Hey you,

Suddenly… it’s August… how? No idea. Time has been flying… maybe it’s the way summer days blur into each other. In our corner of the PNW school doesn’t start until September, so August is our last full month of summer. It’s the moment where I start shifting us from the laissez-faire pace of summer into the more structured, systematized rhythms of the school year.

This year, that shift isn’t just about my personal life, it’s about my business too. After wrapping up a client project, I’ve been quietly working on my systems and processes.

What started as a business-focused cleanup has spilled into every corner of my life. Which means ruthless prioritization - because if everything is important… nothing is.

August has become my month of rationalization: first tackling systems and changes with the biggest short-term payoff, then coming back to the rest once school starts. Some of that is just my nature (some is an attempt to anchor myself in a world that feels effing crazy).

But, it was also inspired by a recent read: The Whisper Way by Carrie Kerpen.

If you own a business, think you might want one, or have ever wondered how selling a business even works, this book is worth your time… and it reminded me of one principle I’ve let slide too much recently.

BUT - before you get too far into it could you please go to this link and fill out a super short form that just asks for your name and how you found this newsletter?

Let’s get into it.

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🧪Alchemy Notes

Mind The (Exit) Gap

In The Whisper Way, Carrie breaks down exactly how to make a business sellable… whether you are planning to exit or not.

Once concept that struck home: documented value.

If the most important parts of your business only live in your head, you are sitting on a liability, not an asset.

This month I’m sharing:

• What documented value really means.

• How it ties to your “secret sauce”.

• Why it matters even if you never plan to sell.

 ✨Want the full story? Click here to read the blog.

📚The Alchemist’s Bookshelf

Why these books made the cut:
I don’t recommend just anything. These are titles I’ve read, loved, and still think about. Some links are affiliate, which helps support this newsletter, at no extra cost to you.

✨Read of the Month: The Whisper Way by Carrie Kerpen

Part business fable, part business guide - Kerpen shows you how to build a business that runs without you (and is worth more because of it). Whether you ever sell or not, this is a blueprint for creating a business that is an asset, not just a job you happen to own.

📖More picks for whatever phase you are in:

• For last minute summer feels:

  🍋The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza

  Part mystery, part family drama, part Italian vacation you can take from your couch.

• For planning without overplanning:

  🗓️I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott

  A smart, funny memoir-in-essays about identity, change, and the lies we tell ourselves about “having it all figured out.”

• For life strategy disguised as a story:

  🕰️The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

  A novel about all the lives you could have lived… and what happens when you realize none of them are perfect.

• For a lighthearted fantasy escape:

  🔮The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

  Less dragon-slaying, more whimsical frolic… with just enough romance to make it the perfect end of summer read.

📚 P.S. I read a lot… across strategy, memoir, psychology, and the occasional fantasy/romantasy/thriller/witchy novel. The book recs in this newsletter aren’t filler. They’re part of how I think, lead, and help clients navigate complexity. Want to see what else is on my shelf? Take a peek at my bookstore (affiliate link, updated regularly).

⚗️Potion Shelf Pick

I only recommend things when I think, “Oh, this could actually help someone skip the spiral.” This is the stuff I use, enjoy, and would suggest over coffee if you mentioned the right kind of headache.

📚The StoryGraph

A Goodreads alternative (aka not Amazon owned) that I’ve fallen in love with for tracking my reading. I used to just keep a Google Sheet, but The StoryGraph converted me to the app life.

Bonus: clean interface, good recommendations, and you can follow me (@witchofthestacks) to see what I’m reading. (No affiliate perks here, I just really love the app.)

📊Quickbooks Online

My accounting software of choice - save time, stress less, and keep your business moving. The new QuickBooks now includes smart AI agents and an all-in-one Customer Hub to simplify your day-today.

Sign up here for 30% off your first 6 months ➡️

Affiliate note: I only recommend products I personally use and love. This link is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you choose to purchase through it.

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👋🏻Let’s Not Make It Weird

Hi, I’m Tara, Founder and Chief Alchemist of Alchemy Advising. I help growing businesses untangle their finances, rethink pricing, and build smarter systems so they can scale without burning out.

With nearly 20 years in operations and finance, including FP&A leadership at brands like HOKA and UGG, I now work with founders and execs who need clarity, not just spreadsheets. Think: budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and big-picture planning that actually connects to how your business runs day-to-day.

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