THE FIRST FRIDAY NEWSLETTER

May 2, 2025: THE LAST EDITION - IT'S TIME FOR SOME RADICAL CHANGE.

May 02, 2025

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” - Albert Einstein.

Ugh, I hate change. I mean, I really do - especially when it’s my own self-described “perfect system” that I’m following and following and following some more and still not getting the results I want. I’ve learned this lesson so many times it’s a wonder that I don’t give up earlier and try something new.

But I like to give things a fighting chance, right?

Well, it’s time for a new fighting chance - a new strategy - a new plan.

It’s time to do something radically different.

Instead of tweaking my system, I’m deconstructing and rebuilding. Oy.

Postscript thought: I realized as I was editing that I’ve literally written out the thought processes I go through when I have a new idea -

Indecision
Remembering that I’ve been here before.
Understanding WHY the change needs to occur.
Decision and commitment to the change.
Identifying HOW I’ll learn a new thing.
Identifying HOW I’ll stay focused on the WHY
Creating a strategy.
Creating the actionable steps of said strategy.
Setting myself up for success.

PS: I woke up the morning of May 3rd (the day after I wrote and published this post) with a slight sense of panic - because, as you may know, I’m a recovering people pleaser. And there are SO many people I learn things from on Substack on a daily basis. When I was writing this post, I had to make decisions, and it seemed that sticking with the number three was manageable.
Three people to learn the “how”, three people to keep me focused on the “why”.
Too many people and too much information means I get overwhelmed and then locked in decision paralysis. I know this about myself and, in the spirit of doing things radically different, this meant not doing “all the things I’ve learned from all the people.” If I’m going to make this radical change/shift work, I have to FOCUS.

I’m not sure if I have the mental capacity or strength to do this - I mean, I’m not “old” but I’m not “young” either. I’m 51 years old and I’ve been an entrepreneur for 13 years. Mostly, that looks like being the sole owner/operator of a successful pet sitting business. But that’s not what Substack is for -

Substack is for writers, and I want to be a paid writer.
I want the work optional, travel mandatory lifestyle - I want the “laptop life”.

At this moment, it seems unattainable. Like, a pipedream, like a “one day I’ll get there, maybe” type of idea.

Ah yes, but this isn’t the first time I’ve had one of those “pipedreams” -

My origin story pipedream started when I was 19 years old - there’s a more detailed version HERE - but here’s the Cliff Notes version:
I went to my first Elton John concert at age 19, and decided I wanted to meet him.
I spent over 30 years of my life pursuing that dream, attending 62 concerts along the way and two trips to NYC (I live in NC) to see Tammy Faye three times! (sadly, it closed shortly after opening).
On Opening night, Elton John walked right by me in the theater (I was strategically standing in a spot I knew he would walk by), and I said, “Hello, Elton” and he said, “Hello”. THAT is the closest I’ve come to achieving my dream!

When I was in College, I changed my major so many times that I wasn’t going to graduate in four years. I didn’t have any other option at the time BUT to graduate in four years, so I got special permission to be part of the Adult Education Program and took night classes as well as my regular daytime course load.
I graduated in four years.

When I was in my mid-30’s, my husband and I hit financial rock bottom. We were living paycheck to paycheck, often running in the negative. We were using credit cards to fill in the gaps and then just making minimum payments. We had no savings, and we had no financial plan for the future. We had $43,544.00 in consumer debt.
We paid all of that off in less than 4 years, figured out a savings and investments plan that works and a budget that we follow to this day.
We are financially secure, and our financial future has options.

And now, it’s time for something radically different, once again.
My husband and I are in a time of our lives where “retirement conversations” are happening. Our five-year plan looks radically different than in years past.
For him, that looks like retiring from his corporate job to something else - because he’s not a “sit at home all day retired” type of guy.
For me, that looks like building a career as a writer - a paid writer.
I know it can be done, I’ve been here long enough to see other people doing it.
Why do I want to be a paid writer? Because I want to travel more AND earn an income.
Right now, when I travel, I lose money from my pet sitting business because I’m the sole owner/operator. (And no, I don’t want to hire a manager/employees).

So, I know it’s possible. If it works for others, it will work for me too.

This drastic change was inspired by

Sam Burgess

and her 90-day plan post.

