1. Where did I thrive?
This is hard for me to answer since I don’t feel like it’s been a thriving year, but I’ve learned a lot of lessons. On the business front, I did a lot of testing, offered new services, and saw what would stick.
In June (also thanks to a powerful podcast interview I had in the spring, yet to air) I let go of the title I’d been using for three years, “The Content Doctor,” and now operate with just my name. I also decided NOT to pursue the B2C digital membership-type model.
Testing and waiting can sometimes feel like you’re stuck, but when you get out of it, you see a lot more clearly and learn what doesn’t (or didn’t) work. I started building on my vegan media list and offering it as a free product to all clients or registrants of my old PR course from 2016, and made back the same amount I spent in time.
The same thing happened when I told a client about the Vancouver media list I updated for the first time since 2018. She bought the entire list (vs. hiring me to create a custom one) and paid for the time I spent updating it.
One of my business goals for the year was to market my Vancouver media list creation service to all the BC marketing agencies, which I did—and I got zero clients from it. My second business goal was to ghostwrite a book. I helped my friend Romeo create an 80K-word manuscript and started working with my second (first paid) author to ghostwrite a book.
Main Street Vegan Academy and Vegan Boss Ladies asked me to speak to their communities this year, and I’ll be speaking at the Planted Expo in Vancouver on June 1 or 2, 2024!
In October, two clients asked me to do publicity for them, so this became a test to see if I could still get the same type of results I did when I used to run Conscious PR. I’ve decided that I will take on publicity clients but only if it’s a Vancouver company or a company only wanting vegan media coverage.
And, I’ll only take on one publicity client at a time because when the work overlapped one day in November, I could feel my cortisol rising! Big no no.
2. Where did I struggle?
Financially, it was a tough year, despite having launched my book in late 2022. I had over 60 media mentions and podcast interviews, but you make little from book sales. Even though I got a few projects as a result, I haven’t landed that one big contract.
In August, I landed my second book ghostwriting contract, and that was because the author found me online. In July, I started blogging weekly again vs. monthly and learned that sometimes the boring marketing things make all the difference.
I didn’t reach my other two business goals (writing consistently for a vegan media outlet and getting at least one steady content client).
Helping my mom move in the spring was difficult, but happened smoothly because my siblings and I all put in effort to help. Then we found out about more family financial struggles. We worked it out, but this continues to be a source of stress I sometimes have no control over.
In the fall, I had a really powerful complimentary coaching session with Monika Becker, who uses a device called the Healy, which measures your frequencies. I was skeptical of this, but it was eerily accurate for where I was: struggling with business, family relationships, and spiritually.
When we dug more into the spiritual efforts (because this is an area I felt I was strong in), I learned I had been “going to church” in the sense that I was going through all the motions—meditating, affirmations, angel prayers, chakra visualizations—but not really feeling into Spirit. So that was something I had to relearn.
The empty Garcia house, my childhood home of 25 years, which sold in April 2023
3. Who was important in my life and why?
Leo, my family, and close friends continued to fill me up this year. I am also continually grateful for all the readers who’ve reached out to tell me they bought my book, shared it on their social media, and/or reviewed it online. It makes me feel like I did not waste time or efforts in creating it, and that the vegan community is strong globally.
Earlier this year, my nonbinary nephew graduated from Grade 7 (elementary school) and started high school. I am so proud of him. It’s already tough being a kid in this world, but being transgender adds a whole other level. He received a leadership award from his elementary school and continues to compete in water polo and swimming, and be involved in the LGBTQ+ club at school.
He is not (yet) the type of kid who is always on his phone and does not engage with adults. When I visit my sister’s house, he always has a story to share. I hope that never changes.
We also celebrated my cousin’s 10th anniversary with her partner at a summer party. My aunt, uncle, and cousin visited from Chicago.
I am also grateful for my business networks at VEG Networking Canada and The Forum for continually inspiring and teaching me.
Below left: Me with my nephew at his graduation
Below right: Me with my dad and visiting extended family
4. What lesson am I grateful to have learned?
First, there is no one way to run a business. Even when I started this biz in 2020, with 10.5 years of agency experience under my belt, I did not know the actual difference between running a B2C and a B2B company. Some run both types.
