40 Lessons I Learned in 2015, and What I Will Teach in 2016!

2015, it's been quite a ride. 

It's tough to summarize such a wild journey in just one post, but here are the top lessons I've learned this past year, both professionally and personally: 

1. Sometimes a flower just needs more room to bloom.
2. People and businesses that incorrectly use 's drive me crazy.
3. Cherish awesome co-workers. 
4. There really is no place like home. 
5. Be the type of person your dog thinks you are. 
6. It's OK to be far from "there", just be on your way! 
7. Sprinkle kindness everywhere. Light up every cubicle, room, and hallway with positivity. 
8. Brunch. 
9. Brunch with champagne. 
10. Treat yourself like a toddler; take care of your own needs before you take care of business. 
11. Reading is a lot like meditation, it teaches you to slow down and enjoy every word. 
12. Women supporting women is a beautiful thing. 
13. Take a minute to laugh. 
14. Indulge your wanderlust, but don't let the rose-coloured glasses of travel cloud your perspective.  Everything near and far is as wonderful as you make it. 
15. Shop local. 
16. Buy a donut pool float instead of file folders. Grown-upping can wait. 
17. Don't let anybody tell you that your coffee consumption is excessive, nobody needs that negativity in their lives :)
18. When you're on a work trip, make sure to jump on the bed of your hotel room, bonus points if you can jump from bed to bed. 
19. Wedding planning is a full time job. 
20. Eleuthera, Bahamas, is one of the most beautiful places on earth. 
21. Ottawa has the most stunning summer sunsets. 
22. De-cluttering is good for the soul. 
23. A supportive spouse is the greatest gift imaginable. 
24. Wonderful friends are a blessing. 
25. DIY can make make you cry, sometimes, it's better to just buy it. 
26. Be confident in your talents.
27. When even bad things end it is sad, because every experience is rich with new knowledge. 
28. Dubsmash is always an entertaining way to break the ice. 
29. There's always pizza. 
30. Believe that you can do it, and when you don't, believe that you can at least try it. 
31. Everybody feels uncomfortable at networking events and cocktail parties. Go into it knowing that, and you will be fine!
32. Believe in fortune cookies, they are delicious sources of truth when you need it.  
33. Kangaroos are rent-able. 
34. Podcasts are essential for commuters. 
35. Walk it off. 
36. Take chances with your career. 
37. Technical issues will always arise. 
38. Dilution is a reduction in the percentage ownership of a given shareholder in a company caused by the issuance of new shares. Thanks Laurie Davis.
39. Dilution is not the same thing as delusion. Oops.
40. Stop rejecting yourself, you've got this. 

This upcoming year, I will teach...

After completing a webinar series helping small businesses globally this past November and December, I've started to put together a curriculum to begin teaching social media courses on weekends/evenings in Ottawa, as well as custom courses for companies that are interested in a no-nonsense course that will help them rock their digital presence and re-vamp their brand to maximize engagement. 

Helping people realize the immense value of social media is my greatest passion, and with years of successfully launching brands on social, I seriously cannot wait to get started and help others achieve the same results!  

2016, let's do this!