Hey there Reader.
I hope you’ve had a wonderful week! 😊
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking (which - if you’ve been here a while - you’ll know isn’t always a good thing 🤣). But it led me into a bit of introspection I wanted to share… because I think it’s something most of us can relate to.
One of the biggest things that holds me back - from making decisions, trying new things, even just getting sh*t DONE or going to that social gathering - is a sneaky, powerful and TOTALLY imaginary thing: an unfounded belief. (Dun dun DUUUUUUN!)🙀
We all carry around these little stories about what we can or can’t do. Maybe from some childhood experiences, maybe because of a past failure, or maybe they’re just a lack of confidence trying to protect us. But they become real blocks to progress.
Any of these sound familiar?
- I’m just not creative.
- That software is too complicated for me.
- I’m too old for that.
- Things move too fast.
- That’s for trendier/younger/skinnier people.
- That’s beyond me.
- I’ll never understand ________.
- Nothing I do is ever right.
- I look terrible on camera.
- etc.
These phrases sound simple, but they can be pretty limiting...and they’re rarely based on actual evidence - just beliefs we’ve picked up and accepted as truth.
That’s why those quotes about surrounding yourself with the right people are actually quite accurate (even if they’re misused! 😜). Sometimes we do need folks around us who see potential we can’t see in ourselves. People who help us challenge those limiting ideas about what’s possible.
Now, let’s not kid ourselves - it doesn’t mean we’ll succeed at everything (no tea, no shade 🫤). But trying is the only way to give ourselves a CHANCE. As Wayne Gretzky said: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” (Get me with my sports references! 😁)
The same goes for business — especially now, when things move so fast and audiences get savvier by the day. As my friend Jason Zook always reminds me: you can’t know for sure what will or won’t work until you experiment. Try, then adjust or pivot based on actual results and try again.
This idea is exciting because it reminds me that we all carry potential that’s sometimes overlooked - maybe by others, regularly by ourselves. But with the right guidance, a bit of trust, and yes - a little (or in my case a LOT 😮💨) bravery - that potential can create some magic.
Maybe it’s a skill you’ve wanted to explore for years. Or a product idea you keep pushing aside because you’re “not ready yet.” Maybe it’s a creative project that feels a little raw and unpolished, and you’ve convinced yourself no one would care. Or maybe it's just going to a social event that feels daunting.
Sometimes we need someone to help us see it. To encourage us, help sand the rough edges, and remind us that it’s OK to just try. Even if we don’t 100% believe we can do it… yet.
So this is me giving you permission. Giving you encouragement to challenge a few of those beliefs that may be popping up now and then. I’ll always be straight with you (LOL!): you and both know that we won’t always succeed. But we might just surprise ourselves.😊
A quick request
While I am working on updates to my Canva course and new YouTube video tutorials, I wanted to ask you a favor: If you enjoy this newsletter I would really appreciate it if you would forward it to anyone in your circle who may also find it interesting - even if it's just one person. I'd love to grow this community, and I know the best way to do that is through 'my kind of people'. 😊 (PS: That's YOU! 🖤)
You can just forward this email to them, or point them to:
Thank you folks - I really appreciate your support. 🖤
Meaningful Creations
Today's featured creator is a magician with wood. They don’t just see a bit of fallen tree - they see something inside. They don't force the wood into shape but rather seem to guide it gently to reveal what was always there, just waiting for the right hands (and, of course, a very sharp chisel 😁).
I am talking about the gorgeous work of Oliver Chalk - a master craftsperson in Kent, UK - known online as Found Wood.
Oliver uses found wood to create the most glorious vessels and pieces of art. I love how he explores both texture and negative space. And honestly it's incredible how he takes such a solid, raw material and creates such flowing, gentle curves and movement.
His process feels like a balancing act of patience and confidence. Like they have to just trust that there’s something hidden in there, even if no one else can see it yet.
It's actually a nice parallel to what we talked about earlier. (You knew I’d sneak a call back in here somewhere 😜). We all have rough edges, and we also have unseen possibilities. But with a bit of vision, some gentle encouragement, and a willingness to believe in what’s inside, incredible things can emerge.
Check out Oliver's instagram or website. And tell him I sent ya. 😉
Right you glorious human beings - be kind, be brave and keep trying. 😊 And if today's email resonated with you, hit reply and let me know.
Have a fabulous week. You got this. 🖤
PS: You can always take a lesson from Toothless 🐈⬛ and treat yourself to a nap on a fur throw if it all gets too much for you. (see pic at the top of this email if you have NO idea what I'm talking about 🤣😜)
