Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

There was no time for a blow dryer. For the past few weeks, my hair has been in braids anyway.

The hours of sorting, packing and otherwise running errands for my upcoming move from Ashland to Austin left me, most days, in desperate need of a hot, soapy shower. My look had definitely morphed to Grandma Clampett, sans the shotgun.

While taking a break one afternoon from the physical and mental gymnastics that only a cross-country move can produce, I took the time to read an article about a 58-year-old actress who was ‘rockin’’ a swimsuit.

Gag. Yes, she looked pretty, and yes, in my fragrant and unkempt state, I was a little jealous. But then I remembered that even at 30, I never looked that good in a swimsuit.

Advertising feeds us a steady diet of what physical beauty is supposed to look like. As I finished the article, I found myself wanting to say to the actress staring up from the glossy pages: “Sure, you look good in a swimsuit, but can you carry 60 full banker’s boxes down from your attic by yourself? ‘Cause I just did!”

How our bodies look to anyone else hinges on relative opinion. Beauty is so much more than how we look. Showing up for myself and others is beautiful. Health is beautiful. Gratitude is beautiful.

A Changing Body

Here in the U.S., we talk a good game of diversity, but too often, that diversity is not reflected in our advertising. Quite unfortunately, advertising is a type of cultural mirror that sends the message we’re not firm or thin enough to be worthy of advertising to.

Instead, the 40-something model is paraded around in the swim dress that we want to buy, and, for most of us, our bodies stopped looking like that a few decades ago.

Redefining Beauty

Beauty is not airbrushed. The size of your thighs is not a measure of your worth. What is beautiful about age and aging is an acceptance of the realization that this body is temporal, and the soul is eternal.

Be Proud of Your Wrinkles

Wrinkles are like an album of where we’ve been. They tell a story. Crinkles around the eyes show how much you’ve smiled in life. Hands with veins that look like gnarled roots have played a musical instrument, have washed a thousand dishes, have applauded friends and knit sweaters.

These are the markings of a life well-lived, a life well-loved. We belong to the tribe of the heart now.

Beauty Turned Inside Out

Eyes are the windows of the soul. It’s the light that shines from them, not the eyeliner around them, that creates beauty. A smile is beautiful at any age. Being honest and kind with yourself is beautiful. The well-appointed woman wears gratitude like a classic black dress – always perfect, regardless of the occasion.

The Quality with Which We Love

When I am finished with this move from Oregon to Texas, I’m sure that I will look a little ragged around the edges. I intend to pull on my swim dress and head up to the neighborhood pool.

I will feel the joy of water and sun and warm air and won’t care if my skin is saggy, or that a pronounced vein is climbing like a vine up my right leg.

At the end of the day, I think I’d rather be remembered for my courage, fierce independence and the occasional great hat. When my life is over, I hope I’m remembered for the love that I gave. Now that’s beautiful.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What makes you beautiful in your own eyes? And what makes other women beautiful to you? What qualities take beauty out of the superficial? Let’s all share our stories of beauty in courage, independence and self-respect.

I wasn’t particularly enamored with rebounding the first time it arrived on the fitness scene in the early 80s. I was in my 20s with limber, strong, healthy knees, hips and spine and it all seemed rather silly. But now decades later, after a few disturbing “as we age” diagnoses, I understand the genius of the design.

Research Shows

There’ve been numerous studies on the benefits of rebounding with results ranging from superior oxygen consumption rebounding as compared to running on a treadmill, improved coordination and balance, and improved muscle tone and strength.

What I Found to Be True for Me

From my personal experience using it daily for the past five months, I noticed my sense of balance seems to have greatly improved, which is reason enough to continue. But I’ve also discovered other very encouraging benefits including relief from knee pain and strengthening of a formerly wobbly ankle. It also seems to help clear my morning brain fog and nasal/bronchial congestion.

Making a Selection That’s Right for You

I bought my rebounder after a pretty rigorous review of the dozens of products on the market. Apparently, I’m not the only actively aging woman who needs to protect her joints from the damage of running and jumping on hard surfaces. Rebounding is now trending, with over one million sold in the US this past year alone.

Things to Consider

As with any fitness program, it’s essential to evaluate the equipment carefully to ensure safety and limit the risk of injury. These were my priorities:

Handrail Bar

A stability bar is essential for me. I don’t hold it the entire time I’m working out, but on those occasions when I’m feeling a little less strong or coordinated, it’s reassuring to have it available. I made sure it was securely attached and was sturdy enough to support me if I needed it.

Number of Legs

A rebounder with six or more legs is much more stable. The earlier models had as few as four and were notorious for tipping. I bought a model with eight legs.

Bungee Material

I looked for strong rubber bungees that were placed close together and had a protective cover to prevent a misplaced foot from slipping between them. The closer the bungees, the more resistance and the better the workout.

Workout Area

I opted for a 40-inch jump zone to be sure there was plenty of room for me to bounce without getting too close to the edge. It takes up significant floor space, but I chose a model that folds up to be stored out of sight. Although, I leave mine set up to encourage me to use it.

Leg Height

I also followed a suggested recommendation to be sure the rebounder surface is a minimum of nine inches off the ground. The platform is designed to give under impact but should never hit the ground, also I made sure it had adequate capacity for my size and weight.

Start Slow and Listen to Your Body

When you start rebounding, it’s important to take it slow. I found the first few times I used it, I was a bit woozy after only a few minutes. My vestibular system was not used to that sort of movement, so I gradually increased the amount of time and the enthusiasm with which I rebounded, and I quickly adapted.

Working Out Became Fun and Boosted my Energy

The other reason I use my rebounder regularly is it boosts my energy. I rebound in the early morning, and I feel so energized after my workout. I play upbeat dance music, (think Pointers Sisters’, Jump!) during my session and enjoy incorporating dancing into my workout.

