Can you believe we’re in October already? September is always like 2nd New Year to me. Even as an adult, there is a sense of new opportunities and change that arrives when the air turns brisk and the leaves change colour.
Fall is my favourite season, and in the last week, it hit pretty hard in my region. I’ve embraced sweaters, autumn hikes, and pumpkin spice lattes along with the drive to harvest a few of the ideas I’ve been nurturing since the spring.
Right Now…
Blogs and newsletters have become so transactional or de-personalized. I miss the old-school content. Opening up a newsletter or clicking on a favourite blogger’s site to get a glimpse into what was happening in their lives at that moment.
‘Right Now’ is a monthly digest to recapture the personal nature of email newsletters and blogs.
What I’m thinking about:
Most people have plenty of ideas that they never move forward because they don’t have time. While you can’t do it all, that shouldn’t stop you from trying to do what’s important to you. It’s ok to drop some of the less important things – even stuff society expects of us – to refocus your time and energy on creating something new.
What I’m reading:
I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad last month. I’ve been following Robert Kiyosaki for years (I’ve always been a personal finance nerd) while simultaneously hating the way he markets and tries to sell. All of his emails are pushing affiliate links to the products and services of his ‘friends’. It’s everything I hate about internet marketers.
I finally gave in and read the book after watching a visual summary with my son as part of our homeschool work this past spring. I secretly wanted to hate it, but it was actually full of some useful insights. I wouldn’t subscribe to his methods completely, but I can’t deny that there are some important takeaways – including a different definition of assets and liabilities. He also spoke to the entrepreneurial spirit, while making some good points about when and why you should work for someone else.
What I’m listening to:
Pre-covid I was a pretty avid podcast listener, but since my routine had completely changed I’d found myself choosing to unplug more in my free time. Not having a commute to work really threw me off.
Now that I’m starting to find some rhythm to my days again, I’m trying to find time to listen and learn. Two of the shows I’ve been listening to while walking Bella in the mornings before work are Biz Chix and Courage & Clarity. Both are female business coaches who work primarily with other female entrepreneurs (I do listen to other genres, I promise!) but I’ve always enjoyed their content and lessons, so it’s nice to invite them back into my earbuds.
What I’m working on:
If I’m being totally honest, my biggest project right now is puppy training. We got Bella two weeks ago as a family dog, with my 12-year-old son as the primary owner. I’ve learned so much about how the theory behind dog training has changed since I had my last puppy 20+ years ago. I’m seriously lacking in sleep and time, but I’m getting a ridiculous number of steps each day.
My favourite channel for those looking to puppy train is Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution. When I’m not at work or walking Bella, I’m watching his videos to learn a whole new skill set.
What I’ve shipped:
A few years ago, I created a course on personal branding that was delivered live over video. Shortly after, I started working at a full-time job and I shelved the course with the intention of reworking the content before publishing it on an online course platform. As the story often goes, that content has sat stagnant on my hard drive ever since.
While I’m not ready to revisit the entire project, I keep referring to the first foundational lesson both for clients and myself when I start a new project. I’ve decided that the content of that lesson is something that I want everyone to have access to, so I’ve turned it into a workbook and added it to my website. You can grab it for free using the link below.
Core Values Workbook
Whenever I start a new project, I decide what I want the brand and content to reflect.
My favourite way to do this is by defining the core values of the brand I’m working with using the exercise in this workbook.
It’s a fundamental component of every marketing tactic, from social media content to campaign strategy. Your values are a primary way to differentiate yourself from your competitors, even if what you’re selling is somewhat similar.
What I’m enjoying:
For a while now, I’ve been meeting with a group of entrepreneurs online for virtual coworking sessions on Sunday mornings. The time is specifically for working on our businesses, not in them. I’m someone who gets bored with routine and I initially found that the consistency was hard to keep up with (we start at 7 am in my timezone), but now it’s just a normal part of my week. I’m really enjoying working with the same small group week after week and watching us all move slowly forward on our goals.
What I’m grateful for:
My son recently told me all of the reasons he thinks of us as ‘rich’ and it warmed my heart. I’ve always been fairly transparent with him about our finances because I want him to understand how to use money, and things haven’t always been easy. I’ve sometimes worried that I was teaching him a scarcity mindset.
According to a 12-year-old, we’re rich because we have the opportunity to choose what is important to us to spend our money on. For example, we would rather have the expense of a car than live without it and use that money for something else. It is completely up to us.
We’re also rich for all the things that don’t cost money, like our health and having friends and family nearby. I’m pretty grateful for having such an insightful kiddo.
Quote of the month:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
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