Today is one of those blissful days for an Oregonian. The rain is perfect, falling steady and light on everything. It’s the sweet relief from June’s heat, best enjoyed outside under the eaves where you can listen in and breathe the freshness rising off tree and pavement alike.
It’s a reflective sort of day. Think Pooh in his Thoughtful Spot. Coffee, talking writing with friends, updating the portfolio, and thinking about how I want the rest of the year to come to pass.
We’re about halfway through the year, and thinking about it leaves me reeling. What have I done? How have I spent the time? Am I living in a way that I will look back on and say, “Yes. That is exactly what I should’ve been doing.”
- Spent copious amounts of time with my kids
- Acted in 2 plays, 1 film, and helped with the local high school’s musical
- A grand total of 31 live performances so far (My goal was 20, now updated to a better goal of 50.)
- Finished my lower division credits
- Started working my French again
- Read 22 books (Only a little behind my goal of 52.)
- Rewrote and released a book on Kindle
- Planted a garden
- Gone on a much-needed retreat
- Registered Evie for kindergarten
- Lost 8 lbs.
- Investing more in more relationships
- Paid off some debt
- Supported local businesses with my dollars
It’s not perfect. I’m not perfect. But this is all goodness in the right direction.
What’s next?
- Applying to my MFA program
- Get passport
- Book trip to France for December
- Another glorious retreat
- Publish 3 books on Kindle
- Pay off more debt
- 19 more performances (or better)
- Read 30 books (or better)
- Get my license
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Dusti Arab, Fractional CMO
And the founder of the reinvention co, a marketing consultancy specializing in working with personality-driven companies with small teams.
Intense, fun, and relentlessly practical, Dusti understands the lives of small business owners are deeply intertwined with their businesses, and if their marketing is going to be sustainable, it can't get in the way of why they do what they do. (And honestly? It should be fun so they actually want to do it.)
She is the host of Referral Worthy, a podcast for small business owners ready to go from "best kept secret" to the go-to name in their niche.