Hey there, friends!

I've been thinking about what makes this creative journey so special, and I wanted to share some thoughts about three themes that keep popping up in our community.

Celebrating the Little Things

You know what?

We're all guilty of it - rushing past our small wins to focus on the big goals still looming ahead. But here's the thing - those tiny victories add up! That newsletter you finally sent out? That's worth celebrating. The social media post you hesitated to share but published anyway? Total win.

I catch myself doing this all the time - brushing off the small steps as "just doing what needs to be done." But when we pause and actually acknowledge these moments, something magical happens. We build momentum. We gain confidence. We remember why we started this creative journey in the first place. It might seem simple but repetition was part of my win this week!

Learning Surprises Around Every Corner

Isn't it funny how the best lessons often come when we least expect them? I love those moments when I set out to learn one thing and end up discovering something completely different - and usually more valuable!

This happens in our creative businesses all the time. You might start researching email marketing and suddenly gain insights about your reader community. Or perhaps you're working on your author website and discover a whole new way to talk about your books. These unexpected discoveries are pure gold, and they remind us to stay curious about everything we do.

The Joy of Trying New Things

Let's be honest - trying new things can be scary! That new social platform, that different approach to marketing, that genre you've been curious about but nervous to explore... they all come with a hefty dose of "what if I fail?"

But here's what I've learned (the hard way, of course): the most exhilarating growth happens when we venture into unfamiliar territory. Sometimes it works beautifully, sometimes it flops spectacularly - but either way, we learn something valuable and often have fun in the process! Caroline talked about this in her win this week.

So this week, I'm wondering - what small win are you brushing past that deserves a moment in the spotlight? What unexpected lesson has surprised you lately? And what new thing might you be brave enough to try?

Remember, we're all figuring this out together, one small step at a time. And that's exactly as it should be.

Until next time, Melissa

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