All in all, I find rebounding fun, approachable and a safe way to maintain my fitness, keep my body limber and get in a low-impact cardio workout. I can easily see myself continuing this routine long into my later years.

If you decide to give it a try, just start out slow, stick with it, have fun and enjoy the benefits of taking care of your body.

What’s Your Take?

How willing are you to try a new exercise routine? What would it take for you to stick to it? What equipment do you use currently and how did you choose it?

According to the recent BizBuySell Insight Report, most small business owners are confident in receiving an acceptable offer if they were to sell. How about you? If you sell your business in the next year, will you receive an acceptable offer or not? If not, you have some work to do. Here are five suggestions:

Have a Realistic Price in Mind

The number one reason a business doesn’t sell is because the owner places an un-realistically high value on her business.

Think of it like you’re selling a house. You have wonderful memories created in the house. It’s served you and your family very well. You’ve taken care of it, and it’s protected you. You love the house and value it tremendously.

A potential buyer doesn’t have memories of the house, isn’t connected to it, and sees the benefits and flaws. As a result, you place a high value on the house while the buyer discounts your asking price by all the flaws she sees and how much it will take to fix it up to her standards. You and the potential buyer may be far apart on the value of the house and therefore the price.

A wise person once told me when it comes to selling your house, you think of it like a castle and the buyer thinks of it like a hovel.

When you put a price on your small business, be realistic. The best way to be realistic is to get a formal valuation from an independent valuation expert. Someone with the ABV or CVA credentials.

Make Sure Your Financial Books Are in Order

This point was driven home by two recent small businesses I’ve helped guide because the owners wanted to sell soon. In both cases, the financial information on the businesses was poor.

Most potential buyers will ask for three years of historical financial statements: P&L and balance sheets. From these documents, a potential buyer will determine how your business will work under her new management. If you can’t provide the information in the standard accounting format, or if the information is incomplete, the potential buyer will likely walk away.

For the two clients I mentioned above, I asked them to work with their bookkeeper and accountant to clean up their financial statements before they try to find a buyer. In one case, the business owner went back three years and in the other case, the business owner is adjusting only this year’s numbers.

The bottom line: if you want an acceptable purchase price, make sure your financial house is in order.

Ensure Your Business Is in an Uptick

The best time to sell your business is when the revenue and profit lines are swinging upwards. I call this the up and to the right syndrome.

Make sure your business results tell a good story to potential buyers. To make it a good story, you need growth for the last two or three years. Growing financial performance reassures buyers the business is well-managed and has the potential for continued success.

Buyers are often willing to pay a premium for businesses that have a proven track record of increasing revenue and profitability because it indicates future earning potential. Buyers who need financing to purchase the business will find it easier to secure loans if the business has shown steady growth. Finally, buyers are often looking for businesses they can scale further, and steady growth indicates that the market demand and internal processes are already favorable for expansion.

If the story your business growth shows is positive, you’re likely to get an acceptable offer. If your story is less than stellar from a financial perspective, you may want to delay offering it for sale until the story improves, that is, your growth trend improves.

Be Flexible (and Creative) in the Terms of Your Deal

My mentor and coach Chris Flett reminded me, “The price is the price; it’s the terms that matter more.”

After you and a buyer agree on a price based on an independent valuation, the real fun begins as you negotiate terms. For example, will the buyer pay in full at closing, or will there be installment payments? Are there any seller-financed options, and if so, at what interest rate?

Is it an asset sale or stock sale? There are tax implications for both the buyer and you as the seller depending on which approach is used. (I wrote about this in an earlier SixtyandMe post). Who will assume the business’s existing debts and liabilities? Buyers may ask for a non-compete agreement to ensure you won’t start a competing business after the sale. What transition support will you provide, such as training the new owner or introducing them to customers and vendors? And so on.

The point is, there are numerous terms of a sale that are just as (or more) important than the price. Make sure you stay flexible and negotiate your interests and not your positions. I suggest you read the book Getting to Yes by Fisher and Ury to prepare for a negotiation.

Have a Plan

Selling a business is complex with many twists and turns. You can’t anticipate all the events, but having a plan helps ensure you stay on track when the inevitable unexpected incident happens.

There are five steps to selling a business:

• Set goals
• Audit the business
• Improve the business
• Market the business
• Sell the business.

Start out with these as the main points and then add the who, what, why, how, and when for each of these steps. For example, who do you want to have involved in the goal setting process? What are your goals in terms of ideal buyer? When do you want the sale to be completed? What do you want to be doing after you exit the business? How will you go about the process of goal setting?

Finally, assuming it takes at least 12-24 months to complete the sale of your business, so when will you create your goals? Set a deadline and get started. After you complete the first step in the process, move on to creating specific action items for auditing your business.

If you want to receive an acceptable offer for your business, start with creating a business sale plan. If you need help with this, ask your CPA, a trusted business consultant or business exit expert for assistance.

Summary – Be Prepared!

Selling your business is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make, so why leave anything to chance? By pricing realistically, keeping your financials in top shape, selling when you’re on an upswing, staying flexible, and having a solid plan, you’ll attract the right buyer and boost your chances of closing a great deal. It’s all about being prepared, smart, and strategic. So, what’s your next move? If you’re ready to make things happen, start today – because a well-prepared seller always has the upper hand.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you know the current value of your small business? Did you come by this number on your own? What do you think about these tips for selling your small business? Do any of them resonate with your current situation, or do you have questions about getting your business ready for sale? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to share your comments or submit any questions you have. I’m here to help.

Your home will smell like snickerdoodle cookies and pine trees all winter long.

He attended one of Diddy’s parties about a decade ago.