“I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game.” 🧭 ~Stephen Schwartz

What I let go of so this could still fit my life (#441)

There are moments along this entrepreneurship journey when the thought of quitting quietly shows up.

It might be at the beginning of a new year.

Or it might catch you off guard in the middle of an ordinary day, when you suddenly wonder:

Is this still worth it?

Do I really want to keep doing this?

What if I just… didn’t? What if I stopped?

And if you’re building something alongside an already full life that includes work, caregiving, and responsibilities, those questions may show up more often.

For a long time, I thought those moments meant something was wrong. That if quitting crossed my mind, it was a sign I wasn’t cut out for this.

But I’ve learned that when I start thinking about quitting, it’s not really about the work itself.

It’s about everything around it.

The pressure to move faster than I can in this season of my life.

The belief that consistency has to look a particular way.

The idea that if something isn’t growing or hitting $10K months, it must be failing.

And then there’s comparison.

It’s called the “thief of joy” for a reason.

Whew. Chile. 😮‍💨.

Q is for Quit 🚪✨
(what I let go of so I could keep going)

So instead of quitting my side hustle, I started quitting other things.

• I quit using numbers as the only way to measure whether something matters.

• I quit trying to keep up with people whose time and energy look nothing like mine. (and learned to build in the margins)

• I quit assuming that rest, pauses, or quiet seasons mean that I’m falling behind. (and gave myself grace)

What I kept were the parts that still felt true:

• The connections.

• The replies.

• The moments when something I shared helps someone feel seen, supported, or a little less alone.

Those things don’t always make noise.

They don’t always show up in a dashboard. But they add up.

And they’re what keep me going.

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Now, when quitting crosses my mind, I don’t rush to decide anything.

I slow down and ask softer questions:

• What part of this still matters to me?

• What could feel lighter right now?

• What am I allowed to let go of so this can keep fitting into my life?

Most of the time, the answer isn’t to stop.

It’s to reassess.

To simplify.

To keep going in a quieter, more sustainable way.

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If the idea of quitting comes up for you, consider this:

You don’t have to quit the thing you care about.

Maybe you can simply quit the parts that are making it heavier than it needs to be.

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💬 Over to you: What’s something you may need to quit so you can keep going? The pressure? The timeline? The comparison?

On to the picks! ✨

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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 😍

things that make staying easier

• 💬. Motto over resolution. Instead of choosing a word or a resolution for the year, what if you chose a personal motto? “Defying gravity” has been on my mind lately (probably because I’ve been loving all things Wicked). Another contender: “let it be easy,” inspired by this poem. A reminder that things don’t have to be hard to be meaningful.
  

• 🙅🏾‍♀️. A community I’m loving right now: The Done Era. Suzanne recently shared that she simplified her entire business down to three ways to work with her: a newsletter, a community (The Done Era), and a one-hour call. She describes the space as:

  “For people who are done abandoning themselves, done over-explaining, and done making decisions based on who might be disappointed.”

  Um, yes to all of that. (especially given this week’s theme!)
  

• 📖. The trick to sticking to a project every day—for years: I appreciated Kara Cutruzzula’s take on what helps people keep going (not just start). A few quotes I highlighted:

  “People often ask me, “How do you find something to write every day?” The answer, I’ve learned, is that I find something because I’m looking every day. If I wrote a weekly or monthly newsletter, I’d look for ideas once a week or once a month.”

  
  “The secret to maintaining a long-term project is having faith that whatever you share or create today will naturally lead to tomorrow’s work. You will always find something new. Each day is the opportunity to unspool a little bit more and walk forward.”

  
  “Progress creates progress. Today’s tiny effort captures ideas, connections, people, facts, and inspiration to add to your web.”

  
  “Numbers, statistics, and metrics will fail you. When we tie our progress to something outside our control, our highs and lows are yoked to them as well.” (Whew chile…)

  
  “Get out your idea as quickly as you can. Make something new—something you like. Show up more often, commit to quality, and never fear running out of ideas. You won’t.”

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#icymi

• 😍. Last issue’s top pick: YearCompass

“Just let your pile of good things grow.” 🌱~Rainbow Rowell

• Want to work with me?

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#classifieds 🗞

• 9️⃣. What if your next experiment was just $9 away? This bite-sized training shows you how to turn a simple idea into a paid offer. Fast. Fun. Low-pressure.
  

• 💌 Say no to overthinking your sales emails. These 15 templates help you write faster, sell easier, and keep your energy for what matters.

• 🎁. Stop getting “almost right” gifts. This wishlist blueprint teaches you how to clearly (and quietly) share what you want—with low-key scripts + a simple list that does the talking.
  

  (like these? let’s partner up!)

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#lifevibes

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