Her post from April 28th -

My 90-Day Focus Rhythm is simple:

Choose 1–3 core focuses for the next 90 days
Build my projects, marketing, and decisions around those focuses
Let everything else be secondary (or consciously paused)

It’s less about "goals" and more about "guardrails".
It’s a way to channel energy without constricting it.
Our energy naturally moves in seasons – you can feel it in your body, your creativity, your attention.
Every 90 days brings a shift. A new wave. A new rhythm.
Instead of resisting that, the 90-Day Focus Rhythm lets you ride it.
And it's not just intuition – there's real psychology and strategy behind why 90-day rhythms work.

My 90 days started yesterday, May 1st, 2025.
It’s also been inspired by

Wes Pearce

Ana Calin

and

Jennifer Louise

Sam, Wes and Ana as well as other people I follow, will be my educators.
They show me HOW this is done.
Jennifer’s quote will be my guide: “choosing myself over and over again”.

One life lesson I’ve learned is that every single time I bet on myself, I WIN!

I know my WHY - to be a “work optional, travel mandatory” type of career person.
I love my work as a pet sitter, absolutely. But that business is not conducive to travel, which I also love. I need to have a job where I work AND travel. To me, “work optional” is really more for my husband as he transitions into retirement and “travel mandatory” is for me (sure, he might tag along from time to time too - haha!).
The point is that we both still need income producing opportunities.

I’ve already proven that I can be a paid writer. I wrote and published a book in 2017 and have sold close to 200 copies - and NOT just to friends and family!
I’ve also been a paid speaker, and I write all my own speeches/workshop content so there’s that, too.

So, this idea of being a paid writer isn’t so much a “pipedream” as I’ve already proven the concept, I just need to do it on a different platform now. That, to me, is what feels like the “pipedream” - taking a proven concept to a different platform.

Lately,

Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C

Sarah-Frances McCormick

and

Chloe Markham

have been posting Notes that are really encouraging and inspiring me to stay focused.
They, and others, will help me to stay focused on my WHY.

Jennifer Rollins: Thoughts from a therapist:
Trying to numb out from anxiety is unhelpful in the long run.
Instead work to welcome uncomfortable thoughts and physical sensations, let them be there, and then turn towards taking values-aligned actions.

I have undiagnosed anxiety. I know it and I struggle with it. I spent years of my life being “busy” to avoid the anxiety I was feeling so now, I work on welcoming them.
The struggle with this is real but I’ll figure it out.

Sarah-Frances posted this recently:

This was the part that resonated, “Create in your own way, because there is no right way…focus on your unique brand of magic.”

So, I’ll figure out that “my way, and my brand of magic” is.

Joyful with Chloe Markham
You don’t get joy because life gets easier.
You get joy because you learn to stay rooted when life is a flying circus of bullshit.
Joy is a skill.
It’s earned through small, stubborn acts of regulation, one messy day at a time.

In January, I heard a quote: “Follow the Joy” and I wrote it on the inside of my car windshield, right next to the oil change sticker. Following joy is different than seeking happiness because happiness comes from JOY, not the other way around.
JOY means I stay rooted. JOY means I constantly seek out ways of nervous system regulation - because I’ve been dysregulated too many times to go through that AGAIN.

So, to recap - it’s time for something radically different.
Using Sam’s 90 Day Focus Rhythm I’ll will:
1. Learn from three - Sam, Ana and Wes.
2. Be inspired and motivated by three - Jennifer, Sarah-Frances and Chloe
3. Set three goals.

I’m not exactly sure what that process looks like yet, but I’m working on a plan.

The first step was to NOT put out the same Newsletter content as I’ve done for the last three months.
The second step is to invest in some courses on “How to Make Substack a Career” and make decisions on what a “profitable newsletter” looks like. Maybe that looks like a once-a-week newsletter? I’m not sure yet.
Third - but perhaps most important - is setting some goals. I’ve had some swirling around in my brain since yesterday so now it’s decision time:

GOALS
1. Increase subscribers. I’m currently at 45. By the end of 90 days? 500
I’m not sure how to do this? I write a weekly post, and post notes daily. There’s got to be something I’m missing to increase subscribers - I’ll figure it out.

2. Earn income. I’m currently at $0.00. By the end of 90 days? $2500 a month
I have monthly, annual and founding member subscriptions turned ON and I have a Venmo link if you’d like to make a different investment.
Maybe these prices will change? I don’t know - let’s see what I learn about pricing.
I doubt they will decrease.
I’ll be working on refining the benefits for each membership level - do you have a suggestion? Help me learn about member benefits - I’m open to any and all ideas!

3. Create a financially and time sustainable system. I currently have no idea how to do this, but I’ll figure it out as I go.
My biggest problem to solve will be what information to offer for PAID subscribers - I’m open to ideas -

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