[THE LOWDOWN] Issue 22 | Biz Hack | Microsoft PowerToys

Hey, there-  

Doing business these days is a hustle- no way around it. And just when I thought I’d finally let go of hustle culture for good, life reminded me otherwise.

Keeping up with AI, figuring out what work-life balance even means anymore, and navigating a world that never stops communicating at us… it’s enough to make anyone a little bonkers.

But here’s what I’m genuinely excited about right now: working from the inside out. From what’s happening in my brain to how I show up in my everyday world. Which is exactly why I’m thrilled about our next Book League pick, Tell Yourself a Better Lie. There’s a full description below, but first, let me tell you what I’m seeing from here.

Here’s the truth: every single one of us carries disempowering thoughts that quietly color our world, often without us even noticing. This book gets personal about it. Each chapter is named after a real person and walks through their rapid transformation therapy session, then closes with practical tools the author suggests for tackling that specific thought pattern. The possibilities for a better, freer future? Basically infinite.

Ready to hack your brain for a more prosperous, fulfilling 2027? Join us.

Keep going,

Signature of Sarah

#TheBookLeague | Q4: Tell Yourself A Better Lie

What Story Are You Telling Yourself About Your Business?

What if the story you’ve been telling yourself isn’t actually true?

We all have stories about who we are, what we’re capable of, and what’s possible for us.

Sometimes those stories help us move forward. And sometimes? They’re outdated, inherited, or simply no longer true.

That’s where The Book League is headed for Q4.

We’ll be diving into Tell Yourself a Better Lie by bestselling author Marisa Peer, a thought-provoking book about how the stories we carry can shape our choices, our confidence, and our future.

Through real-life case studies and insights from Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT), Marisa explores how experiences from childhood can turn into deeply rooted beliefs in adulthood, and how we can start challenging and rewriting those stories.

And for entrepreneurs, there’s A LOT to unpack.

Because what story are you telling yourself about your business?

“I’m not ready yet.”

“I’m just not good at selling.”

“People won’t pay that much.”

“I’m not the kind of person who can charge that.”

“I need to know more before I put myself out there.”

“I’m just not good at social media.”

Sound familiar?

Here’s the fun part: What if those aren’t facts? What if they’re just stories?

And what if changing the story changes what you’re willing to try, charge, create, sell, or become?

That’s what we’ll be exploring together in Q4.

Come ready to question your assumptions, share your own stories, and maybe rewrite a few along the way.

Because sometimes the best business hack starts with changing the story in your own head.

 

Why Join the Book League?

✔ We break it down into thirds, so no pressure to cram—just meaningful conversations and reflections

✔ You’ll have the chance to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and share how these principles are transforming your business and life

✔ It’s a fun, relaxed space (yes, there will be laughs too)

Q4 Session Dates:

📚 Wednesday, October 28th
📚 Wednesday, December 2nd
📚 Wednesday, December 30th

Online Happy Hour (drinks optional!)  Discussion Time: 4 PM – 5:30 PM CST

If you’re looking for a community that loves learning, challenging ideas, and growing together, we’d love to have you join us. Bring your curiosity, your questions, and your favorite beverage, we’ll take care of the conversation.

#BizHack | Your Windows PC Has Hidden Superpowers

If you use a Windows PC for your business, there’s a good chance you’re doing things the hard way without realizing it.

Microsoft PowerToys is a FREE collection of 25+ utilities designed to make Windows more customizable, efficient, and downright handy.

A few of my favorites for getting more done:

🖥️ FancyZones
Create custom window layouts so you can keep your browser, email, spreadsheets, and other apps exactly where you want them. Great for multitasking without constantly resizing windows.

🏷️PowerRename

This is what led me to look for a solution and find PowerToys with a simple Google search. 

Stop manually renaming files one by one; PowerRename lets you use search-and-replace to rename hundreds of files in one shot, saving you hours of tedious clicking. Perfect for organizing invoices, photos, or project files by batch-adding dates, prefixes, or fixing naming chaos across an entire folder in seconds.

🔎 PowerToys Run
Quickly search for and launch apps, files, folders, and commands without digging through menus.

✂️ Text Extractor
Grab text from practically anywhere on your screen using OCR. Handy when you need to pull text from an image, video, PDF, or other content that doesn’t let you simply copy and paste.

🖼️ Image Resizer
Resize multiple images directly from File Explorer. No need to open a separate design program just to make a bunch of images smaller.

🪄 Peek
Preview a file without opening another application. One less click can add up when you’re working with dozens of files a day.

And that’s just the beginning.

Tools for managing windows, customizing your keyboard, finding your mouse, measuring things on your screen, previewing files, launching workspaces, and even keeping your computer awake during those “why is my screen turning off again?” moments.

The Biz Hack: Don’t assume the way you’ve always done something is the fastest way to do it.

Sometimes, the best productivity upgrade isn’t new software. It’s discovering a tool you already have.

#WhereInTheWorldIsSarah

20th Anniversary Twin Cities VisionWalk

Saturday, September 19th, 9:00 AM

Location: Lake Harriet Bandshell

Donate or Register HERE to be on the team

 

Crows Clothing Swap

Sunday, October 4th

Location: Franconia Sculpture Park

 

Maximize Your Effectiveness: Grow Mental Fitness with Positive Intelligence

Thursday, October 8th; 9-10:30 AM

Location: KPT Collaborative, Hudson, WI

$29; Register HERE

 

Private Women’s Networking Event

Wednesday, October 21st, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location: Minneapolis

(Women and invite-only; ask me for an invite)

 

SAVE THE DATE!

Book League Alumni 2027 Kickoff Event

Tuesday, December 29th, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

FREE for Alumni; considering a paid option for non-Leaguers; details forthcoming.

 

Do you know of a hot networking event in the Twin Cities or Eau Claire areas that I should be at? Let me know! 

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Your Brain Is Lying To You. Here’s Proof.

From The Elephant in the Brain to Tell Yourself a Better Lie, our Q4 Book League pick is a gut check on the stories we tell ourselves, and why fixing them matters more than fixing your funnel.

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