I struggled all day to post and I wrote a few billion words buy nothing felt worthy. This still feels schmaltzy and trite, but it’s all true.
When people say we aren’t our work it’s partly true. None of us are one dimensional. But, I embrace my J.O.B.S. They’re a huge part of my identity. I won’t feel bad about that because it isn’t separate from my life. It’s all LIFE. By design. It’s why I started my business (officially 5 years ago!) and why so many like me have done the same.
In 2017, at 2am standing in my kitchen after a rough week and long night at my day job, I stood there and word vomited the vision that became coFLOWco in a doc in my phone.
5 years ago, August 28, 2019, I formed my LLC after taking a vacay and realizing it was time. I started to build out the businesses I dreamed up a few years prior, and then 6 months later…ya know the story. By 2020, my vision grew. It was clear it had to be an ecosystem. I learned the problems I was trying to address needed multiple orgs. 3 orgs have names, sites, budgets, strategic plans, and still exist. And we’re just getting started. The making things sustainable and financial/social impact pieces are coming along.
5 years in biz may not seem huge to some, but to me it’s my theory of change in action. Despite a lot, I’m still at it.
The 5 year mark for a women owned small business IS a big a$$ deal.
?? the only way I made it this far was the impetus of The Collective itself: I have many brilliant creative people in my network and they deserve to make it, too.
So, THANK YOU…for being a supporter of my work—for hiring me or referring me.
For reading my rants and sending me DMs. For my cheerleaders that have come and gone. For the FL5 guests and members who did the same.
For subscribing to my personal blog and finding my trove of medium articles.
For inviting me on your podcasts and interview series or panels.
For schooling me and calling me out or in or just calling me.
For allowing me the privilege to share what I know every week and for trusting me with your BIG ideas and dreams for a better future of work and a more safe, kind, and just world.
For TEACHING me and letting me teach.
For caring more. For not being able to compartmentalize and for showing it’s hard.
For showing me your brain and your “imperfections” and sharing your gifts and strengths.
For all the gifs and memes, the solidarity and conversations. All the zooms and virtual teas.
For allowing me to share my vision and for everyone who has helped or gotten up underneath it.
And for all this who’ve donated to Rage2Rainbows, FLOWLab? and hired Collective Flow Consulting…I’m literally just floored at what I/we started and the impact we’ve made.
Here’s to the next 50, should I be so lucky. Seriously the world is a dumpster fire and hard. It’s also freaking magical. And for me the magic is 100% the people in my neighborhood, virtual or in my town. YOU are my why. And I cannot wait to see what WE do next.
