Donnalynn Riley

Reader, You did it. You hit the goal. Closed the deal. Built the business. Made the revenue number. Got the recognition. You did the thing you said you were going to do. And for about 48 hours, it felt amazing. Then came the question you didn't expect: "Okay… what now?" Not in an excited way. Not in a "what's my next big adventure" way. In a hollow, slightly panicked, "I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing anymore" way. And here's where it gets really confusing: You KNOW what you...

Reader A CEO friend texted me at 3:47am yesterday. "Can't sleep. Again. Heart racing. Mind spinning. I have everything I ever wanted. Why am I so anxious?" I see this all the time. You've built the business. Hit the revenue goals. Have the freedom everyone talks about. But you wake up at 3am, 4am, 5am... WIDE AWAKE sometimes with your heart pounding, sometimes dead quiet, mentally scrolling through everything to do, everything that could go wrong. Here's what nobody tells you: External...

Reader People used to say, “Wow, you’re so talented.” But the truth? I was just outworking everyone. That’s how I got to live on my own in a big city at 15, it's how I got to work on Broadway theatres at 18 years old. That’s how I climbed fast in every career. I could outgrind anyone. But the cost? Excessive behavior, burnout, broken relationships, health issues... Everyone thought I was winning — but I was actually losing myself. Hard work alone is a trap. What got me ahead early was the...

Reader I know how exhausting it can feel when you’ve tried everything to fix what isn’t working—your business, your relationships, your own inner world—and yet the same patterns keep showing up. It can feel like no matter what you do, you’re back on that same ride again. Life has a way of throwing us onto rides we didn’t exactly sign up for. One minute it’s exhilarating, the next it’s terrifying, and sometimes…it’s just plain disappointing. And the truth is, you don’t get to skip the carnival...

Reader In the old days of business, there was a saying: “No Headaches, No Business.” When I was running a chain of retail stores we said it often... Long hours, constant stress, and never-ending challenges were the norm and sometimes even a badge of fortitude. For many, they still are. But times have changed. We’re in a new era where business can flow with ease—where aligned leverage creates bigger profits with less effort. In fact, millions of dollars change hands in places you would never...

Reader I have a friend who recently went on a meditation retreat and noticed a difference in her thinking when she changed her environment and her proximity to others who are excellent meditators. Her experience got me thinking about this... Quick truth I love: your results aren’t only about effort—they’re about environment. There’s a wild, research-backed effect called the 25-foot advantage: when you work within ~25 feet of a high performer, your own performance jumps by ~15%. Not...

Reader Most of us think we need to change our strategy, systems, or team to create the growth we want. But here’s what I’ve learned from nearly two decades of working with high-performers… Sometimes the fastest results don’t come from an external change at all — they come from shifting what’s happening inside you before you make your next big decision. I’ve seen it first-hand: One client was stuck at the same disappointing plateau for months, asking the same questions over and over and...

Reader Every big leap I’ve made — the aligned clients, the joyful pivot, the abundant launch — started with a full-body, resonant YES. Not the logical kind.The “I don’t have proof yet, but I KNOW” kind.That’s what we’ll be practicing at my upcoming live event: “Follow Your YES: The Joy-Driven Path to Clients” It’s part talk, part experience — and 100% aligned with how real healing businesses grow. ✨ This is not marketing tips. ✨ This is energetic alignment that translates into better clients....

Reader Summer is one of the most fun seasons for me and I have some super playful and powerful plans. I want to tell you about some and others I am hoping you will help me plan. But first, click reply and tell me if you already have plans to travel and grow and have fun this summer? Then come back here and have more fun helping me plan mine. One of the reasons I think summer is so powerful is that there seems to be more time to enjoy life. Relaxing and playing are important. For me, taking...