Every woman I've talked to lately is trying to figure out her next step.

What is it for you? The move to a smaller house? Closer to the grandchildren? A change of careers? Another degree? Finish the book? Ahem, start the book?

Whatever it is, you need to take the first step. This summer I'm working on a site relaunch, and one big step was to spend five days at the Poynter Institute, at a seminar called Bottom Line News, Creating Sustainable Journalism Startups.

One of the first lessons we got was that, when you're facing a big transition or problem, the best thing you can do is "unpack the problem." Break a big thing down into bite-sized pieces, then manage the bites. 

Another lesson? Ask people for help. My first bite is a reader survey, and I'm asking for your help. Could you take a few minutes and Take My Survey?

I am also  lucky to be working with Elisa Thomas, a digital branding expert of fabulous calibre. She has helped me define some goals, and she's already talked me out of some bad decisions.

Here's a great post at the New York Times small business blog with resources for Women and Growing Companies. (And check out the comments! More resources!)

If your next step is taking you into unknown territory, you'll find it's not enough to ask people for information. You can ask ten different people a question and you'll get ten different answers. This is particularly true in my area: web publishing, an area in which success is fickle and totally unpredictable, and everyone is a freaking expert.   

But don't worry about this. What's great about re-tooling at age 55 instead of age 25 is that, even if you're in a totally new field, you're not stupid. (Or at least you're smarter than you were at 25.) 

If you stop and think about it, you will recognize that you have life experience that tells you when something probably isn't going to work. (I believe they used to call this a Bull#$%!-O-Meter.) You need to listen to it, even if you're afraid you don't know what you're doing. 

Here's a good formula: be open enough to seek out and integrate new ideas, information and skills; be trusting enough of your own experience to hear the meter when the needle is in the red.

And then: be brave enough not to get talked into something you know won't work for you. This phrase is a good start: "Let me think about it and get back to you."

                                                                      --B.J. Roche