If You Stepped Away Tomorrow… Would Your Business Survive?

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Our Plan “B” is Resilience

Become an Associate Member of the Business Resilience Society and get the conversations, community, and tools to protect what you’ve built. Learn to build resilience for today and tomorrow to last beyond a lifetime.

That’s why ReadySmartGo founders Mike Stoll & Sherrie Szekalski created the Business Resilience Society, a community of owners who turn uncertainty into advantage and build companies that can outlast any storm.

(Based on insights from decades of small business success.)

What You’ll Get as an Associate Member:

  • Monthly Members meeting on Zoom
  • Introduction to the 7 Step Roadmap to Resilience framework
  • Access to our private Discussion Hub for sharing, asking, and learning.
  • Weekly Resilience Tidbits and case stories
  • Networking with a growing community of founders sharing what works

Our Vision & Mission

To reduce small-business failure rates by helping owners build resilience, share knowledge, and grow stronger together.

Every member contributes to a movement of practical, peer-driven support that strengthens your business.

Built by business owners, for business owners.

When Running a Business Feels Harder Than It Should

  • Feeling like one business disruption could undo everything you’ve built?
  • Working harder every year, yet still worried about staying afloat?
  • Tired of reacting to problems instead of being ready for them?
  • So busy working in your business that you never have time to work on it?
  • Struggling to plan for the future while putting out today’s fires?

You’re not alone. Every small-business owner hits moments when the future feels uncertain, when effort doesn’t equal progress, and change feels relentless.
That’s why we built the Business Resilience Society: a community where founders learn to anticipate disruption, protect what matters most, and grow stronger through every challenge.


Because resilience isn’t luck; it’s a system. And once you build it, your business can last beyond a lifetime.

person who have is tired on the couch

Our Approach … A Clear Path to Longevity

At the Business Resilience Society, we don’t just tell you to be resilient; we guide you through it with proven frameworks, attainable milestones, resources to support you, and community support specifically designed for small business founders and owners to share experiences.

How We Help You Build Resilience

Proven Frameworks
Our 7-Step Road to Resilienceâ„¢ system is a structured approach that helps you anticipate disruption, protect your business, and plan for growth.
Attainable Milestones
Work toward completing your Business Longevity Plan (BLP),  broken into achievable steps that build on one another.  Every milestone you reach strengthens your ability to adapt, compete, and grow your business — no matter what comes next.
Resources That Work
Access checklists, templates, and guides that turn theory into action; practical tools you can use immediately to strengthen operations.
Community Connection
Join a private network of like-minded founders to network with, support, challenge, and share insights to help you stay strong.

The Four Core Pillars of Resilience

Build Resilience into Your Business to Last Beyond a Lifetime

1. Learn the 7 Steps to Resilienceâ„¢

Start by discovering what resilient businesses do differently.


Through short, practical lessons, you’ll learn how to identify vulnerabilities, protect what matters most, and position your business to thrive through change.

 We’ll guide you through the seven proven steps — from clarity and risk awareness to communication and testing — so you can assess your business’s current standing and identify areas for focus.

2. Create Your Business Longevity Plan

This is our version of a streamlined Business Continuity Plan, designed for growing small businesses.


You’ll set attainable milestones to strengthen operations, create backup systems, and ensure that your people, processes, and finances can adapt quickly when disruption strikes.


By the end, you’ll have a personalized Business Longevity Plan, a living roadmap for staying in business longer, no matter what comes your way.

3. Interact with Your Community of Peers

Join a community of founders and owners who get it.


Inside the Business Resilience Society, you’ll exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from others walking the same path.


Whether it’s through live virtual meetings, discussion hubs, or our searchable library of podcasts and resources, you’ll find support, collaboration, and accountability — the essential ingredients for lasting success.

How to Stay in Business  for 1,400 Years
True Stories of Resilient Businesses

Our 7 Steps to Resilience™ framework was inspired by companies that have stood the test of time — surviving disruptions, adapting to change, and thriving for decades (or even centuries).
As a member, you’ll explore case studies like Kongo Gumi, King Arthur Baking Company, Ben’s Chili Bowl, and Zingerman’s Deli â€” learning how they turned adversity into longevity and built businesses that truly lasted.

Kongo Gumi

(Osaka, Japan – Est. 578 AD)

The world’s oldest continuously operating company, Kongo Gumi, has survived more than 1,400 years of change — from samurai wars to economic recessions. Its secret? Adapting its structure, services, and leadership while never abandoning its core mission: building with integrity and quality. A timeless lesson in longevity through evolution.

King Arthur Baking Co.

(Vermont, USA – Est. 1790)

America’s oldest flour company, a start-up just after the American Revolution, stayed relevant for over two centuries by constantly modernizing — from mail-order catalogs to e-commerce — while staying true to its values of community, education, and quality. King Arthur shows how strong culture and continuous innovation create enduring resilience.

Ben’s Chili Bowl

(Washington, D.C. – Est. 1958)

A neighborhood landmark that has outlasted riots, recessions, and rapid change, Ben’s Chili Bowl stayed open by standing for something bigger than food — community, family, and perseverance.

Their ability to adapt while staying authentic shows how purpose can power resilience for generations.

Zingerman’s Deli

(Ann Arbor, MI – Est. 1982)

Zingerman’s turned a single deli into a community of businesses by empowering employees, sharing ownership, and building systems rooted in shared values. Their story proves that resilience isn’t just surviving crises — it’s building a culture that adapts and thrives together.

Your Business Can Last Beyond a Lifetime

Every one of these businesses faced moments that could have ended their journey — but instead, they chose to adapt, rebuild, and emerge stronger. Their legacy wasn’t an accident; it was the result of resilience made real. The same path is open to you. By following the 7 Steps to Resilienceâ„¢, creating your own Business Longevity Plan, and connecting with others who share your commitment to longevity, you can build a business that not only survives disruption but stands as a story worth telling for generations to come.

Join the Business Resilience Society — and make your business last longer than a lifetime.

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