We're Halfway There

(Anyone else have Bon Jovi in their head now? Just me?) It is hard to believe we are almost at the halfway point of 2024. Because my birthday is in December, that has always been a natural time of year for me to reflect and take stock on the how they year has gone. Lately, I have wanted to add more touch points, and so I am encouraging you to take this midpoint of the year and check in with your personal and professional goals.

Things that are on track? Awesome! Keep doing what you're doing, and keep working towards that end goal. Something seems awry and not quite working? How can you fine tune -- your methods, or perhaps it is the goal that needs reworking. It took me a long time to realize that a goal is not set in stone. A goal that you set in January (or on December 31st) might not be the right goal for late June. And that's okay. Our goals can adjust as time passes.

I would also encourage you to set one brand new goal for H2 of 2024. I just set a brand new one for myself and I am excited to hit the ground running.

Here is this month's #fourtofollow flashback. If you're new to The Caffeinated Chronicles (Welcome!!), I went back in time to the beginning of this series and am repeating the cycle of spotlighting amazing people in my network. It is fun to see what they are up to now!

Amy C. Horner, CPA, MBA 9?? is an international speaker, a change ambassador, and a leadership coach. She is now the Founder of TRUE NINE . True Nine was founded in 2023 in order to help professionals embrace the opportunities and challenges made possible by change. Through her work here, Amy encourages others to envision, create, and navigate a plan that leads to a successful future. She is also the Co-Founder and Chair of DBA Chronicles. Here she has joined with some of her Doctorate in Business Administration cohort members in pursuit of their mission to foster a vibrant, global DBA community through collaboration with scholars and practitioners. Amy is also on a mission to run 50 races -- one in each state of the union. While running is not my thing, I am on a quest to visit all 50 states, and I love this initiative!

Humaira Akhter ?? guides solopreneurs to clarify their genius offer that aligns with their values and communicates their worth. She works with clients to collaboratively develop a signature growth process, helping them to say goodbye to the old service delivery model and hello to a future where their work fuels their passion, attracts the right clients, and conserves their most precious resource-- their energy. Humaira accomplishes this through her Genius Offer Blueprint?. She is also the creator and host of the podcast The Self-Aware Solopreneur. A fun fact about Humaira is that she loves tea as much as I love coffee (and we know that is a lot!).

Barry Forward, PCC, CEC is an ICF PCC Certified Executive Coach who empowers executives and leaders to make bold and inspired career moves. His coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that every leader has unique strengths and challenges, and that his role is to facilitate self-discovery and growth through a tailored, strategic approach. Barry has worked with clients across a wide range of sectors including technology, financial services, energy, healthcare, and government-- helping them to navigate the complexities of career mobility, improving executive presence, and honing your leadership skills. He is also one of the most genuinely nice people you will encounter on LinkedIn!

Eden Ezell still has one of my very favorite headlines -- Nemesis of No, Champion of How. It has stuck in my head from the day we first connected on Linkedin -- (February 16, 2023 -- did you know that you can find that out?). Eden is a Risk, Compliance, and Security Executive but her About section says it all -- at her heart, Eden is a helper. She uses her incredible wisdom, genuine empathy, and seemingly boundless curiosity to help others discover what is possible in any given situation. She is devoted to coaching, mentoring, and encouraging others to discover, nurture, and live out loud as the best versions of themselves. Eden's content is the kind you look forward to seeing every day, because you never know what you're going to get, but you do know that, like her, it is going to be #dingdangdelightful.

My LinkedIn tip of the month - if you haven't yet ventured into video - give it a whirl. I was (seriously) terrified to post video, and I was jealous of all the amazing ones that I saw out there. And then I discovered Opus Clip which made my life infinitely easier. It takes your video and chops it up into mini clips with engaging "hook lines" right at the start. You can then edit them however you need - remove filler words (we all use more than we think!!), add lines, remove lines, go horizontal or vertical, you name it. Captions can be placed wherever they look best, in the font of your choosing. It has been a real game-changer for me. One video can now give me multiple pieces of content. Sharing my affiliate link here if you want to check it out: https://www.opus.pro/?via=2a8ace

Summer is moving along, so make time to enjoy yourself -- take some time to savor the sun and perhaps a lobster roll or, if you're in NYC my other absolute summer favorite: the What-A-Melon Soft Serve at Dominique Ansel Bakery in Soho.

Until July my friends -- stay cool (or warm, if you are reading this from a chilly climate), and keep in touch. You can always reach me here at LinkedIn or through my website: https://www.melissabethcohen.com/contact . I look forward to staying connected!