- Revisited- Business development centers (BDCs) should consider introducing counseling skills

Erica Kesse

Taking a second Look at Business development centers (BDCs) should consider introducing counseling skills

Business development centers (BDCs) should consider introducing counseling skills to entrepreneurs because entrepreneurs often face challenges that can be difficult to overcome on their own. These challenges can include:

  • Starting and running a business can be stressful. Entrepreneurs often have to deal with a lot of pressure, both from themselves and from others. This can lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression.
  • Entrepreneurs can feel isolated. They may feel like they are the only ones who are going through what they are going through. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
  • Entrepreneurs can make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but entrepreneurs are often more likely to make mistakes because they are taking risks. These mistakes can lead to financial losses, legal problems, and even personal problems.

Honey, You Need Counseling Skills: Heal Yourself, Ignite the Leader, Grow your Business by Erica Kess, LPC is a book that can help entrepreneurs deal with these challenges. The book provides entrepreneurs with counseling skills that can help them manage stress, build a support network, learn from mistakes, and more.

The 5 imperative counseling skills of vision casting, mission creation, communication skills, time management, and thrive planning are all essential for entrepreneurs. Vision casting is the ability to create a clear and compelling vision for the future. Mission creation is the process of defining the purpose of an organization. Communication skills are essential for entrepreneurs who need to be able to communicate effectively with employees, customers, and investors. Time management is essential for entrepreneurs who need to be able to manage their time effectively in order to get things done. Thrive planning is essential for entrepreneurs who need to be able to plan for the future and ensure that their business is successful.

Other counseling skills that would benefit entrepreneurs include:


  • Problem-solving skills. Entrepreneurs need to be able to identify and solve problems in order to be successful.
  • Decision-making skills. Entrepreneurs need to be able to make decisions quickly and effectively.
  • Stress management. Entrepreneurs are often under a lot of stress, and they need to be able to manage that stress in order to be successful.
  • Organizational skills. Entrepreneurs need to be able to organize their time and their work in order to be efficient and effective.
  • Teamwork skills. Entrepreneurs often work with other people, and they need to be able to work effectively as part of a team.
  • Motivation skills. Entrepreneurs need to be able to motivate themselves and others in order to be successful.



By developing these counseling skills, entrepreneurs can be more successful in their businesses.

Mental Health in the C-Suite: Why Shared Vision Creates Safer Workplaces

By Erica Kesse • January 16, 2026
A toxic work environment is rarely intentional. It usually grows in the vacuum of a clear Vision. When people don't know where the company is going, they become territorial, political, and anxious. For leadership, solving this isn't just about HR policies; it's about painting a clear picture of the future. A shared Vision is a cornerstone of psychological safety. Uncertainty vs. Wellbeing Human beings crave certainty. In the absence of a clear Vision: Employees worry about their job security. Managers hoard information. CEOs feel isolated. This environment destroys wellbeing. However, when the Vision ("The Summit") is clear, the team focuses on the climb rather than fighting each other. The "Mars Group" Therapy Running a visioning exercise (like the "Mars Group" framework) is surprisingly therapeutic. It allows the team to detach from daily stressors and reconnect with why they do the work. It shifts the collective mindset from "survival mode" to "creation mode." A clear Vision doesn't just drive profit; it lowers cortisol. It unifies the tribe and makes the workplace a safer space to be.

The CEO Wellbeing Hack: How a Clear Mission Cures Decision Fatigue Introduction

By Erica Kesse • January 9, 2026
The average CEO makes thousands of decisions a week. By 3:00 PM, "decision fatigue" sets in, leading to poor judgment, irritability, and declining wellbeing. The most effective way to protect your mental health isn't a vacation; it's a decision-making filter. That is exactly what a strong Mission statement provides. The Mission as a Filter A well-crafted Mission statement allows you to automate decisions. Does this opportunity fit our Mission? No? Discard it immediately. (Zero mental energy used). Yes? Explore it. Without this filter, every decision—big or small—requires deep cognitive processing. This leads to brain fog and the feeling of being "always on." Protecting Your "Head Space" Leadership is about allocating resources, and your most precious resource is your attention. A clear Mission empowers your team to make decisions without you. Before: "Boss, should we do this?" (Stress on you). After: "I declined this because it didn't fit our Mission." (Peace for you).

Why Vision & Mission Confusion is Fueling Your Leadership Burnout

By Erica Kesse • January 2, 2026
We often talk about leadership burnout as a result of working too many hours. But for many CEOs, the exhaustion comes from something more subtle: the cognitive load of leading a ship without a compass. When an organization lacks a clear distinction between its Vision (the destination) and its Mission (the drive), the CEO becomes the sole bearer of direction. This isn't just a business problem; it is a mental health crisis waiting to happen. The Anxiety of the "Drift" Psychological stress in business often stems from "strategic drift"—the feeling of working hard but moving nowhere. Mission provides the daily grounding. It answers "What do we do?" Vision provides the future hope. It answers "Where are we going?" Without these anchors, leaders live in a state of chronic low-grade anxiety, constantly reinventing the wheel. Clarity as Self-Care Defining these terms is an act of wellbeing. For the CEO: It offloads the pressure. You don't have to provide all the answers; the Vision does. For the Team: It reduces ambiguity, which is the number one cause of workplace stress.
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