It's that time of year when the girl bosses come out of the woodwork to talk about how great their years were. In case you missed it or you're (fortunately) not on that side of the internet, they've 10x'd their business (and you can, too!), they traveled more, they worked less, they are living their dream lives!
That's not what this post is.
This email is an honest look behind the curtain of my business. I'm sharing how my year actually went—the good, the bad, and everything in between. I'm not going to lie, overall, my year was pretty great. It's had its peaks and valleys, but honestly, I had a hard time coming up with the lows.
Part of this is because I'm an eternal futurist—I have a hard time reflecting and slowing down to process things when they happen. I like to look toward the future and plan ahead (this is also the source of my anxiety, so it's not all it’s cracked up to be!). So consider this my annual, very public slowdown!
The Highs…
Was 2023 my year? Not really, but it was a year.
I launched a podcast.
My friend Liz Talago and I have been talking about Scope Creep since 2021 and it finally came to fruition in 2023! We had no idea if anyone would listen…and they did! We even made it on Apple's New & Noteworthy which gave us a huge bump in listenership. Creating a podcast can feel like yelling into a void, so it's amazing to know people value this content and are hungry for more honest conversations around business and solopreneurship.
I went on my first business retreat.
In October, I met one of my clients IRL (GASP!), and attended her first-ever business retreat in Bethany Beach, DE. I had no expectations going into the retreat (TBH, I was TIRED). Needless to say, my expectations were beyond exceeded! I can't wait to go to this retreat again in April (more details below on how you can join me).
I prioritized community.
This year, I focused on building community at Strange Salt and joined a few others including Pollen (affiliate link!) and Badassery. I work alone most days and often forget about the magic of connection. At Strange Salt, we share funny client stories (anonymous of course!), talk about brand and design news, and swap playlists. Communities are a great place to workshop ideas, gather feedback, and get a pep talk when you need it. I've gotten countless nuggets of advice and feedback this year that have helped me build my business even more.
I expanded my brand offers.
Many of my clients are interested in doing a lot of their brand work themselves (with a solid foundation that we build together, of course). As an experiment, I started offering consulting services for my existing clients so they could workshop ideas and get feedback. The result? My clients gained more clarity on how to build their brands.
I landed an expert in residence gig.
This was not on my 2023 bingo card! While I have expanded into educational workshops and keynote speaking, I didn't expect to land an expert-in-residence gig at one of my favorite communities—Pollen! It's been amazing to connect with other consultants and share advice and support as they build their brands. I give a lot to the community, but I also get a lot—advice, friendships, referrals—in return!
Took a 10-day vacation to Alaska.
Don't quote me on this, but I think this may have been the longest vacation I've taken since starting my business. I escaped the Nashville heat this August and took an Alaskan cruise with my entire family. The best part? Cruise wifi is terrible so I truly had to unplug. In all honesty, the best part was holding a starfish and seeing TONS of whales. 13/10 would recommend.
The Lows…
I set a lot of goals for 2023. Some happened, some didn't.
Met my revenue goals, but my expenses nearly doubled.
Oof. Sometimes revenue goals aren't everything. So what if I doubled my business if I also doubled my expenses? It's a zero-sum game. Next year, I'm planning to refine my revenue goal by putting my focus on diversifying revenue streams and increasing my rates (consistently).
Missed the Strange Salt revenue goal by a lot.
Running two businesses is a lot of work (see also: struggling to ask for help). Strange Salt was a little idle in Q1 and Q2 which put us behind in terms of growth. Things picked up in Q3 and Q4 and I'm so proud of what our small but mighty team has accomplished! Next year, I'm hoping to prioritize consistency so we can continue to grow (and maybe reach our goal).
Said “goodbye” to teaching spin.
The spin studio I taught at closed in January. It feels like 100 years ago but also like a fresh wound. I've had a lot of emotions around cycling and fitness since then (each spin class Reel is like lemon juice on a paper cut). But I'm glad I found a new practice in yoga and happy to say I can do a headstand now.
Fridays were busy.
Since 2020, I've promised myself I was going to take Fridays off. I am single-handedly spearheading the four-day workweek! Joke's on me, though. Fridays have been one of my busiest days of the week lately. I'm trying to get better about guarding my time on this day and planning fun things (shout out to #FunFriday from my friend Julie Hullett!) to keep me from sitting down at my computer.
Struggled to ask for help.
I'm guessing the majority of you reading this can relate to this point. Because as business owners, we always feel like we have something to prove. We have to show everyone we're capable and that we don't need help. But the truth is, we do. And next year I'm hoping to tap into my network and team for support—whether that's help with a project or a listening ear.
The in-between…
It's easy to think of the world in extremes (these are the times we live in!) but a lot of my life falls in the grey. It's not good, it's not bad. It just is.
A (maybe) unsatisfied client?
I worked on a really fun project this fall that I am so proud of. The client seemed excited about the work (they even cried when I shared the strategy and messaging framework I'd built!) and asked for a proposal for some ongoing work. Then…crickets (they did, however, pay their final invoice). Are they unsatisfied? I have no idea. Are they busy because it's the holiday season? Probably. I may never know why they ghosted or if they were happy with the work. And that's just something I have to live with.
Lots of shiny objects.
I chased a lot of rabbits this year. Some of them went places, others did not. I don't consider these side quests to be time lost, but I can't help but think about what I could have done if I'd spent that time elsewhere.
Navigating a lot of feelings.
The world is a scary place right now. I'd be kidding myself to say that multiple wars, mass shootings in my community and beyond, and an impending election year didn't take a toll on my mental health. I feel like there's a constant hum of anxiety underneath every “I hope this email finds you well!” that enters and exits my inbox. I have to constantly remind myself that I'm human and that, in and of itself, is a lot of work.
Coming Up in 2024
More writing…but make it personal.
I've really enjoyed writing more personal newsletters and sharing what a day in my life as a business owner looks like. I'm planning to do more of this next year via this Substack and can’t wait to share more of the personal side of building a business.
Creative co-working.
I mentioned earlier that Fridays have been busy. I want to rethink my Fridays and make space to focus on my own creative work and habits. To kick things off, I've scheduled an every-other-week co-writing date with my friend and colleague
. I hope that this time will set the tone for my Fridays and hold me accountable for investing some creative energy into my own work.More ways to work with me.
I've been stewing on more service offerings that will give me the ability to help more business owners build their brands. I'm kicking around the idea of doing brand sprints, brand consulting days, and more that will be accessible for more solopreneurs.
No matter what 2024 holds, I hope you get what you need out of it. Whether it's good, bad, or ugly—it's a year and it's yours.