I get it. I’m unconventional. Not only is that OK. IT’S AWESOME!!
Some have called me "quirky." My husband calls me a hurricane (which I sort of love). Some have even hurled my perceived oddities in my face as insults and I chose to feel shame about my divergent authenticity for many years. Where do I fit in? Why can’t I be "normal?"
It has taken me a very long time to embrace my eccentricities - to take off my mask, to quit shrinking to fit the tank, and really lean into the way God built me. Because He does not make mistakes- not on me, and not on you. And who seriously wants to be “normal” anyway? That’s just sugarcoating boring in my opinion.
I get excited BIG, I get sad BIG, I get mad BIG. I do all things BIG! My pendulum swings far and wide. I can get laser focused and hyper fixated, or I can lose total motivation on one project and hard cut to something new. I have to remind myself to make eye contact in large social settings when I am overstimulated... oh, and did I mention the intense anxiety that sits on my chest sometimes because I want to feel in control? Yeah... I am not looking too great on paper right now, but I don’t care. I also have a lot of crazy cool talents, too. I have wasted so much time fighting against who I really am. Pretending is exhausting. Maybe some of you needed to read this, because news flash you’re different too, as it uniquely applies to you. You’re not supposed to “fit in.” Whatever sets you apart is not weakness, it’s a wider lens to view the world.
We don’t need to hide our differences to succeed. We need to harness them. What sets me or you apart isn’t just valuable, it’s often exactly what a team needs to grow, evolve, and disrupt the status quo. Fresh ideas come from fresh angles. I know we all have a little weird in us, what we think might be our deficiencies could actually be strengths when we channel them with intention. What some call ‘quirky’, is just untapped thinking in a different dialect… and that is a superpower. So, lean into it, own your strange. Build systems that work for you, double down and develop strategies aligned with how you think. And for God’s sake, be OK with being the weirdo in the room.
Proudly and peculiarly,
Tristan Evans
Insurance Partner You Trust:
Broker of Record
A Broker of Record or Agent of Record is the official person or company you've chosen to represent you and manage your insurance policy. If you want to switch brokers, you sign a BOR/AOR letter. A short document telling the insurance company, “I want a new person/agency to represent me.”
Coverage and pricing don’t necessarily change just because you switch brokers. it’s about who’s advising and servicing you. You’re not changing the insurance company or the policy itself, just the person who represents you and handles everything on your behalf.
October 2025 Book Recommendations
'Never Split the Difference''by Chris Voss
In this powerful book, former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss shares counterintuitive tactics that can help you negotiate anything. By focusing on emotional intelligence and active listening. Perfect for business owners looking to harness their unique strengths when navigating challenging conversations.
'Strengths Based Leadership' by Tom Rath
Gallup draws on decades of research, studying over a million teams, interviewing 20,000 leaders, and surveying 10,000 followers to uncover what makes leaders effective and why people choose to follow them.
Shopping Coverage Options:
What is Market Blocking?
When shopping for business insurance, it might seem like a good idea to have multiple brokers looking for coverage at the same time, but it can actually work against you. Most independent brokers go to the same group of insurance companies. While some may have access to unique or specialized options, once a company is approached by one broker, it’s typically “locked out” to other brokers for 90–120 days. Using multiple brokers can cause problems during your buying process:
Insurance companies may get duplicate submissions, which creates confusion and slows down the process.
It can make your business look less organized, which can hurt negotiations on coverage and pricing.
The best strategy is to choose one broker you trust and let them handle the process. This keeps your application clean, your story consistent, and helps underwriters find the best options for your business.
Insurance Insights Learned:
When Contractors Lack Coverage
A homeowner hired a pressure washer to clean the exterior of their home. After the job, they discovered:
Wet carpet and fogged windowpanes, a sign that water had seeped in.
The contractor admitted to having no insurance and refused to provide any proof of coverage
The damage totaled about $7,500. The homeowner had two unattractive options: sue the uninsured contractor in small claims court or file a claim on their own insurance (and pay a $1,000 deductible).
Ultimately, the homeowner filed a claim. Insurance covered most of the damage, but it was a costly and stressful process that could have been avoided.
Why This Example Matters to Texans:
Uninsured Contractors
Without general liability insurance, the contractor can’t cover damages they caused, leaving the homeowner on the hook.
Policy Gaps
Homeowners insurance often doesn’t cover damage caused by hired workers, which means deductibles or uncovered costs fall to the homeowner.
Legal Challenges
Suing an uninsured individual can take time, cost money, and often results in little recovery.
Avoidable Exposure
A simple pre-work verification (i.e., asking for a certificate of insurance) could have saved time, money, and stress.
Sherrie Carpenter | Owner
Ace Business Solutions LLC
Sherrie Carpenter, owner of Ace Business Solutions, LLC is based in Hudson Oaks, Texas, where she helps a wide range of business owners. With more than 30 years of experience in bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, and tax solutions, she specializes in helping overwhelmed Entrepreneurs manage the financial side of their business.
The defining moment of Sherrie’s career was when she became the owner of Ace Business Solutions. That shift wasn’t just about more responsibility, it was about stepping into her power as a leader in her industry.
Sherrie has built her career around helping others simplify their financial lives, so they can focus on what they love. This philosophy guides how she runs her own business.
"Own your voice. Stay true to your values. Lead with empathy and clarity. Protect your time like it’s gold And remember—failure isn’t the end. It’s refinement."
For Sherrie, success isn’t measured by revenue or client volume alone, but by the impact she makes, the peace of mind she brings clients, and staying true to her values. When she knows she’d done her very best while staying true to herself, that’s success. When she is not working, Sherri enjoys dinner game nights with her husband and family, reading a good book, going to the movies, bird watching on her patio, and playing video games with her grandchildren.
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