As a small business owner, there inevitably comes a point where “doing it all yourself” is no longer a viable strategy for growth. You realize you need external support, but the market is flooded with different types of professionals. Should you find a mentor, hire a consultant, or start seeing a therapist?

When you are laid off, the impact is often more than financial or professional; it is deeply social. It feels like being kicked out of a tribe. Regardless of how many friends or family members you have outside of work, being suddenly pushed out of a community where you spent the majority of your time leaves a significant hole.

n the spring of 2025, I had the opportunity to take on an intern from the University of Richmond. The head of the Spider Hub reached out to ask if I would be interested in having a student work on my business as part of an independent study class. I jumped at the opportunity. In my mind, I was focused on the benefit of "free labor," but I ended up gaining so much more than I anticipated.