Many folks in B2B operating with a digital products model make 7 figures and it’s no big deal to them. Back when I was a member of eWomenNetwork, it was a big deal to earn even 6 figures (and I applaud anyone who’s able to do so).
I always thought folks in B2C made much more than B2B (and this can be true), but it’s not necessarily the case. So all of that’s to say there is no right way, there is only your way. Could I be making a million dollars teaching courses and selling digital products? Sure. But the thought of setting up the entire system makes me want to stab my eye with a pen, so I’m not going to do it.
In January, I won three consulting sessions with a financial advisor and the biggest thing I learned was that I haven’t nearly saved enough money for my retirement. I know that because my parents hadn’t either, and they’re now struggling. So I need to be making $6000/month to thrive and be saving enough for retirement.
In July, I gave myself another year to make this business successful (it will be five years of operations) and earning a steady $6K/month salary. I know there will always be people who want to hire me part-time for projects so I can’t see myself leaping into a full-time job, but if I go that route I’ll need to find a fantastic part-time job that lets me work from home.
5. Where and how was I courageous?
I had to give some tough love to family members, but I know it’s because my intentions are good. Some people you love will not listen, even to themselves. They’re on their own journey and we have no control over it. I’m still learning how to help and still have an emotional boundary, so I don’t harbour hostile feelings.
I continually learn that because there is no one way to run a business, it means I might not always be doing the right things. There will always be uncertainty and feelings of why didn’t I do that before?. But it’s all part of the journey. If I ignore the dollars and focus on the good I’ve been doing for the clients I’ve had, I’m really proud of myself.
6. What brought me joy?
I feel like I’m at the point in my life when it’s the little things that count. Learning that a reader found my book valuable and helpful. Celebrating others’ milestones. Ghostwriting clients’ books and losing track of time. Spending time with my nephews and nieces. Catching up with family from out of town. Going on a short trip to Seattle with hubs and eating vegan food. Smoking cannabis and watching really good TV.
I don’t have any enormous plans for my life anymore, except for travelling abroad and succeeding in my business to make that happen. Those trips are not always going to happen as soon or as frequently as I’d like, so in the meantime I have to enjoy the time I have with the people I love in the ways I can.
7. How did I treat my body, heart, spirit, and mind?
Body: I did nothing different from last year and kept with my running, yoga, and weight lifting routine. I won my very first session with a personal trainer earlier in the year and learned that weight training is what we should all be doing to build strength! If you’re not building muscle, you’re losing it.
There is a gym at my nearby community centre and I would like to add a weekly session there to my routine, but I’m still not stable financially, so this will have to wait. I wish I spent more time in nature than I could this year, but I’m also not going to feel guilty about that.
I got two more tattoos: A Douglas Fir on my ankle as a reminder to step on real earth now and then, and sweet pea, my birth month flower, on my forearm (photos below by Romeo Reyes). Romeo @ Zen Tattoo and I did a service exchange, so you’ll see more tattoos over the years!
Heart: The first thing I noticed this year was how much my love for Leo has grown. There’s no such thing as a perfect partner, but he’s pretty close to it. I don’t mind cleaning up after him (in our communal spaces 😆) but I learn what a good person he is and everything he does for us.
Either last year or this year, we had the convo about not having kids and he asked whether I was going to be okay with that in my old age. I have never wanted kids and still don’t, so I doubt I’m going to regret that decision when I/we are alone and wondering who’s going to wipe our asses. Most adult children I know don’t even do that for their aging parents.
It’s hard to express love for myself, but the more I know myself, the more I know who I am and what I’m here to do. I’ve let go of things I was doing because I thought I had to (goodbye, posting on LinkedIn company and Twitter). Next year I’m going to let go of posting on TikTok and my personal Facebook account, keeping it to the bare minimum on social media and pouring my efforts into my newsletter and saving up to travel.
Spirit: As mentioned earlier, I had an aha moment about my spiritual practice. I didn’t do my annual birthday intuitive reading because I felt like I didn’t need to. It was almost like Spirit was telling me to just try sh*t for myself, which I did a lot of this year.
Then I learned I was loading A LOT into my morning practice, and tested out letting go of the mental affirmations I was doing, and instead breathing more. Soon as I did that, a couple new projects came my way. It’s amazing how things suddenly become easier when you loosen the reins a bit. Self-care is mandatory, but if you’re too militant about it, you don’t allow for spontaneity. Sometimes you gotta do that in business, too. Nothing is fun when you’re anal about everything.
