“I am not who I used to be and that is a beautiful thing.” 💁🏾♀️~Morgan Harper Nichols
A little perspective as we reach the end of our A to Z journey. (#450)
I think one of the hardest things about building something on the side is that we’re living it one day at a time.
One newsletter. One client. One 15-minute work session. One idea. One tiny step.
And when you’re that close to the work, it’s easy to focus on all the things that aren’t done yet. Like…
The subscriber count that isn’t where you want it to be.
The project that’s taking longer than expected.
The goal you haven’t reached yet.
The thing that still feels messy.
But every so often, it’s worth taking a step back and zooming out.
Z is for Zoom Out 🔭✨
(because sometimes you're too close to see how far you've come)
When I started #jesspicks in 2016, all I wanted to do was send a newsletter every week. Now I’ve sent over 400.
In 2019, I wasn't a dancer. I was someone who loved dance but thought I'd missed my chance. Now it's one of the most joyful parts of my life.
For a long time, I didn’t think of myself as a caregiver. Now it’s one of the roles that has shaped me the most.
None of those things happened overnight. They happened one small step at a time. Which means it was hard for me to notice the progress while it was happening.
That’s the funny thing about growth.
When you’re living inside it, it doesn’t always feel like growth.
Sometimes it just feels like showing up.
Again. And again. And again.
Until one day you look up and realize you’re standing somewhere you couldn’t have imagined before.
—
So as we wrap up this A to Z series, I’d love to invite you to look back.
Reflect on the past six months. The past year. Maybe even the past five years.
What’s different?
What have you learned?
What have you survived?
What have you built?
Who have you become?
Zoom out.
Give yourself a chance to see the bigger picture.
Because I suspect you’ve come much further than you realize.
I know I have.
—
💬 Over to you: When you zoom out, what’s one thing you’ve done, learned, or overcome that you’re proud of?
On to the picks! ✨
P.S. We made it to Z! 🎉 Now the question is: what should we talk about next? 🤔
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. 💖
#sponsor
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#picks 😍
⏳. How to change your life in an hour a day. Some folks, like Derek, carve out a quiet hour before work. Others grab 10 minutes during lunch. Some only have space on Saturday mornings. I love examples like this because they remind us there’s no one “right” way. Just pockets of time that match your life, your capacity, and your season. Tiny steps really do add up.
📆. A few upcoming FREE events on my radar:
Who Am I Without the Title? (June 3rd): Recently laid off? Going through a career transition? This workshop explores the question beneath the resume updates: who are you outside your job title?
How to Sell When Nothing Works (June 4th): The title alone got my attention. 😅 A training on what to do when selling feels harder, noisier, and a little weirder than it used to.
🏠. Need a little extra support right now? Someone built a free tool to help people find benefits and resources in their state, including help with income, housing, healthcare, and more.
💓. Just for today. I loved this reminder from Tanya Moushi’s Daily Inspire newsletter:
What if today you simply attempted a sort of radical acceptance?
You didn’t criticize yourself, you didn’t lament the fact that you are the way you are, or suck at that thing you suck at.
What if just for today you reinforced how fucking awesome you are? How far you’ve come? How hard you fell and how you got back up?
How at least you’re trying––and that’s more than other people can say.
I think that would be a good plan.
#icymi
😍. Last issue’s top pick: What I’m looking for in my next role…
🌟. Feeling pulled in too many directions? You don’t have to untangle it alone. Let’s find your next clear step together. Get some pocket-sized clarity!
#classifieds 🗞
📖. Entrepreneurship doesn’t always happen under ideal conditions. In Blessed in Business, Fonda Neal shares her story of building alongside work, motherhood, health, and AuDHD.
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.
(like these? let’s partner up!)
#lifevibes
#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!! ❤️
I love this so much. And it's so true that when we're in it we don't really see how much we've grown. Taking that time to reflect is such a good challenge. I accept. Thank you for this.