What I learned from 2023: December 2023 Newsletter

Hello!

2024 is 12 days away. Holy moly. That means you’re likely spending some time (or planning to) reviewing lessons from the past year and looking ahead towards your goals for the new year.

A dear friend shared a tradition that she does every birthday, anniversary and milestone, called “High, Low, and Lesson.” Today, I’d like to share that tradition with you, by reflecting on this year of business:

High:

Creating a Missouri-Vegas hybrid, In May we moved from a luxury high-rise condo by the Las Vegas strip to a quiet golf community in the suburbs. Little did I realize how much this Missouri girl had wilted from a lack of time in nature. This small change has had huge ripples throughout every aspect of my life. I walk outside daily, I cook more frequently, I enjoy more focused time, and I still get to indulge in the crazy Vegas vibes whenever I feel like it. 

Low:

Kicking off my content creation journey was HARD. This has been one of the biggest mental struggles I’ve faced in a long time. My perfectionist side pushed back relentlessly against releasing subpar content. I spent months berating myself for not starting sooner, and feeling like I was speaking into the void. Here’s a video about my struggle with regret -  I know, I know, how very meta of me.

Lesson:

Quietly doing good work and hoping to be recognized won’t get you anywhere. If you want something, you have to ask for it. I’m not sure whether this is residue from social conditioning, societal norms, or a quirk of my personality, but in 2024 I plan to start unabashedly asking for what I want. 

What lessons did you take from 2023? What do you hope to do differently in 2024? Let me know! 

And now, onwards to the the monthly rundown:

1. Why Wait? 

Do you know I offer consulting, workshops, and keynote speaking? Most people know us for our done for you services, but in the spirit of putting my lesson into action, I wanted to make sure you know that we offer much more than that. If you’re looking to deliver actionable content to your next event or company workshop, let’s connect! Just reply to this email.  

2. Favorite Tech Purchase 

This camera is a game changer, AND IT’S ON SALE! It has crisp imagery, light balancing, AI-tech, and incredibly easy to use. Whether you’re creating content or want to look more professional during video calls, I highly recommend you check it out.

3. Recent Read

Did you know there are scientific reasons why ideas go viral? Contagious, by Jonah Berger dissects the crucial ingredients required to make content go viral. This is a great read. So great I made a full video review of the 6 elements of virality.

4. Toolkit to Tackle Your Goals

Goal-setting is a skill in itself. Here are a few of my favorite resources for preparing for a goal-breaking 2024:

• Tim Ferris’ Past Year Review
• Andrew Huberman : Goals Toolkit Podcast
• Hidden Brain: How to Believe In Yourself with Adam Grant 

5. Laugh a Little 

The end of the year can be magical, motivational, and also incredibly stressful. Earlier this year, I stumbled upon Jury Duty. It’s totally unique, and unexpectedly delightful. It will make you laugh and leave you feeling  warm and fuzzy.

6. Become Customer Obsessed

It’s tougher than ever to be profitable right now. One of the best ways to protect yourself against shrinking margins is to be clear about who your customers are, and go above and beyond to build relationships with them. Where should you start? We’ve created some helpful resources including a brand new video and blog post detailing exactly what you should be considering.

7. BONUS A couple of recent video favorites:

• Do First Impressions Matter in Marketing? Discover how the halo effect works and what you can do to leverage it in your business strategy.
• Amazon Premium A+ Content - What it is and why it’s a must-have. Now that the comparison chart module is officially shoppable, I expect the average sales increase to grow.
• P.S. are you subscribed? If not, you really should... (following through on that 2023 lesson once again!)

Thank you so much for joining us on this journey! Let us know how we can help support you in the year ahead.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2024!