Whimsical Dresses, & Girl Dinner
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Jobs within Jobs, Whimsical Dresses, & Girl Dinner

You’re a founder. A freelancer. A creative. A leader.

Except some days, you’re also the copywriter, the bookkeeper, the strategist, the customer support rep, and the entire ops department.

Modern entrepreneurship isn’t one job. It’s five.

And even if you love the work, shifting between roles all day — selling in the morning, managing your team and/or clients by noon, designing slides by 3PM — can leave your brain scrambled and your confidence weirdly slippery.

Read More
Staying Top of Mind, Year of the Horse & Messy Affairs
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Staying Top of Mind, Year of the Horse & Messy Affairs

We all know visibility matters — but that doesn’t mean you want to spend your life on Instagram.

The good news? You don’t have to be constantly posting, commenting, or “building your brand” in order to stay top of mind. In fact, the most effective visibility moves are often the quietest.

This month, we’re sharing a few light-touch, human ways to stay visible in your industry — without being online 24/7.

Read More
Work Setbacks, Rebuilding Confidence, & Marriage Advice
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Work Setbacks, Rebuilding Confidence, & Marriage Advice

Maybe the client ended things out of nowhere.
Maybe the launch didn’t land.
Maybe your inbox is quiet in a way that feels… unsettling.

Setbacks happen — even (especially) to the most capable, seasoned, strategic women we know. But when they do, it’s not just your revenue that takes a hit. It’s your confidence.

This week, we’re talking about how to find your footing again — emotionally, tactically, and without rushing the process.

Read More
Asking for Help, Dogs on Shrooms & Our Fave New TV Shows
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Asking for Help, Dogs on Shrooms & Our Fave New TV Shows

We’re taught to be capable. Low maintenance. Easy to work with. So it’s no surprise that asking for help — even strategically, even when it could change everything — feels hard.

But here’s the truth:
No one builds a meaningful career or business alone. And the women who move fastest? They ask for what they need.

Read More
Letting It Go, Tending to My Zen Garden & Can’t-Idates
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Letting It Go, Tending to My Zen Garden & Can’t-Idates

If your to-do list is starting to feel like a second full-time job, it might be time for a business sanity check.

This month, we’re walking you through a simple decision filter we love:

Automate. Personalize. Let go.

It’s part systems strategy, part nervous system support — and the goal is to help you spend less time spiraling and more time doing what actually matters.

Read More
Multi-Hyphenates, Thai Food in TX & Crushing on Rosalía
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Multi-Hyphenates, Thai Food in TX & Crushing on Rosalía

Some of us wear a lot of hats - and not just because we’re creative. Maybe you’ve built multiple offers, wear different titles depending on the room, or have more than one income stream (or idea for one).

So when someone asks, “What do you do?” - your brain might short-circuit a little.

If you’ve ever panicked mid-intro, given an overly vague answer, or trailed off into “It’s kind of hard to explain…” - this one’s for you.

Read More
Making Yourself Easy to Refer, MMA & Holiday Heels
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Making Yourself Easy to Refer, MMA & Holiday Heels

You’re good at what you do. You deliver. You care.

But if your word-of-mouth leads feel random, slow, or like they always show up after your calendar fills, it might be time for a quick referral tune-up.

Read More
Member Spotlight: Melanie Ensign
Laura Maurer Laura Maurer

Member Spotlight: Melanie Ensign

We’re thrilled to kick off our newest blog feature: the Weak Ties/Strong Bonds Member Spotlight! First up is Melanie Ensign, Founder and CEO of Discernible. A Founding Knit member, Melanie helps security and privacy professionals transform how they communicate their mission-critical work. As the world's first communications center of excellence dedicated to security and privacy teams, Discernible solves one of their most persistent challenges: communicating their business value.

Read More
Big Changes, Scientology & Slashing Tires
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Big Changes, Scientology & Slashing Tires

We’re officially counting down to January 7th, when the Weak Ties/Strong Bonds membership launches—and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.

This isn’t just a new chapter for us—it’s a game-changer for you and your business. We’re thrilled to share some exciting updates about what’s staying, what’s evolving, and why now is the perfect time to get involved.

Read More
Yearly Wrap Ups, NYC vs. London, & Stylish New Events
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Yearly Wrap Ups, NYC vs. London, & Stylish New Events

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on everything this incredible community has accomplished together—and we couldn’t be more grateful for you. This year, with your support, we hosted 12 intimate dinners, celebrated the announcement of the Weak Ties/Strong Bonds membership, helped to generate an additional $150,000 in revenue for our members, and so much more!

Read More
Party Time, Time Freedom, & Knocking on Doors
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Party Time, Time Freedom, & Knocking on Doors

When it comes to work, two things that we both value - possibly above all else - are freedom and flexibility. Financial freedom, certainly. But just as important, time freedom and the flexibility to work when and where we want.

To that end, we're headed down to Lauren's hometown in the Atlanta suburbs on Friday to knock on doors and do what we can to ensure that Georgia goes blue in November. And it never crossed our minds that it would interfere with work.

Read More
Business Lessons from Nobody Wants This, Louboutins, & Julia Louise-Dreyfus
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Business Lessons from Nobody Wants This, Louboutins, & Julia Louise-Dreyfus

At the urging of multiple Weak Ties/Strong Bonds members and - let's be honest - the entire internet, we dove into Nobody Wants This on Netflix this past week. And when we weren't swooning over Noah's emotional intelligence or giggling at the witty repartee between the main characters, we realized that the show is actually a treasure trove of business lessons.

Read More
Save the Dates, Adam Brody, & (Of Course) Eric Adams
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Save the Dates, Adam Brody, & (Of Course) Eric Adams

It's really starting to feel like Fall in NYC - yay apple cider donuts and that brief moment when you can wear sweatshirts with shorts a la Princess Di. If you're anything like us, it's the time of year that makes you feel super focused and inspired to hit our Q4 goals and set ourselves up for success in 2025.

For us, a big part of that is getting clear on how we can best support the Weak Ties/Strong Bonds community as we approach our 1st birthday! 🎂

Read More
Stretching Yourself Thin, Pizza Dogs, & Punching Octopuses
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

Stretching Yourself Thin, Pizza Dogs, & Punching Octopuses

We’ve seen countless business owners stretch themselves thin chasing that next milestone, only to burn out or lose sight of why they started in the first place.

The truth? Success is personal, and building a sustainable business means creating one that supports your life, not the other way around.

Read More
4 Times an “A” Player Should Take a “B”
Lauren Karasek Lauren Karasek

4 Times an “A” Player Should Take a “B”

If you're reading this, chances are you're what we call an "A player."

✔️ A high performer.
✔️ Always ahead of the curve.
✔️ The one who sets the standard and raises the bar for everyone around you.

To go into work for yourself, you've got to be all of those things.

But do you need to be all of those things, all the time?

Read More