What I Learned in 2019

2019 was a doozie. My first full calendar year in business for myself was a learning experience, both in work and in life: looking back, a lot happened, though it might not have seemed like much at the time. It was a year full of events, but mostly low-key ones; quiet lessons that didn’t scream, but whispered what I needed to learn.

My 2019 by the numbers:

7 plane rides and multiple road trips
4 countries visited (including 2 new ones!)
6 speaking engagements
7 full website projects
Countless bios, articles, and blog posts
Many new clients, contacts, and friends

This year also brought many ‘firsts’ for me: a naked photo shoot, being involved in film production (which happened several times in 2019!), and moderating a panel for a conference.

My Austin world got simultaneously bigger and smaller this year: I met so many wonderful people at events, conferences, and gatherings, and as it turned out, many of those people knew one another. It’s a strange, yet comforting thing to know that you’re a part of people’s lives and that, somehow, we’re all connected.

So what were my big takeaways for 2019; my lessons learned that are helping me start the new year with eyes wide open?

I can’t do work that I’m emotionally detached from. As I related to a client-turned-friend recently, this is something I “knew” for years before leaving corporate America, but never gave myself the credit—or the permission—to do anything about. The work that I do now is work that I am a part of, and I feel great about what I’m doing.

Safe is boring. Admittedly, I’ve kept it safe with some of my writing. Even some things I want to write about here, in this space that’s truly my own, I’ve held back. This will change in 2020, and it’s a big part of my value proposition as a writer for others.

I don’t need a lot. The way I think about money, time, and value has changed a lot in the time that I’ve been self-employed. The way I viewed and spent my money when I was a corporate employee is different from how I view money now, and I also value time—both mine and others’—more highly now that I work for myself. My needs are minimal, and I’m proud of that.

Boundaries are crucial. As I went into 2019 with my word for the year, TRUTH, the word quickly was changed to BOUNDARIES. In every relationship, be it professional, romantic, platonic, or otherwise, clearly defined boundaries are necessary for a mutually beneficial, healthy exchange.

As for next year, my shortlist of goals for what I want to accomplish professionally and personally is something I’m keeping private: financial goals and a big project I want to complete next year are for me and only me. I know what I want to do, and perhaps I’ll reveal more as the year goes by. 2020 is significant for a few reasons (more to come on that in the new year!) and I’m pumped to start a new decade.

What did 2019 teach you?

(The image for this post is a list my dear friend Justin Foster shared on Instagram recently. His candor and vulnerability are a continual source of inspiration for me in my own work: check him out and follow his social channels for thoughtful musings and words of encouragement!)