“We are born with only one obligation – to be completely who we are.” 😘~Mark Nepo
Shout out to Ricky, Monale, and Amy for buying me coffees this past week! ☕️
Ricky is a growth marketer helping entrepreneurs with long-form landing page copy. So if you are looking to make more sales, he’s your guy!
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Hope you enjoyed last week’s #guestpicks and meeting Taylor. Trying to run a business while juggling other things is a struggle, and that’s why it’s so important to remember to self-care as much as you can.
Taking care has been on my mind lately as grandma has been in and out of the hospital. So let’s say my sleep debt is exceptionally high at the moment. 😴
This whole experience has me thinking about doing less, asking for more help, boundaries, and values.
My gurl Kandice Cole recently wrote about values, and she was able to help me nail down some of my own. Here are the ones that are top of mind for me:
🪁. Fun/Play.
As I get older, I realize that I want to create more space for fun and play in my life. That looks like doing things I’ve always wanted to do, like riding a bike, taking time to do puzzles and LEGO sets. Or doing anything that brings me joy.
🌏.Freedom/Flexibility.
I have been in roles before where I didn’t feel like I had the agency to make the best decisions for my career. I realize that it’s essential to feel like I can say yes to opportunities without asking for permission. I also like the freedom to set my own schedule and work from virtually anywhere.
♻️. Efficiency/Ability to repurpose.
I realize with this value that because I have a lot on my plate, I want to be efficient with what I’m doing. If there are ways to work smarter, I want to find those. Similarly, if I’m creating or doing, I want to see if that one bit of effort can continue to provide results in the future. This is where things like passive income and repurposing content come into play.
Another value on my list that I’m still thinking through is this idea of support. This most likely falls in that “asking for help” category and being more aware of the resources available, so I don’t have to do everything myself. Still noodling on that one...
How about you? What are your values? As we start slowly winding down this year, it might be good to check in on those. And write them down.
A few things that might help:
Do this exercise with a friend. Kandice was able to help me identify values that I was too close to see.
Think about times in your life where you were unhappy at a job, in a relationship, or situation. It could be a situation where the values were misaligned.
A workshop. Kandice is thinking of doing a values workshop so if you are interested, definitely give her a ping.
On to the picks!
P.S. Thank you all for the messages and virtual hugs during this incredibly stressful time. It has been so helpful and appreciated. 🤗
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#loves 😍
📺. Watching: Thor: Ragnarok. In what continues to be my late to the party reputation, I finally saw this. First off, Chris Hemsworth should have short hair always. Second, I think it might be my favorite of the three Thor movies. Great lines, great visuals. Also, Cate Blanchett gives good villain. (see also: live-action Cinderella)
🎧. Listening: I Love My Business: Where’s the Money. This was a timely episode from Denise Duffield-Thomas. She talks about fears of being in business and what might be missing if you love what you do, but the money is not there. My fave tip? Her two-step marketing strategy (hint: share what you know and make offers).
⏰. Tool: Pomo Timer. To say my focus has been a little scattered lately would be an understatement. I’ve found doing a few Pomodoro sessions helpful this week. This is my favorite timer because it sits in your Mac menu bar and you can start/hide it as needed.
#reads
Don't build a personal brand – build a creative platform — jayclouse.com
“You have a voice. You can use it and do a lot of good with it! And the larger, more robust, and more resilient a creative platform you can build, the more good you can do.”
I like Jay’s reframe of creating a platform to connect with your people. It makes me smile to think of #jesspicks as a creative platform.
24 Concepts That Will Grow Your Audience and Business — joshspector.com
Another great post full of gems from Josh Spector. A few that are resonating for me right now:
Every creator needs a newsletter.
If you’re struggling to grow your audience, you need to do one of two things: do more or do less.
Your target audience is likely the person you were a couple years ago.
Most creators don’t maximize the value of their creations.
#icymi
😍. Last issue’s top pick was: 40 concepts you should know - a Twitter thread.
📺 [WATCH] I did a talk about the Side Hustle Generation as part of the National Urban League’s Digital Career Success Series.
#classifieds 🗞
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#lifevibes
#supporters ☕️
Thank you Amy, Ricky, Kirsten, Vin, Julie, Nicole, Humza, Greg, Kristin, Kirstyn, Jess, Cheryl, Krysta, Adrena, Vidya, Kristyn, Danielle, Keryn, 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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