Plan A or Bust: Martha Hoover on Bold Pivots and Change

2025-10-13

“If Plan A is meaningful enough, there should not be a Plan B and a Plan C.” Martha Hoover joins me for a wide-ranging, candid convo on vision, hospitality, change, and unapologetically starting your “second rodeo.” We talk about building something distinctive, even if the world isn’t ready for it, parenting and businesses growing up like “twins,” learning to say "no", and why perfection is a trap. Martha shares stories—from sexism at the bank to learning stick shift in one afternoon—that show how courage, clarity, and follow-through beat “shoulda-coulda-woulda” every time. In this episode, we cover: Hospitality is its own “superpower”: making people feel truly welcomed in your sacred spaces

“If Plan A is meaningful enough, there should not be a Plan B and a Plan C.”

Martha Hoover joins me for a wide-ranging, candid convo on vision, hospitality, change, and unapologetically starting your “second rodeo.” We talk about building something distinctive, even if the world isn’t ready for it, parenting and businesses growing up like “twins,” learning to say "no", and why perfection is a trap. Martha shares stories—from sexism at the bank to learning stick shift in one afternoon—that show how courage, clarity, and follow-through beat “shoulda-coulda-woulda” every time.

In this episode, we cover:

Hospitality is its own “superpower”: making people feel truly welcomed in your sacred spaces
Creating what you wanted—and trusting others want it, too
Change as the only constant (and how to lean into it)
Energy budgeting: non-negotiables, boundaries, and saying no without guilt
Parenting, business, and growth on parallel timelines
Ageism, relevance, and launching a “Second Rodeo” in your 70s
Failing with joy, learning publicly, and persisting without a Plan B

3 Key Takeaways

Define and defend your non-negotiables. Write them down, communicate them, and hold them—because expectations go both ways.
Change isn’t the enemy—resistance is. Treat pivots as progress: if something doesn’t work, you’ve learned… and you can change again.
Commit to Plan A. When the goal matters, ditch the escape hatches. Commitment calms the noise and focuses your energy.

Links & Mentions