Issue #80: On following the joy
I'm ignoring most of the business advice I've learned over the past 10 years and building this business differently.
I’ve had a few different businesses in my lifetime. Which means I’ve also gone through a few different pivots. From selling jewelry, to blogging, and then coaching, I’ve done a little bit of it all. Thankfully, no matter how much my mind or my ideas have shifted over the years, each business has taught me lessons that have helped me to build the next.
My very first business – a jewelry business – taught me that entrepreneurship was possible and that having a solid brand was just as important as having a good product.
Blogging taught me the power of creating content and how storytelling was necessary for building an online community.
And being a business coach taught me the importance of strategy and investing in learning your craft.
These businesses also taught me what NOT to do. How to not undervalue myself and what I create. The types of business models that do not fit my values and personality. And of course, how to avoid burnout, just to name a few.
But with as many lessons as I’ve learned over the past decade, I’m trying something new as I continue to grow this newsletter and Doing Everyday Well.
I want to simply follow the joy.
I enjoyed the businesses that I ran during their specific seasons but I always found myself building a business that I was never really excited about. I’d opt out of creating certain types of content because it wouldn’t be deemed as “on brand” even though what I wanted to create couldn’t fit into one specific niche. And I’d let go of new product ideas that would allow me to use all of my creative gifts because they wouldn’t get me to the shiny 6-figure mark fast enough.
But to be real with you…I’m tired. I’ll be turning 36 years old in a couple of months and all I want for this phase of my life is simplicity and to do the things both in life and business that brings me joy.
I want to get excited about my work again. Yes, entrepreneurship is hard but I want to feel like the hard work is worth it. And I truly want to use every single gift God has given me.
At the end of every interview on the podcast, I ask my guests what doing life well looks like in their current season. Following the joy is what doing life well looks like for me.
Showing up here every week because writing is therapeutic and makes me so happy.
Launching the podcast imperfectly because I love being able to talk to others and share their stories.
Creating products because the design process excites me and because there is no better feeling than holding something that I created.
I’m committed to following the joy. And anything that doesn’t align with that has no space here.
As you end this week, take some time to think about what brings you joy and how you can spend more time following that!
Cheers to a restful week ❤️
– Alisha
GOOD FINDS
LOVING: It has been a consistent 90+ degrees here in North Carolina which means I’ve had to get creative with entertaining my 5-year-old on the weekends. We both love these Mondo Llama craft kits from Target! Not only are they inexpensive but they are easy enough for her to do mostly on her own which means I get at least an hour of quiet! (aff. link)
READING: I originally went to college as a Journalism major but changed my mind to focus on Public Relations after a professor told me there was no money in the print industry 😒 When I came across this article about why Black women are leaving journalism I immediately had to read.
WATCHING: I decided a few weeks ago to rewatch the Sex and the City series from the beginning. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched this series but the older I get the less I like Carrie. 😂
WEARING: It’s been way too hot here to wear anything. But when I have had to get dressed, these slim-fit tank tops from Target have been my go-to! They fit great and the material is so soft and breathable which is important because I’ve been sweating for weeks.
LISTENING: Luvvie has been doing a series on her podcast all about how her business was close to hitting bankruptcy and how she has built it back up. All of the episodes on this series so far have been good but the one where she chats with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford about the mental load of entrepreneurship is a MUST listen!
I’m trying something new with our link roundup this week! Let me know what you think in the comments.
ICYMI
DON’T FORGET TO BREATHE
Thank you for this