While coming up with ideas for my next book, it occurred to me that most people would rather watch a two-hour documentary than read a book for two hours. So I started thinking about making a documentary first, then turning it into a book.
In the fall, Spirit started giving me ideas and telling me movies vs. books. It’s time. I feel like I need $50K or so to just get the thing started, but who knows, maybe I’ll come across a fellow vegan ready to invest in a new film idea.
Because of a client I’ve been working with, I’d like to do more breathwork sessions with professionals. It’s been over 10 years since I did my first (and only SUPER impactful) Transformational Breathing session at an event. It was so powerful I had a conversation with one of my guardian angels. I don’t feel like I need to do another psychedelic trip, but I feel like this would be a happy medium.
After learning about my Human Design chart earlier this year, I pulled Leo’s chart recently, and this gave me more insight into mine. It’s one thing to be given knowledge about yourself, but another to apply it, and I think it would be good to keep my chart in mind with all my decisions and see how that unfolds.
Mind: I continued to listen to a lot of podcasts this year, bought a new business book, and learned from online (and in-person) talks and summits. What I’m still learning is that you have to take what’s valuable and discard what isn’t.
After appearing on nearly 50 podcasts to promote my book, I learned what was missing from it and the patterns in the questions I kept getting asked. It’s amazing what you glean when you talk about certain subjects over and over.
I’m happy to have delved into more book on my reading list I wouldn’t normally pick up: more fiction (especially M. C Ronen‘s fab vegan and climate fiction books) and even the TS Eliot book of poems & plays I’ve had forever but never touched.
8. How did I show up for the people I care about?
I continued to visit my dad weekly, helped my mom move, and continue to help her manage her finances. I helped friends and extended family members how I could.
During the attacks in Gaza in the fall, I wondered whether I should be more vocal against Hamas or for Palestinians. But then I remembered aside from the tangible things I could do (ask our government to call for a ceasefire, and donate to organizations helping the injured on the ground), nothing I post on social media is going to have any real difference. Big lesson many must learn there: posting is not acting, unless you’re a celebrity or online influencer.
Do you feel bad when you cannot do much for people who are unnecessarily suffering? Of course. But you also have to be realistic about the impact you can have. Keyboard warriors have little impact.
9. What situations triggered fear or discomfort? Did I move through them? If so, how? If not, why not?
Aside from some months not being as financially successful as others, the big thing I was disappointed about this year was not being able to go France in the spring like hubs and I hoped to. We knew our mortgage needed to be renewed and the interest was going up, and our property tax also went up another 10%.
Hubs said we needed to be cautious and save the money I had intended for our trip, and I’m glad we did because I literally used it all to get by this year.
I realized France would always be there (we also escaped the garbage strike in Paris!). I might not see my aunt for a while, but I think we still have at least a few more years before visiting becomes futile. I’m proud that I took care of myself vs. spent needlessly (and likely going into debt) and have just started to save up again.
Both Indonesia and the Philippines called to me strongly this year, so I’m making plans to visit the Philippines first, then hopefully France after.
In early fall I also started looking around for a steady client who needed an Executive Assistant and am still open to doing this kind of work. Forty hours for $2000 isn’t all that much and could help with stable (but also flexible) work, so it’s just a matter of finding an exec who has enough work and is willing to pay that fee.
Me at Kati Vegan Thai in Seattle in August. I was so happy to eat rice and veggies, but there was not nearly enough spice as there should have been for Thai food!
10. Which rituals and habits served me well, and which ones didn’t?
Revisiting my daily meditation/prayer practice and connecting deeper to Spirit was a good lesson for me this year. Hubs and I continue to smoke weed and watch TV/movies together, although now I check in with myself about whether I really want or need to smoke. If I don’t feel like it, I won’t. Just because you used to do something regularly, doesn’t mean you have to stick to it. You can break good habits, too.
I don’t think I developed any rituals or habits that didn’t serve me well. I certainly don’t miss alcohol, despite most people around me consuming it quite regularly.
Thanks for reading. I hope you’re spending quality time with your loved ones, and wish you a great year ahead.
Header photo: Tosha Lobsinger
