I'm back and social media free??

First, I must say - THANK YOU!

Thank you for all the kind words, the offers of help, and even the little surprise gifts. 

When I sent that message for help a little over two weeks ago, I was in the muck with a scary Facebook hack-ing job. 

But I'm finding my way out (more below). 

It's the half-way point of summer and even more things have changed. 

You too? 

In addition to COVID life and civil unrest in our country, here are two personal changes I'm navigating. 

Big Personal Change #1 

We're not sending our kids back to school in the fall. 

Our school district has just a few weeks to put together a plan and, in true entrepreneurial spirit, we have set out on our own course of action. 

We've signed on for a homeschooling co-op experience with a group of parents in neighboring Vermont.

This is quite literally a group of families coming together and trying something brand new. 

Our little co-op will have class two days per week with a progressive teacher who specializes in helping kids learn how to learn instead of telling them what to learn.

And then the parents will lead a weekly community day on Fridays. 

AND, in case I get too dreamy about what we're doing that is likely a better fit for our kids  --- I received a two-inch packet of New York State homeschooling regulations to meet and it's intense. I have to hand in a plan in less than two weeks and I don't know what I'm doing. 

So hello to homeschooling AND running a business!

All said, I've never been more appreciative of my little business that allows me to make my own hours and adapt to my family's needs. 

Big Professional AND Personal Change #2 

A hack-er has locked me out of Facebook and taken over my account for most of July, and proceeded to rack up over 10K in fraudulent ad charges. 

The Facebook Gods have let me back in fairly recently. 

ONLY by the grace of the real social network: a friend of a friend who works there and filed an internal report.

Real human to human connection wins. 

The kindness of people reaching out to help and the supportive emails I received has been a blessing in disguise. 

While I'm still trying to get a Facebook refund on those fraudulent charges, I'm thinking deeply about creating a social media free business, or at least, a #lessfacebook approach 

And even though I'm back on Facebook, I'm not posting much because it just feels weird. 

It feels like I've had a bad break up.

And like a bad break up, it's like I've been let back in the house to put things in order again, but do I really want to stay after all that went down?

The truth is, what's done is done and I realized "the guy" is kind of a jerk. 

Sigh.

And so, I'm mourning the loss of the good times and what must inevitably change going forward. 

There is a lot of what I call "the AND thing" going on for me and my clients. 

Maybe you feel it too? 

Things like... 

This is hard AND I'm going to figure this out. 

This no longer works AND I'm willing to try something new. 

This approach used to work really well AND now it's time to evolve. 

This time is super challenging AND I want to make this time count.  

My introverted sensibilities are fried by the constant presence of humans (that I love!) AND My business is going really well.

I've never had more on my plate AND I've never had more open space (albeit filled with family members).

I'm not sure what's ahead AND I'm going to find a new way to lead. 

I talk a lot about this with clients. 

I call it the art of cultivating thoughts that serve our peace and profit AND acknowledges the hard stuff.

Brooke Castillo of The Life Coach School calls this "bridge thoughts." 

We take a thought that threatens to do us in (This is so awful!) AND we marry it to another thought that balances it out.

This "bridge thought" type of thinking let's us take gentle steps forward.

Like this: This is so awful AND I'm going to figure this out, one step at a time. 

I find the practice of "bridge thoughts" helps me feel so much more resilient and resourceful. 

I hope this email reminds you that you can be challenged like never before AND find a new way to lead your business.

I'm in this with you!

Of course, I'm here for you whenever you're ready for coaching on your marketing, mindset and messaging.

Whether you need to restructure a body of work into a more relevant message, streamline your services or simplify your marketing, please do reach out. 

And if you're ready to get your side gig off the ground, and put all of your past experience and dreams for the future together, I may be your gal too. 

Reach out here if the time is right. 

And thank you for reading. 

Next week I'll have a new non-Facebook place for us to gather and try out. Stay tuned for that.

Talk with you soon and thanks again for reading. 

Karin