90 Seconds to Be Inspired

Happy New Year my friends!

I’m writing this newsletter midway through my 7 day vacation from my kids!

Jealous? I know, right??!! My in-laws graciously asked if the kids could spend a week with them over break, so my husband and I have the rare opportunity to be together, have fun and be productive without kids around for an entire week. This is the longest amount of time we’ve had together as a couple without them in almost a decade! 

We set some goals on how we wanted to spend the week, and one of mine was to reflect on 2024 and prepare for 2025. So, this newsletter edition I’m going to do just that!

Here’s the TLDR, if you’re looking for some help getting started on reflecting & planning, I love this framework for looking backwards and this comprehensive one for moving forwards with an annual plan. If you’re at all curious about my reflections and plans, read on!

90 Seconds to Learn a Little

So let’s look backwards for a moment…I’m giving you highlights only otherwise this will be a very long newsletter ; )

Personal

What Sucked: Buying a house in CT because it seemed like the rational “right” thing to do, telling all our local friends we were leaving.

What Worked: Listening to our guts, realizing moving to CT was not the right choice, selling the house we just bought 3 weeks later, telling our local friends we weren’t, in fact, leaving.

A quick note here for anyone who is agonizing over a choice. Since the pandemic, my family and I have tried to answer the question - “where should we live”? It became an obsession resulting in making offers on ~10 homes in 3 states over the course of the last 2 years. It was maddening and took me away from being present with my family, friends and my work. We finally made a choice and then, listened to our guts and realized it wasn’t what we actually wanted. What most people would say was a 1-way door, we realized was in fact a 2-way door decision. A few weeks later, we bought the sweetest little house on this barrier island that we are lucky enough to call home. We’re renovating it and will move in this Spring. Just a reminder to you all…It all comes out in the wash, right?

Miranda Lambert - It All Comes Out in the Wash (Official Video)

Professional

What Sucked: I got distracted and lacked discipline in the first half of the year, and my bottom line reflected that. This is one of the hardest parts of being a solopreneur…my head and heart gotta be in the game or else, momma can’t bring home the bacon.

What Worked: Getting an office so I can focus but also so I could pick up my oldest from her school and have quality time with her. This has been a personal and professional game changer!!!

Also, trusting my gut to build in person communities and not hesitating, just doing it!

And finally, this newsletter! A huge THANK YOU to this amazing community of people who read and subscribe and share feedback. 

I would LOVE to get some messages back from you on your “what worked & what sucked in 2024”.

And because I can’t help myself, another framework ; )

Y’all know I love Sahil Bloom. Here is his Grow30 challenge that I’m doing in January! Let me know if you do it too!

The Grow30 Challenge (from Sahil Bloom’s Newsletter The Friday Five)

January 1 always marks a special opportunity: An opportunity to build momentum and kickstart your journey toward your vision for the future.

Unfortunately, as we all know, most of the time, our ambitious list of New Year’s Resolutions quickly becomes a list of regrets by the second or third week of the month.

I’ve been there: My list of failed resolutions is long and painful.

But there’s a secret cheat code that we all have access to that will keep us on track to execute: Accountability.

So, this January, I invite you to join me and many others for a journey to growth, leveraging the power of community accountability.

Welcome to The Grow30 Challenge:

5 simple daily actions for 30 straight days, specifically designed to create dramatic progress across the five key areas that contribute to a high-performing, healthy, wealthy life.

Every single day, you will complete the following:

1. Time Wealth: 30 minutes of focus work on your priority tasks.

2. Social Wealth: Text, call, or connect with one new or existing friend or family member.

3. Mental Wealth: 5 minutes of free-form journaling.

4. Physical Wealth: 30 minutes of movement.

5. Financial Wealth: 10 minutes of learning or skill-building.

By the end of the challenge, you will have built incredible momentum:

• 900 minutes of focused work will create dramatic progress

• 30 social interactions will drive new feelings of connection

• 30 journaling sessions will improve your clarity and mental health

• 900 minutes of movement will improve your physical health

• 300 minutes of learning and skill building will set you up for new growth

Fun and kind of easy, right? Then join me!

Here’s my Grow30 for today:

1. Time Wealth - I’m spending the majority of my time today working on renovations on our new house with my husband. Productive, physical, quality time, all in one!

2. Social Wealth - I’m going to text a few people who were new to my life in 2024 and set a date to spend time together in 2025

3. Mental Wealth - just did the journaling! It’s so freeing and reminds me of “Morning Pages” that I love so much as a part of Julie Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. Here’s how to do them if you’re unfamiliar.

4. Physical Wealth - I’m going for a beach walk this morning and doing a polar plunge on Sullivan’s Island this afternoon! 

   

5. Financial Wealth - I’m teaching myself how to run some new custom reports on Quickbooks today!

90 Seconds to Connect

2024 was a year of in person connection. I took 54 flights in 2024 to be face to face with my people. Family in California, Minnesota, North Carolina and Georgia, many trips back and forth to Connecticut (sigh), friends in Napa, and work took me to San Francisco, LA, Portland, Dallas, Vegas, Florida and of course, NYC. I feel blessed to have travel as a part of my work and life!

During my “moving forwards” planning time this week I plotted out my travel for the next five months, professionally first, then mapped in some personal trips. My husband and I did this over free champagne in an airport lounge. 10 out of 10 recommend! 

Here is the high level plan, I’d love to connect with you in person if we can!

January - A quick girls weekend in NJ then to NYC only (this month I focus on business development which is better when I’m locked in my office ; )

February - Atlanta & NYC 

March - NYC, Dallas and Las Vegas for Transform (and a special event TBA!)

April - Boston and home to host family and friends over Spring Break

May - NYC & Naples, FL for the TroopHR Retreat

Cheers to 2025 being our BEST YEAR YET!

Help expand my inner circle!

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