On a recent trip to the Bahamas, I found myself staring at my luggage, struggling to recall the combination for the lock. Thankfully, I had anticipated my forgetfulness and saved the code in my iPhone Notes.
This wasn’t the first time I’d been in such a predicament. Back in high school, I distinctly remember having to cut the lock off my bicycle because I forgot the code. That memory taught me to switch to a padlock, although that came with it’s own risk of misplacing the key!
Let’s find out how all this ties in with today’s newsletter.
Pop-Up Roundtable Q&A | Friday, Jan. 10th
TIME: 11:00am -12:00 CST, 12pm EST, 9am PST, 10am MST
| Meet The Experts: Arlene Morgan: Digital Support Specialist Shamayne Brown: Virtual Assistant Dawn Hogan: Operations & Strategic Business Coach, Services |
| We’re diving into the top 3 must-know questions every business owner needs answered to level up in 2025. Get ready for real talk, fresh insights, and actionable tips from three powerhouse women! Stay tuned for more details—you won’t want to miss the registration of this free virtual event. Zoom link will be provided the day before the event. See you there! |


These are the codes that we need to be clear about in our business:
1. Vision – this was the first dial in my combination. I wanted options, flexibility and multiple streams of income. This was my reason for starting my journey.
3. Adaptability – The third dial. I tried several different strategies before I found out what worked best, and a lot of times I got stuck. However, I was quick to adjust and move on.
2. Planning – The second dial. Like the famous saying goes, “If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” I started planning mentally and financially way ahead of time..
4. Persistence – This is the final number in the combination. I kept trying until everything fell into place. Same with a lock, if you don’t keep turning, the lock won’t open.
The Final Word:
The beauty of a combination lock is that once all the dials align, it clicks open effortlessly. If we rush the process, the lock won’t open, and the success we’re aiming for remains out of reach. But when all the pieces come together, the lock clicks and the doors to opportunities open.
Chuckle of the day! 😂
Why did the combination lock go to therapy?
It couldn’t handle the pressure of being cracked.

Shamayne Brown is a virtual assistant and the founder of Camp Virtual Assistance.
She works with solo professionals and small business owners who are ready to invest in their business and need the support that she offers.
She specializes in creating email newsletters as well as other admin and creative design tasks.
Click here to connect on LinkedIn.
Click here to set up a discovery call.
