Hi First name / Slothy!, 

 

I have to start with an apology.

Last issue, I shared some exciting news: a partnership with HOKA. I was thrilled, and I shared it before I'd taken the time to fully vet it. That partnership wasn't real.

 

I'm not the first person this has happened to, and I reached out to HOKA directly to let them know what was going on in their name. This was a lesson for me, but I think it holds a bigger one for anyone building a brand and a real community online right now.

 

The signs were there the whole time. Things looked legitimate enough that I got swept up in it. But the more we communicated, the more something felt off. I kept thinking, a brand this size is extremely disorganized (they sure could use Savvy Sloth to streamline this process lol). That little inkling is what saved us both a lot of wasted time and frustration.

 

Here's the part I keep coming back to. Trust isn't built in one big gesture. It's built, or broken, in a hundred small details, especially with someone who hasn't experienced your brand yet. Every piece that's missing or off makes someone wonder if it's even real.

 

That question matters more than ever right now. AI has made it easy for anyone to build a brand that looks somewhat legit in an afternoon. So for those of us actually doing the work, our advantage is showing more of ourselves, not less.  That means telling real stories and showing the real people behind the brand.

 

Those are the details that build connection and set you apart from the AI slop trying to trick people every day. So every time you tell yourself:

 

"This isn't important." 

"They already know this." 

"Why would I share that." 

 

You're talking yourself out of a possible story that might just help someone trust you that much more. 

 

 

Sharing real parts of my life, my business, and my journey to achieving more by managing less. That includes owning up to my mistakes. I firmly believe that showing it all and how I do it will make that path that much more obtainable to those who've never thought it was possible.

XOXO,
Renee

I wrote this post earlier this year after losing two family members, then sat on it. It felt too raw to share. I'm ready now, and it turns out the timing worked out too. 

 

August is Grief Awareness Month, so it felt like the right time to finally share this with the world.

 

I wrote it from my own experience, and from years of walking clients and family members through loss. It's not a clinical guide. It's an honest, practical look at what grief actually feels like day to day, and how to carry the weight of it without losing yourself in the process.

 

 

Two Asana builds, a new marketing strategy client, and ongoing project management retainer work are keeping me busy this month. Every day looks a little different, but it's so rewarding. The puzzle solving is exactly the kind of brain flex I wasn't sure I'd get back after burnout.

 

 

Before I do, I want to hear from you.

 

I launched a market research survey to better understand where you're at when it comes to getting organized. It only takes about 10 minutes, and your answers will help refine marketing and future offers. This community has grown so much over the past four years, and I'd love for that to keep going with your help. You've been my biggest supporters from day one, and I want to attract more people just like you.

A few things bringing me clarity, ease, and sustainable success this week: