Dear Future Lauren

2020 has been so surprising and so different than anything we could have predicted one year ago. As we sit on its precipice, I decided to write myself a letter about my hopes and dreams for 2021. I will re-read this letter next December and I look forward to seeing how expectations line up with reality.

 Dear Future Lauren,

I am walking out of 2020 with so much gratitude for what happened in this crazy year. And, I am stepping into 2021 filled with promise and hope. I am relieved that our country is back under the control of democracy and sane people. 

I am looking forward to how we rebuild after four years of drama, with the last potentially being the series finale of society as we know it. 2020 has fast-forwarded our culture (reluctantly) into the digital age. We now understand that meaningful work can get done virtually and that real relationships have been built online. 

In April, a real-life friend derided me for having more time for my online friendships. At first, that made me feel like a fake, one-dimensional person. But, then I realized that learning to build meaningful relationships in 2020 was going to mean 100% online friendships. While this year has been hard, I have found an incredible tribe of people with whom we are breaking convention of what "work" looks like and proving that we can get work done anywhere, differently.

As I write this, I hope that each of the people I thanked at our holiday party last week will still be a part of our family in 12 months, but I am sure that there will be changes in one year and it will be fascinating to remember how I feel about everyone and everything today. 

In 2021, I plan to be more intentional with my time. And, I plan to be kinder to myself. I am so excited to build a company, a community and a brand in cannabis. I can't wait to test my theory that influencer marketing has always been advertising and that there is a way for people to support people first. Brands will follow. I can't believe that I have a tech start-up, a cannabis tech start-up at that. I have seen founders age from youthful and passionate to tired and bored, and I am committed to always recharging to show up as an energized leader. 

I could go on and on with my goals and I am sure that in one year from now, I will look back at 2021 and laugh at everything I wanted to do, and all the things that actually came to pass. I look forward to hindsight that isn't 2020.

So instead of goals, here are my intentions for 2021:

Preserve the calm that was created in the world and in me in 2020.

Deepen my relationships with my team and build a business that defies corporate bullshit.

Help thousands of people learn about cannabis as a wellness supplement.

Help people build sustainable income that leads to wealth.

Build a platform for cannabis advocates to share, learn and EARN.

Build a sustainable, different on purpose business.

Keep my word.

Role-model radical transparency.

Build the “anti-social media” in cannabis.

Attract & nurture influential cannabis advocates to become butterflies.

Help brands reach their customers in meaningful ways.

Be a mentor and friend (ie Aunt).

Help hundreds of people get their wings

Make and exceed our projections.

Be vulnerable, different, brave, crazy, creative.

Play every day.

Stay human.

Make playlists.

Take hikes.

Meditate Daily.

Train a puppy.

Pass 10th Grade, and hopefully 11th.

Shift my relationship with an adultish son.

Appreciate nature

Remember that everyone has a different story and starting line.

Take up space.

Lead with a strong back and soft front.

Build a thriving community.

Be the change.

See ya in the future, have fun.

Love, Lauren