Creating the community I crave
Welcome to my newsletter on Substack. Here's why I created it, who it's for, and what you can expect.
I'm doing that thing people like me tell you to do when you have a creative idea and you're spending way too much time thinking about it.
You know exactly what I mean, because you’ve done it too.
I think it’s safe to say we’ve all spent an inordinate amount of time going over and over a new idea. What that idea might become. What you hope for. And of course, all that will go wrong.
I've been creating content online long enough to know that when you build something online, it can take on a life of its own regardless of all the thinking you do. You can plan and strategize all you want, but you’re simply never going to know what it will become until you begin.
So now I’m taking my own advice: I’m no longer just lying in bed at night thinking about what this new space might be. I'm just going for it.
Ok but why Substack?
Since 2016, I’ve thought repeatedly about creating an online community. But I’ve held back because of how much work it is to create a vibrant and valuable experience. It wasn’t that I thought I couldn’t do it, I knew I could. I just wasn’t sure I could sustain it.
If you're a human in 2023, who has spent even a small amount of time online creating content you understand how much work it can be. You put your all into creating content that the algorithm then only shows to 10% of your followers, and it very quickly starts to feel like a thankless job. It’s a lot to do when every year the pay off seems less and less.
The way content is shoveled at us now feels bad, both as a creator and a consumer. And it feels even worse when you keep trying and trying and you're simply exhausted by the amount of content you have to create to feel relevant.
This is where Substack comes in.
It feels like the Goldilocks option for creating a small community I've been dreaming of, one where I can bring you all of the content I’ve wanted to share but have held off because of all of the reasons above.
Who this is for
If you’re here and reading this, here’s who I’m pretty sure you are: You’re a small business owner, a manager, an operator, a freelancer, or a creator. Or maybe even a combination of these.
You’re either solo or you have a team, or maybe, you’ve closed your business and now you’re using your skills at a job you love and are deeply passionate about.
You're a go-getter, you’re highly driven, and you’re often the first within your circle to do what everyone is about to do. In fact, those around you often have no idea what it is you do! That’s how ahead of the game you are. You pride yourself on being an early adopter.
You’re a natural leader.
You’ve seen your fair share of success but you also know how hard it is to run a business and all that goes along with it. Regardless, you love to work - for better or worse.
You’re empathetic but you’re exhausted by the BS we’re surrounded by. You care deeply about ethics within business, at work, and in life.
You’re a voracious learner and you feel compelled to always work to be better at what you do and who you are.
I want to help you continue to do that and be a resource for you. So let’s talk about what that looks like and what I hope to create here.
I want to share what I’ve found to work in my business (and my clients) and the countless resources and information I find online that make work and life easier.
I aim to bring you writing, resources, and perspectives around these types of topics:
Marketing and business strategies: Sharing what's working, what isn’t, and what deserves your attention for sustainable growth.
Operational insights: Discussing the nuances of building a business from the back end to the front end, making everything smoother.
Exploring tools + technology: Delving into apps, automations, and tools that make work (and life) easier.
Tips and how-tos: Practical advice on common challenges in operations, technology, and running a business.
Leadership development and resources: Insights into effective leadership to improve decision-making, team dynamics, and providing you with the essentials to continue growing as a leader.
Personal reflections: Navigating business with the myriad of challenges we encounter as humans in the 21st century, things like working with ADHD, mental health considerations, burnout, as well as perspectives from individuals who are making it work.
I want to help you continue to build your skills and experience, and help you feel less alone (because this can feel really lonely at times!), and give you the tools you need to make informed decisions. All while also filling this incessant need I have to share what I’m learning.
What you can expect
Here’s what you can expect as a subscriber (free or paid).
All subscribers have access to…
A newsletter every other Wednesday afternoon. These public posts will offer a variety of content that may contain: resources, round ups, tips, as well as personal essays all geared at being better at what you do at work and in business.
Paid subscribers will receive the newsletter and…
Subscriber only posts that are a deeper dive into technology, resources, and interviews.
Occasional workshops and other nerdy business events
You can expect things like workshops, interviews, and Q+As. I also plan on bringing in people from my network and experts. Having a paid community will allow me to bring this stuff to you.
You can subscribe monthly or yearly. Your yearly subscription gives you two months for free.
Founding Members receive…
All of the above
One 1:1 strategy session via Zoom
Being a founding member is a way to show your appreciation if you’ve gotten value from my work in the past. It’s also a vote of confidence in me, and helps support my business in a big way.
One final note, I think it’s important to be transparent about marketing. I will still be using my email marketing list to sell courses, workshops, my consulting, etc. Those things, while I will mention them here, are still a big part of my revenue and the Substack model does not really lend itself to that kind of marketing. You can always unsubscribe, if it’s not something you're interested in. I also give the option to pause launch emails while remaining on my list. I’m still trying to navigate what that looks like, so I hope you’ll give me some grace here.
Connecting people to technology and helping people in their business is one of my biggest joys in life and something I get great meaning from. I’m absolutely thrilled for this new opportunity to try something new with you. I have a lot of great things planned and I hope you’ll stick around.
I love to hear from people, you can either comment below or reply to this email if you received it in your inbox.
So glad you’re here! 😊