Life is a grand adventure and a chance to write an exciting and memorable story uniquely our own. You might know that in my story, I have been somewhat of an explorer charting my own path. Maybe that's your story, too! Did you know that part of my story includes being a game designer? I've designed all kinds of events and experiences, but games are among my favorite kinds of experiences to create. Playfulness is something that comes naturally to us when we're very young, and then life tends...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Remember, you have permission to do all of these things. Have you granted that permission to yourself? 1. Not have the answers. It's better to be honest, both with yourself and others, and say you don't know. Don't be like ChatGPT and just make something up. It's okay to sit with the discomfort of not knowing. If the answer can be easily found, commit to looking it up and responding later. It's also okay to delay an answer until you've had time to think about it. 2. Not be okay. We are...
7 months ago • 2 min read
Does change feel impossible? When was the last time you imagined a bright future but quickly dashed your own hopes? With curiosity and without judgment, take a moment to explore why. What comes up for you? Conversely, when was the last time you had hope? When was the last time you felt motivated to take action toward a goal, even if you weren't sure the goal was entirely possible? What was different about that from the impossible future you stopped yourself from believing in? When we want to...
8 months ago • 2 min read
I've been working on a few new things! A while ago, I shared with you that I had enrolled in a course that would help me gain confidence at newslettering. Was this another example of me undermining my own confidence in something despite having years of experience in it? (Do you do that, too?) Not quite. While the art of writing doesn't change over time, the tools and landscape do. It was helpful to learn about how newsletters serve to connect with one's community in today's hypercompetitive...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Happy Friday! Taking the pressure off of myself: example 1 I should send this newsletter at a consistent day and time each week, but I haven't been doing that. My energy hasn't been consistent enough for a consistent newsletter. But, an important part of my entrepreneurship journey has been unlearning many of the unsustainable standards I was held to in my corporate life (by others, but also by myself) that burned me out many times over, in favor of prioritizing my body and my energy, so that...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Hey! It's 10/10, which means it's World Mental Health Day. I started to type World Menthol Health Day at first, in which case...[cue 1950s radio ad voice] Remember that oral health is the gateway to whole body health! Make sure to brush your teeth with the fresh minty toothpaste that helps you get your tasks done with a boost of caffeine! Try Make-A-Dent today and make a dent in your to-do list! While caffeinated mints actually exist and I used to use them in middle school, I have yet to see...
8 months ago • 5 min read
I promise this wasn't intentional, but while caught up in my excitement to share the #Awktober Challenge with you yesterday, I shared a link to the product page that doesn't even work. Shout out to the kind soul who caught this mistake for me - you know who you are! I did something awkward and survived. You can too. Join and forward this email to a friend so they can have fun with us next month! #Awktober Challenge #Awktober with a Friend See you inside!
9 months ago • 1 min read
Hey! You've almost made it through the week. Congratulations! Go ahead and reward yourself with something fun. You deserve it! Can't think of anything fun? Try this classic! In this issue Q: How can I be less socially awkward when networking? Do you really want to change? It's almost #Awktober! Q: How can I be less socially awkward when networking? I don't know what to say and I feel like I'm bothering people, so I end up not making contact at all. A: The solution might seem somewhat...
9 months ago • 4 min read
Hey there! I hope the start of your week has been full of moments of unexpected joy. What I’m learning lately I recently joined a course on newsletter growth which started this week. I’m taking it with a couple other small business friends. The goal of this course is to grow a free newsletter that delivers value and helps connect you with the community you serve best. While I have experience writing newsletters for other brands, even brands I’ve created, this brand is the most personal to me...
9 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, It's been almost two months since I've published my newsletter. What happened? I've been dealing with a variety of personal stuff, including chronic unwellness, that have taken time and energy away from creating and publishing content. One of the reasons I originally became self-employed was to be my own boss. However, being chronically ill, I'm still not my own boss - my body is. And it's quite the unpredictable boss. Unlike most bosses, this boss often tells me not to work. Like...
9 months ago • 1 min read