Jelena Simpson Consulting

09/21/2026

When someone says, “You should talk to Jelena,” I know they’re putting their own reputation behind that introduction.

That means a lot to me.

On World Gratitude Day, I want to thank the clients who trust me with their challenges, the people who recommend my work, and the teams who invite me into conversations that matter.

I’m also grateful for the colleagues, mentors, and friends who offer honest feedback, encouragement, and a well-timed laugh.

I get to support other people’s growth, and these relationships continue to shape my own.

Who is someone who has made a difference in your professional life?

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

Triple-digit Texas heat calls for some serious questions…like what’s your ice cream flavor? 🍦😂

Vanilla? Chocolate? Strawberry? Mint Chip? Orange Sherbet? Cookies & Cream?

Clearly, this is not a scientific personality assessment; yet I had way too much fun creating it!

And somewhere between “Why overthink it?” and “Team Mint forever,” I started thinking about something I see with leaders and teams all the time…We’re all a blend.

We each bring different strengths, energy, perspectives and ways of approaching things.

One person makes the call. Another asks the question nobody else thought to ask. Someone brings the energy. Someone else creates the steadiness. And sometimes, what shows up depends on the situation.

That’s what I appreciate about tools like DISC. The value isn’t in putting people in boxes. It’s in understanding ourselves, appreciating what others bring and learning how to work better together.

But enough about leadership for a minute. Back to the pressing issue at hand… 😉

What’s your flavor?

And just for fun…which one sounds suspiciously like someone you know?

Different styles. Stronger teams. 🍦

08/21/2026

Apparently, today is World Entrepreneurs’ Day…so cheers to all of us crazy enough to have an idea and say, “I think I’ll build a business around that.” 😂

Entrepreneurship has given me opportunities I never could have mapped out when I started.

People I never would have met.
Places I never expected to go.
Teams and leaders I never imagined I’d have the privilege of working alongside.
And more lessons than I could possibly fit into one post.

It has also included plenty of…

“I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing here.”

“Why isn’t this working?”

“Well…THAT was an expensive lesson.”

…and then getting up the next morning and figuring out the next step. 😉

That’s entrepreneurship!

It’s not just having a great idea.

It’s courage, relationships, problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, and a willingness to keep learning.

And here’s something worth celebrating today: there are 36.2 million small businesses in the U.S., representing 99.9% of all U.S. businesses and employing 62.3 million people.

Behind those numbers are real people creating something, solving something, serving someone, taking risks, making decisions and figuring things out as they go.

So today I’m celebrating the entrepreneurs I’ve coached, consulted with, learned from, collaborated with, referred, cheered for…and become friends with along the way.

And yes, I’m celebrating my own journey too.

Because sometimes we’re so busy building the next thing that we forget to look back and recognize just how far we’ve come.

Fellow entrepreneurs: What’s ONE thing entrepreneurship has taught you that you couldn’t have learned any other way?

I’d love to hear it. 👇

08/03/2026

One intentional choice can change the direction of your day!

Don’t wait until you feel ready.
Don’t wait until it’s perfect.
Don’t wait until Monday…because today is Monday! 😊

Take one small step that moves you closer to the person you want to become.

✔️Send the email.
✔️ Make the call.
✔️ Have the conversation.
✔️ Start the project.

What’s one action you’re taking today? Share it below so we can encourage one another!

07/27/2026

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” — Lao Tzu

That quote has always made me pause…

Growth often asks us to ‘release’ something before we can embrace what’s next. Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s perfectionism. Sometimes it’s an old story we’ve been telling ourselves.

So here’s a Monday question:

Who are you becoming, and what might you need to let go of to get there?

Here’s to choosing courage, embracing growth, and taking one intentional step forward today.

Happy Monday! 💛

07/01/2026

July is here…and it doesn't require a complete reinvention.

More often, a new month simply begins with one intentional choice.

As leaders, we spend so much time focused on goals, deadlines, performance, and taking care of others that we rarely pause to ask ourselves: How do I want to show up this month?

That question matters more than most of us realize.

Research from Harvard Business School (Di Stefano, Gino, Pisano & Staats, published in Management Science) found that employees who spent 15 minutes at the end of each day reflecting on lessons learned performed 22.8% better than those who didn't. Intentional reflection isn't a soft skill, it's a performance strategy.

Before your calendar fills with back-to-back meetings and your inbox starts making decisions for you, consider choosing one intention for July.

Maybe it's to…
✔ Listen before responding
✔ Delegate with greater confidence
✔ Have the conversation you've been avoiding
✔ Protect time for strategic thinking
✔ Celebrate progress instead of only chasing what's next
Small, consistent choices create the biggest long-term impact.

What's one intention you're choosing for July? Drop it in the comments - I'd love to hear it.

07/01/2026

Better Conversations Start Before You Speak.

Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking,

“I thought we were on the same page…”

…only to realize later that you weren’t?

Most communication challenges don’t happen because people don’t care.

They happen because we make assumptions.

• We assume our message was clear.
• We assume others see things the way we do.
• We assume silence means agreement.

I’ve seen this in family businesses, healthcare, nonprofits, and corporate teams. Good people with good intentions can still experience frustration, conflict, and missed opportunities when communication breaks down.

Communication expert David Grossman estimates that organizations with just 100 employees lose approximately $420,000 annually because of ineffective communication. That’s more than a financial cost—it impacts trust, teamwork, engagement, and culture.

One thing I’ve learned after more than 25 years of coaching leaders is this:

Better conversations begin with better questions.

Before your next important conversation, pause and ask yourself:

✔ Who am I really speaking to?

✔ Am I seeking to understand before trying to be understood?

✔ Have I recognized strengths before discussing challenges?

✔ What isn’t being said?

Sometimes one thoughtful question changes an entire conversation.

💬 Which of these questions do you think would make the biggest difference in your conversations?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

06/16/2026

One of the things I see most often in workplace conflict is this:

Two good people can walk away from the exact same conversation with completely different experiences.

One person believes they were being clear and efficient.
Another feels dismissed, overwhelmed, or unheard.

Most workplace conflict is not simply about the issue itself.

It is often about communication styles, stress, assumptions, emotional filters, personality differences, and how people interpret pressure and feedback differently.

And when stress increases, communication patterns often become even more noticeable.

Some people become more direct.
Some withdraw.
Some over-explain.
Some need more clarity, reassurance, or processing time.

A few questions to consider:
• How does your team communicate under pressure?
• Are misunderstandings creating frustration or defensiveness?
• Do team members understand each other’s communication styles?
• Are communication gaps impacting trust, morale, or productivity?

Communication awareness does not remove every difficult conversation…

…but it can absolutely impact the outcome of them.

Please share, what helps communication stay productive during stressful situations in your workplace?

06/09/2026

One thing I’ve noticed in difficult conversations:

The moment we assume we already understand someone, we often stop being curious.

And curiosity changes conversations!

In leadership, teams, families, and relationships overall, judgment tends to create distance. While understanding creates connection!

Sometimes the most powerful communication shift is simply pausing long enough to ask:
“What might be going on that I don’t see yet?”

That one question can completely change the tone of a conversation!