Let Her Fly is 5! 🎂
March 9th is a special day in Let Her Fly-land. It’s our 5 year anniversary!! 🎈🥳❤️
What the what?!? How did that happen? Even my husband was shocked when I mentioned it last week, and he’s been cheering me on the whole time. It’s been an incredible 5 years, full of ups and downs, and I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner.
I’m writing this the Saturday before the “big day.” The house is quiet, my husband is exploring the woods with a friend, my oldest is still in bed, my youngest is going about her weekly chores, and it’s snowing outside. #springtimeincanada
And I’m hit with all kinds of nostalgia and thoughts of these past 5 years. If you want to hear the musings of a sappy, internal processor, keep reading. There are some things I’d like you to know.
First of all, please cue the confetti and pop the champagne because it’s definitely worth celebrating! 🎉🥂
The pre-pandemic Canadian statistics say that only 1/3 of all small businesses are female-owned and a mere 1/3 make it past 5 years. After a long year of closures and restrictions, no doubt the actual numbers are even more grim.
In spite of the statistics, I journaled on Friday morning that this had been the absolute best work week of 2021, maybe of the entire past 5 years.
Here are a few reasons why:
Find and follow the flow. I’ve learned that devoting Mondays to deep, creative, client-focused work is best for me. No admin tasks. Minimal social posts or scrolling. It’s taken me 5 years to figure this out.
Stop pushing so hard. Taking a nap on Wednesday afternoon and still checking off a ridiculously long to-do list felt amazing.
Doing great work matters. Delivering final projects to clients who can’t stop gushing also felt amazing. Not gonna lie.
People matter. Staying individually connected to women I value and esteem is literally LIFE to me. Even as an introvert, 1:1 connections mean everything, and this week has been chock-a-block full of them.
That 4th point is a biggie, and over the past week those connections looked like this:
Playing online cards with longtime friends because Covid restrictions mean we still can’t meet in person.
Trying a new video messaging tool with a colleague, just for fun.
Supporting multiple women and receiving support through impromptu IG messages.
Tuning in to a brilliant podcast by a woman I deeply respect and who endorses everything I believe about small business.
Deeply listening to what lights up my newest client as she disrupts her industry.
Promoting other women’s programs because they’re experts in their field and I want to do it, not because I’m an affiliate.
Fielding emails from returning clients who need design support as they launch their new, exciting “thing."
Receiving wise coaching, advice, and encouragement from other women who are further along in their business journey.
Introducing women to each other when they’re searching for referrals and support. This is one of my faves!
Interviewing and finally hiring a part-time assistant to support me and my clients!
When I reflected on the week, it was easy to see why it was such a highlight. In spite of doctor appointments for 3/4 of our family, the non-existent meal plan, and continued Covid restrictions, I spent this week following my gut and living out my core values which are—
Generosity | Connection | Excellence
The lesson for me is clear. Every time I lead with my values, life and business bring me joy. Every time I get bogged down in admin tasks or get distracted by “the noise,” I feel drained and frustrated. You’ve probably found this to be true, too.
So after 5 years, here's the biggest encouragement I can give to you.
You can 1,000% build your business your way—one that lights up you and your clients. You do not have to chase algorithms or download another free PDF. Being really great at what you do, leading with integrity, living out your core values, and deeply caring about people will always get more meaningful results than IG reels or a new Clubhouse room. Sure, those apps and tools may work for you too, but at the end of the day, it’s the people who matter most because it’s people who will help you build your dream and always have your back.
The past five years have made four things very clear to me.
I adore the people in my life—women and men, personal and professional, in real life and online. I would not be who or where I am without each one. That includes you!
I love my work. A lot. Both what I do and who I do it with and for. And I plan to continue for as many years as God enables me. I believe we are designed to do meaningful work in the world. This is mine.
I’m inexpressibly grateful to God for another year of growth, for the innate abilities He’s given me, and the curious mind to always keep learning. I would not be who or where I am without Him.
I know it could all end tomorrow, and I would still be ok. This last year has shown us how quickly everything can change. I love what I do, and I’m grateful for every day I get to do it. But my worth doesn’t depend on that. My worth and YOURS are engrained in who we are, how very much we are loved, and the joy in sharing that love with others. What we do with our time and talent matters, but who we are matters more.