If You Thought This Year Would Be Different
I don't know about your 2025, but I feel like I'm on the last mile of a marathon I was so excited to start back in January...
but then halfway through was like, "what the heck was I thinking?!" 🤣
I knew this year would be big.
I had an audiobook to record in NYC, a $350k+ 4-day launch in February, a book launch in April, a keynote at Kit's Craft + Commerce conference, a cottage purchase in Vermont... the list goes on.
As the year went on, the tiredness caught up to me.
I was so excited about all the incredible things I got to do this year that I didn't consider the physical, mental, and emotional toll it would take.
And honestly? So much of my exhaustion came from me forcing the idea of what’s next. I thought a clear next chapter would magically appear once I got through this year.
Instead, I was too tired to think of anything new.
I'm a big fan of duality -- the idea, as my mom used to say, that (hardly) nothing is all good or all bad.
This year was incredible on so many levels… and it nudged me out of alignment with my personal and business values.
I don’t actually value “more revenue at all costs.” I value being present in my life, being home, having a routine, and not feeling like I know the Starbucks barista at La Guardia on a first name basis.
It's OK if your year had a bit of good and bad, too. Or if it was just more disappointing than you'd hoped.
Did 2025 go the way you thought it would, Reader?
Maybe you thought 2025 was the year your business would finally take off.
You'd post on Instagram and get a DM right away saying, "how can I work with you?" While sipping your morning coffee, you check your inbox to see 6 new course sales came in while you were sleeping.
But in reality, you spent this year wondering...
😬 if this whole business thing was going to work out.
😵 whether you're doing it right.
🫣 how you could grow an online business... without being online so much.
Here's the hard truth: if we don't change a thing, next year will look a lot like this one.
🪄 We have a chance to change that right now.
It starts with reflecting on this year — how it actually went and how it actually felt for you.
This is how you'll avoid ending up in the same place come December 2026.
🥳 To help you reflect (and then plan), I created a free Annual Planner for you. DOWNLOAD THE ANNUAL PLANNER→
It's the guide I use to reflect + plan each year.
I walk you through the reflection process step-by-step (and share my honest reflections of 2025) in this week's new episode on my podcast, On Your Terms®️. LISTEN HERE→ (Apple, Spotify, Website)
I want to help you have an even more successful 2026 -- and I don't just mean revenue-wise. I want your calendar to be as full (or not!) as you want, your clients to be dreamy, and your life outside your business to match what you'd hoped for.
If you listen and/or download your Annual Planner, hit "reply" and tell me how it felt to go through the process. I read all your replies.
Bonus points if you text a link to today’s reflection podcast episode to a business-owning friend who could use a gentle nudge to slow down and check in, too. 💛
Next week, we’ll talk alllll about how I plan my next year in business — and how I’ve managed to make every single year in business (8 years running) better than the last.
Talk soon!
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When you’re ready, here’s how I can help:
💌 Get my Legal Guide [free] A step-by-step legal guide that teaches you how to start and legally protect an online business without accidentally breaking any laws.
📝 Shop my DIY Legal Templates [Starting at $47] Get your lawyer-drafted contracts and website policies done in 15 minutes or less with my fill-in-the-blank templates.
🎉 Join the Ultimate Bundle® [Start for $229 today] Get 14 DIY Legal Contracts + policies, plus how-to-start-your-business trainings, and community support.
📚 Read my Book [$17-30, bookstores] When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy is your no-nonsense guide to build and grow your online business. I teach you my fluff-free proven marketing strategies, funnel tactics, and email list-building tips that actually work. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, this book gives you the roadmap to success.
🎙️ Listen to my Podcast [free] On Your Terms®️ is a podcast for online business owners who want to feel as present in their lives as profitable in their businesses. Join me as we explore everything from anti-hustle marketing tips to living the life you build your business for.
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🎙️ NEW PODCAST EPISODE
The 1 Thing You Must Do Before Planning 2026
Before you start mapping out your 2026 biz goals, pause. Trust me—you don’t want to skip this step.
In this episode, I walk you through the exact process I use every year before planning the next one.
It’s a mix of personal check-in, gentle reality check, and a whole lotta clarity that could change how you set goals (and avoid burnout). Plus, I’ll reveal the surprising “domino” that had the biggest ripple effect on my year—but only if you tune in. 😉
🎧 LISTEN HERE→ "Before You Plan 2026, Do THIS First"
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🔗 Links You'll Love
Ready to build some momentum in your business next year? You need to get The Coach's Glow Up bundle ($0!) to help you
- attract ideal clients through authentic marketing—not algorithm-chasing or dancing on Reels
- have sales conversations that feel like coaching, not convincing
- create systems that work with your energy instead of draining it
- build a business model that actually supports the life you want
🥳 Grab the (free!) Coach's Glow Bundle here→ (affiliate link)
💌 The tool I've used to build my 55k+ subscriber email list, Kit, has a Black Friday Deal that ends tonight! Get 60% off the Creator Plan for 3 months. Sign up here → (affiliate link)
📚 I've been writing more personal, founder-style essays over on my Substack (free). A few of you asked me to break down how I decide what I write there vs. here -- let me know if you want me to talk about that!