“Tell me what you want, what you really really want.” 🎤 ~Spice Girls

What do YOU need that I haven’t covered yet? (#448)

X is a weird letter. 😅 I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out what “X” should stand for in this series, and nothing really fits.

And then I thought… well, maybe that’s okay.

Maybe X doesn’t need to be my answer.

Maybe it’s yours.

X is for ________ ✍🏾✨
(You fill in the blank)

This whole A to Z series has really been about one thing:

Trying to make this side hustle life feel a little more doable.

A little lighter.
A little less lonely.
A little more realistic for those of us building things in the middle of real life.

And while I’ve shared a lot of my own experiences along the way, I suspect your version of this journey might look completely different from mine.

You might be navigating challenges I’ve never experienced.

You might need support around something I haven’t even thought to talk about yet.

So instead of trying to force the perfect X word… let’s make it a conversation.

What’s your X?

What’s the thing you’re trying to figure out right now? The thing that feels hard, confusing, frustrating, exciting, messy, or unresolved?

Maybe it’s:

• finding time

• staying consistent

• figuring out what to focus on

• pricing

• visibility

• confidence

• burnout

• motivation

• balancing it all

Or maybe it’s something completely different.

I’d genuinely love to know.

Because your answer might spark an idea for a future issue. It might help someone else feel seen. And it’ll help me too.

One of my favorite things about this space is that it’s not just about me. It’s about us figuring things out together. 💞

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💬 Over to you: What’s something you’re trying to figure out right now in your side hustle or life?

On to the picks! ✨

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Note: This email may contain affiliate links. If you click through my link and sign up or make a purchase, I may receive “thank you money” at no additional cost to you. Clicking on an affiliate link helps support the content I create. Thank you. 💖

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#sponsor

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If your days feel full and your mind rarely slows down… this might help.

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#picks 😍

• 💌. Your Substack is not a chore. Caregiving and life have been lifing lately, so as someone who’s been feeling uneasy about being off my usual newsletter rhythm, this was a welcome reminder that it’s okay when that happens. Kara reminds us that creativity is supposed to support us…not become another thing we’re beating ourselves up about.

  There is no Scary Newsletter Scorekeeper in the sky keeping tabs on your word count.

  I think a lot of us needed that reminder. 😅 She also talks about lowering the stakes, experimenting, and finding the easy version of creating again.
  

• 🤔. Would I do it tomorrow? Is the thing interesting enough, important enough, paying enough to change your plans for tomorrow? A simple but surprisingly helpful question for making decisions.

• 📺. Project Hail Mary. A scientist (a very handsome Ryan Gosling if I do say so myself 😌) wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there… and eventually realizes he is responsible for saving Earth. Then an alien shows up. 👀. And somehow this turns into one of the most heartwarming, stressful, funny, surprisingly emotional sci-fi stories I’ve seen in a long time. (Thanks, Jen, for the reco!)

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#icymi

• 😍. Last issue’s top pick: More Americans are taking on side hustles to make extra cash.

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” 🏄🏾‍♀️ ~Jon Kabat-Zinn

• 🌟. Feeling pulled in too many directions? Sometimes intentionality starts with one clear step. Let’s find yours together.. get some pocket-sized clarity!

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• 📱. What if your content didn’t depend on your energy every day? GetPostFlow helps you stay consistent without doing it all yourself. Get 10% off your first month.

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#lifevibes

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#supporters ☕️

Thank you, Fonda, 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!! ❤️