Hi First name / friend After emerging from the haze of the last two years, I'm determined to pay close attention to what is coming up in my life and work (and allow myself to feel excited by new things) and take time to reflect on what went well. I hope that by pausing at the end of each month to record, somehow, the wins, I'll start to grasp my days, my weeks, and months again. So, I hope you don't mind me sharing my three January wins with you, and I'd love to hear yours, too. - A last-minute, low-key trip to Cornwall, where I saw the Firain brand colours hanging on a washing line. It was our first trip in a long time (for Ben and I, anyway…we sleep with our passports under our pillows) and we loved every lazy minute of it.
- A new Firain email marketing course, dreamt up and launched in the same week. Now this one caught me by surprise. I guess the idea has been swishing around my head for a long time, and I'm treading slowly and carefully by beta-testing it first. I'm grateful that twenty of you are coming along for the ride during February! If it goes well, I'll launch it properly. Watch this space!
- Realising that I need a comfier home office. I blame the Netflix show ‘Your Home Made Perfect’, but I started paying close attention to my work environment (where I sit for at least five days a week) and recognised that improving it is part of settling into my job. Of feeling like I want to create a sustainable, mature business. So, I've invested in a fun cushion…it's a start!
If you get the chance, send me your three wins for January. I'd love to know. |
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Do you sometimes wonder, 'what's the next step?' |
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The feedback I hear most often from clients is that they feel ready to take the next step after a Cultivate call mentoring call. That's it. That step might be a little shuffle along or a muscle-stretching leap. But it's going in the right direction. Kim & Sally at Somewhere Off Grid shared this after a call last year: "When we felt we needed an outsider's perspective on our plans for the business, we knew the only person we wanted to chat with was Jo. Chatting with her gave us a new perspective of our brand and helped us take a step back and see our work and what we were doing in a new light - while also feeling like she'd offered a calm and friendly (remote) arm around our shoulders. She gave us ideas and inspiration, and we left the call brimming with ideas." If you're at an impasse of some sort in your business, read more about how I can guide you, and click below to set up a no-obligation discovery call. I can't wait to chat. |
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- Cooking this curry today for the umpteenth time.
- Firain HQ (my awkward home office/ guest room) is getting a makeover. I'm edging towards juicy, joyful colours, like this.
- Not sure if your words connect with your community? Try these ideas: Writing with respect.
- I've finally joined a book club! Eleanor at Quarters Home will host the discussion of The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. Can't wait to stretch my brain a little.
- Mesmerizing flight trails - a photographer's lockdown project.
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In this section, I share helpful, practical ideas and tools to use in our small, creative businesses - and I share them in a jargon-free way. Hoorah! Please think of this as a communal shed on an allotment where we skillshare and swap best practices for online shopkeepers. This week, let's focus on Instagram security. Too many beautiful Insta-pals have had their accounts hacked lately. Whilst we can't always prevent these attacks, here are some vitally important and easy steps to secure your account: - Become familiar with the section, Login security in your Instagram account.
- Set up two-factor authentication. Go to Settings > Security > Two-factor authentication.
- Update your password regularly, and make it as robust as you can.
- Regularly check and update your contact details. It's easy to switch phone numbers or abandon an email address and not update our Instagram logins.
If you rely on Instagram to market your business, consider diversifying your efforts. Who knows how Instagram will develop this year (it's not looking stable, that's for sure) so it's wise for all of us to think more broadly and not rely on one app to make sales. Email me if you're stuck for ideas on where to start. |
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Welcome to this week's new subscribers - Penny, Brandy, Tee, two Laura's, Christine, Grace, Rachel, Marcia, Tamara, Dan, Marianne, Lisa, Jackie, Marsey, Kate, Eimear, Tan, Roz, three Sarah's, Ren, Amy and Belinda! A big hearty, huggy hello to you. I'd love to know your thoughts, comments, feedback, and suggestions as I develop Firain. Get in touch if you fancy a natter. Thank you for your continued support and for allowing me to greet you in your inbox. |
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I designed this email in Flodesk , which I find much easier to customise than other email providers. Click here for my discount code if you'd like to try it out. If you'd like to support my micro business by treating me to a virtual coffee, click here (and thank you!) |
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