Taking your business for a "joy ride"

Well, hello there! 👋

We are back from our little hiatus, and so glad to be in your inboxes again.

First off, thank you SO much for all of the emails of support and love following our last email. It’s Caroline typing here, and I just want you to know your kindness and encouragement means a lot. 🥹

I’m slowly working through replies to those emails (there were so so many!), and again we thank you for sharing your stories with us and for thinking of us as we continue our parenthood journey wherever it leads! ❤️

What we’ve been up to:

We’re back home in Portugal now after wrapping up our 4-week trip back to the US to visit family. This was our first real break this year, and it felt good to step back from the businesses and get some perspective.

We won’t lie though, there were some challenges during our trip. Like getting sick (three times! 🫣) and dodging two hurricanes, which made for a not so peaceful vacation. But we DID get a few lovely sunny days in Mexico at the end of our trip which was a nice way to end the trip.

Now that you're caught up, on to the newsletter!

- Caroline and Jason

calm creator chronicles ✍️

Taking your business for a "joy ride"

👩🏻‍🦰👋: Everything feels like it’s in flux for me right now—with business, with my creativity, even within myself.

Maybe it’s because we’re nearing the end of the year, which always brings reflection. Or maybe it’s because nothing this year turned out the way I thought it would.

In January, I had a crystal-clear vision for 2024: go all-in on Teachery, get back to creating social content (in our own way), and stay mindful of hitting those targets all year long as we finally expanded our family.

But almost immediately, ALL of that went off course. 😅🤣

And you know what? That has turned out to be such a gift.

Here’s what I’ve learned: having a goal and chasing after it is great. But chasing after a target is a very different feeling than creating your life and business from a place of flow.

The metaphor that comes to mind is the difference between plugging a destination into Google Maps versus hopping in the car and going for a joy ride with no plan of where you'll end up.

When you're joy riding, it's not a destination you're after; it's how you want to feel on the journey.

The activity is the same—you’re driving—but the intention and experience are completely different.

I started this year with a GPS mindset: type in the destination, hit go, and make all the right turns to stay on track. But this approach had two big downsides.

First, I was so focused on the destination, I missed the scenery along the way. Second, when I hit roadblocks, I got frustrated. I just wanted to get there!

Where I’m ending the year, though, feels completely different. When nothing turns out like you planned, it frees you from the burden of an outdated vision. The future becomes a blank slate, and you can choose to be scared or excited by that.

Right now, I just want to hop in the car, roll the windows down, and let my intuition guide the way. I want to steer things toward what feels good, stop trying to force outcomes, and create from a place of flow and play.

A lot in my life—and, let's be honest, the world—feels out of my control right now. But what I can control is the energy I bring to each day. And the energy I want to bring is less about control and more about curiosity.

I’m throwing out the GPS and deciding to enjoy the ride.

If a GPS mindset is what feels good to you right now, stick with it! But if you’re feeling a bit lost or like the year didn’t go how you hoped, maybe it’s time to loosen the reins and see where the road takes you.

⚡️ Taking Action: Bringing More Flow to Your Business​

This week, experiment with what it might feel like to let go of the outcomes you've been pushing so hard for.

If you want to bring more flow into your business strategy, start by turning inward and asking yourself these questions:

1. What do I feel like creating today?

2. What would feel good to do next in my business?

3. If I weren’t worried about hitting a specific goal, what would I choose to focus on right now?

If loosening the reins feels uncomfortable, experiment with small changes and notice how it affects your energy and creativity. Sometimes, all it takes is one turn off the beaten path to spark something new.

​- Caroline 👩🏻‍🦰​

Calm Creator Tips of the Week

predictable 🔁

Go ahead and plan your work schedule for the end-of-year/holidays now. No matter how you celebrate, this season usually means more chances to be with loved ones—and the perfect excuse to step away from the laptop. Pick your “off” days in advance and make a plan so you can actually enjoy that downtime without sneaking a peek at your inbox or calendar.

Profitable 🤑

Set aside 30 minutes this week to go through your business expenses and subscriptions. You’d be surprised how much you might be spending on things you’re not even using anymore. Last week, we cut $1,700 in yearly costs (!!!)—proof that a quick audit can actually save you some buckaroos.

Peaceful 🧘

Pick one app to cut out of your scrolling routine this week. For me, it was good old toxic Twitter. After being off for 3 years, I got sucked back in this summer (whoops). After the election though I knew it wasn't serving me so I used a site blocker to break the habit, and wow—my brain feels so much calmer now. Whatever your digital vice of the moment is, this is your sign to put some effort towards cutting it out!