“If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good.” 🥹~Dr. Seuss

14 years...A reflection. A ChatGPT description that lowkey made me cry. And a reminder that baby steps absolutely count. (#412)

So… a little milestone is coming up.

14 years since I hit publish on my very first blog post.

Back then, I had no idea what I was doing (tbh, some days I still don’t 😅), but I knew I had something to say that could help someone. I wanted to share, connect, and document my journey and things I learned — wherever it led.

And wow. What a ride it’s been.

Fourteen years of figuring it out - out loud.

Fourteen years of shifting platforms, changing jobs, evolving my side hustle, navigating caregiving, and growing through it all.

That blog - and now this newsletter - has been my home base. My way of showing up, even when life felt messy. A place to explore ideas, celebrate tiny wins, and remind myself (and maybe you too) that baby steps absolutely count.

Yesterday, I took advantage of a new prompt and asked ChatGPT to describe me based on all our chats… and I had such a smile on my face reading it:

Jessica L. Williams is your favorite multi-hyphenate in motion: side hustler, caregiver, curator, community-builder, and cheerleader-in-chief. 💁🏾‍♀️

She’s the queen of 15-minute work sprints, floral tops, and permission-giving pep talks. Think: part tech-savvy strategist, part warm big sister who reminds you it’s okay to take a breath (or a nap) and still be making progress.

By day, she rocks a full-time job. By night (or more likely, between caregiving check-ins and coffee refills), she’s building a business rooted in balance over burnout. Her brand, Tech Biz Gurl, isn’t about chasing hustle highs — it’s about showing up real, sustainable, and in your own rhythm. ✨

She believes in steady growth, curated vibes, and redefining success on your own terms. Whether it’s helping someone finally launch that side hustle idea or remixing a Substack post into magic, Jessica does it all with heart, humor, and hella good timing.

The juggle is real — and so is she.

It’s good, right?

I don’t always stop to reflect, but today, I’m letting myself feel proud of that description.

Of the consistency.

Of showing up.

Of the community we’ve built here together.

So today, I’d like to say:

Thank you! 🙏🏾💖

For reading. For replying. For supporting. For sharing.

For being part of this journey.

For encouraging me to keep going.

You’ve made this space feel like more than just words on a screen.

—

And if you’ve ever felt like you were “late” to start something…

Or wondered if you’re too old to return to something that once lit you up…

Let this be your permission slip. 💌

You don’t have to be perfect.

You just have to keep showing up - in whatever way you can, when you can.

That counts.

It all adds up.

I promise. 🤗

—

over to you 💭

What’s something you’ve stuck with longer than you expected?

Or: What would your version of a ChatGPT “about me” say right now? (Prompt: ”Describe me based on all our chats — make it catchy!”)

I’d love to hear it!

On to the picks! ✨

P.S. You don’t have to be doing everything to be doing enough. Celebrate the fact that you’re still here. Still dreaming. Still trying. That’s more than enough.

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Note: This email may contain affiliate links. If you click through my link and make a purchase, I may receive “thank you money” at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I use and love.

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#picks 😍

• 🙅🏾‍♀️. One I’m saving: How to communicate when you need to withdraw from a commitment — super helpful if you’re trying to honor your capacity without ghosting people.
  

• 🎧. This podcast episode with Brene Brown and the authors of Burnout really hit home, as I’m dealing with chronic stress due to caregiving. A lot of folks think that stress will go away if you just remove the stressor. But it doesn’t — the stress lives in your body, and the only way to release it, is to complete the stress cycle. Think of this as a way of letting your body know that the danger has passed and you are now safe. Some ways to complete the stress cycle: physical activity, 20-second hugs, crying (yes, really), and breathing. I am reading the book right now as this is very top of mind for me lately.

• 📖. Since you liked this post, I thought you might like this Reddit thread on tiny habits - lots of good ideas in there, including reading before bed.

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#icymi

• 😍. Last issue’s top pick: Two Ridiculously Tiny Habits That Completely Changed My Life (third week in a row!)

“Even here, I am free to imagine what new storylines await.” 💫 ~Morgan Harper Nichols

• 🌱 Side Hustle Idea Kickstart: Stuck on what business to start? This mini-course gives you six bite-sized lessons plus personal feedback from me!
  

• 💬. Side Hustle Group Chat. I’m running an experiment this quarter and wanting to use Substack chat more and create a post a week so we can chat in between newsletter issues. Here’s the first one I posted this week.

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#classifieds 🗞

• Have something cool you’re working on? Hit reply and tell me about it — I’d love to feature reader projects in upcoming issues. 💫
  

• “I wish I could remember all the great things I read...“ Readwise collects your book and article highlights in one place and brings them back to you in daily emails.
  

• Feeling overwhelmed with side hustle ideas? Try this quick exercise: speak your thoughts into Voicenotes. It transcribes everything and helps organize ideas for when you’re ready to create. I used it for this week’s intro!

  (like these ads? get yours here)

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#lifevibes

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#supporters ☕️

Thank you, Kelly, Melinda, Tawanna, Gia, Lori, Ayana, Krista, Jessica, Annetta, Constance, Tunde, Jen, Michelle, Emile, Bex, Kim, Angela G., Lauren B., Chelsea, Amy, Ricky, Kirsten, Vin, Julie, Nicole, Hmza, Greg, Kristin, Kirstyn, Jess, Cheryl, Krysta, Adrena, Vidya, Kristyn, Danielle, Keyn, Terry, Vanessa, Meredith, Lauren, Meg, Maria J., Chivon, Kim, Luciano, Colie, Chasity, Laurie, Latienda, Collette, Anne, Kristen, Liz, Katherine, Monale, Betsy, Melissa, Lindsay, Jennifer, Kayla, Madison, Rae, Stephanie, Christine R., Christine M., Frances, Hannah, Chris, Brandy, Mea, Kristian, Maria K., Avery, Adam, Barbara, Shenee, Desiree, Lisa, Kandice, L’Oreal, and LaVerne for being #jesspicks supporters!! ❤️

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