It's going to be the best year yet.

On April 2 of each year I put my gratitude practice into year-in-review mode and take my delusional manifestation practice to a level that would make the kookiest of insta-gurus blush. But every year I say “this is going to be the best year yet” and it hasn’t failed me yet. So I’m sticking with.

I hesitated to share my gratitude list because, well, it can feel cringe. But then I reminded myself that 1. this newsletter is a practice in public writing and to share my perspective of the world in which I see it in all forms- personally and professionally and 2. I’ve got to keep my biggest fan happy1 and I know she’d enjoy. So let’s get to it.

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If I had to break down my proudest accomplishments thus far they would be a lot of “knows”

• I know who I am.
• I know what I like.
• I know what I don’t like.
• I know my limits. (boundaries, people, consumption in digital and physical forms, time.)
• I know how my own voice and intuition sounds.
• I know what’s not my voice and intuition and what is someone else’s (and how to get rid of what isn’t mine!)
• and most excitingly, I know where the f*ck I am going.

That last one was the newest addition I picked up on this trip around the sun and boy oh boy, my friends, it’s the most refreshing exhale.

For the past 10 years, I have been on what is far too often wrongfully sugar coated as an “entrepreneurial journey.” A fair advertisement would be an entrepreneurial blindfolded roller coaster. And I’m not talking about a Disney roller coaster. Think state fair roller coaster. But like the glutton for punishment I am, I’m getting on a new ride.2 For years I have felt the tug to help other business owners but I could not quite put my finger on what that would look like. I knew it wasn’t going to be selling them the false premise that “it’s not a roller coaster at all but it’s really is a lazy river!” Fortunately, I have many entrepreneur friends who let me tinker under the hoods in their businesses for the past couple of years (s/o to all the people that blindly give me passwords, let me ramble on my findings and philosophies on the future of business, time and energy ROI, tech, employee driven innovation, and even take it a step further and let me talk to their teams on this subjects as well- y’all are the real ones).

What I have come to identify in my time spent with many entrepreneurs, is what they actually need is not my opinions (although- always happy to oblige that request) but time back in their days and some clarity for what to spend that time on in the form of easily accessible and understandable data. Fret not, friends, I am not about to go into my sales pitch for my new “7 figures in 7 weeks! How to girlboss like a woman!” course.3 Far from it. I wanted a system that would actually take work off of clients plates and held together all of the tools I have developed over my years that actual move the needle on my business but do not take away from my sacred time. And now that idea finally has legs!

I am launching a tech and delegation agency for modern entrepreneurs. (!!!!!!!!!!!)

Yes, it’s a mouthful and yes, it’s a working title but that is the first time I have said that publically and hot damn if it doesn’t feel DELIGHTFUL.

This has been almost exactly a year in the making. Spring of last year, I set out to launch my first app to aid small businesses. Insert Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods meme “what? like it’s hard?” I can safely say a year and very bruised (mainly ego) but not battered later, yes, it is very, very hard. I had to learn a whole new language that is tech jargon. Picked up from rooms I shoved my foot into I had no place in being in: meeting with builders, developers, automation specialists, tech builders, and product managers. It was humbling but fascinating and I have learned more in the past 18 months than I had in all of college (ok that wasn’t a great reference because college was more for finding my network and my extremely adorable husband who is joining me in this venture than actual education but you get the point.)

Here’s the most shocking thing I learned into my foray into tech, no one wants to build tools for small businesses. Like, no one. “You can’t scale this to a million users” Well. OK. That wasn’t the goal. Nor should it be everyone’s goal. If I can help a few thousand small business run more enjoyably and efficiently I know the trickle down affect that has will be in the millions. Quality businesses equal quality employers. Quality employers equal quality employees. People first people that can look at profit margins AND the work life balance of their employees in a creative meaningful way. These are the ones that are going to be thriving in the future of commerce and I am happy to help them along the ride. I believe that the one thing America has that we can all be proud of is the entrepreneurial spirit and the power of small businesses. And those companies need help to fight the behemoths in our commerce culture now more than ever. My goal is to make quality tools that will help entrepreneurs continue their businesses for decades to come, to employ quality, hard working people and foster a culture of kindness, and leave a mark on the world I can be proud of. (what, like it’s hard?)

And here’s the greatest birthday gift of all: I feel the delusional, unshakable certainty that I am going to achieve exactly that.

I’m getting back on the rollercoaster but this time I am not blindfolded. I know the twists, dips, upside downs of it all are coming. I know I’ll feel like yacking at times, crying at others, cursing myself for even getting on this God forsaken thing in the first place, and hopefully some really good belly laughs as well. And. I. Can’t. Wait.

Let’s go #37. I love you already.

If you would like to stay along for the ride, I’d LOVE to take up precious real estate in your inbox!