A few weeks ago on my podcast I did a mid-year check in with my fabulous listeners all around goals for 2023.  Head back there and listen into that one if you haven’t already – www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/248

Since releasing that episode, I’ve had a few people reach out to me and ask me about my word of the year, and enquiring how that is panning out for 2023, and if I am still in tune with my word of the year.

For those playing along at home my word of the year, as discussed on my podcast episode 224, was CHALLENGE.

Now, to answer the question of “Am I still in tune with my word of the year?”

Yes – absolutely!

And now I’ll put it back out to all of you!

• Did you set a word of the year?
• If so, how do you feel about yours now that we are into the second half of 2023?

I can say that challenge was definitely the right word for me this year.  Besides my husband and my kids (lucky for them!) I am pretty much challenging everything about my life and business.

I’ve made massive changes such as writing a book with my second draft having just been submitted. I have taken a giant step away from my e-commence business – www.spendwithus.com.au – to concentrate on the book and my marketing business.  I have cut people from my life as I have challenged that friendship.  Now that might seem harsh but when challenging certain friendships, I came to the conclusion that it was always me making all the effort, so I simply stopped making that effort.  If the friendship survives because they reach out, then that’s wonderful, if not, I am ok with that. I have challenged what I sell here in my business, and I will be making big changes to that over the next 6 months heading into 2024.  Gosh, I have just challenged almost all the aspects of my life!

Has it been comfortable – heck no.  Have there been tears – more than you could imagine.  Do I feel more in alignment with myself and who I want to be – yes, for sure!

Change is never easy.  But many, many moons ago, a mentor wrote in my Christmas card – nothing changes if nothing changes …. And I’ve always been guided by that saying when I am frustrated about my business.  Being frustrated means that something has to change, and because the buck stops with me, it then means I have to change it.  There is no one else.

Picking a word of the year seems like a “nice” activity to do.  But if you really embrace it, really let that word come to you and bring it into your life, your lifestyle, your business, it can change your life.  It’s not just a nice activity – it, for me, is a necessary activity that each year moves me closer to where I am to go.

Of course, if you didn’t pick a word of the year – you still can! If the one you picked isn’t serving you, you can change it!

Challenging things is hard work. All the changes I have made have come after mulling over them. Although I love that I am challenging things, nothing has been done in haste.

I have often thought about the story or fable of the man drowning this year.  It involves a story about god – but if you don’t believe in a god – that’s ok – the message is still the same.

The fable goes like this – a man is drowning and a swimmer swims by and asks if he needs help – “no god will save me he says”. Then a man in a canoe comes by, asks the same question and gets the same answer – god will save me. Then a speed boat comes by and same – god will save me. The man drowns and when he arrives in heaven he asks god “Why didn’t you save me” to which god replies “I sent you a swimmer, a canoeist and a boat – what more did you want”.

The moral is what signs are you being sent that you are ignoring – at least that is what the story means to me. Sometimes I feel like it takes a slap in the face with a wet fish for me to see the signs that are all around me, begging me to do this or change that – they are so obvious when we take the time to see them.

Don’t wait for the wet fish, look out for the signs heading into the last half of this year.  Maybe hijack my word of the year if things are going the way you’d hoped, and challenge some stuff – or everything.

I apologise that this blog seems to be all about me – but in reality – it is actually about you.  About me asking you to step into who you want to be, get the business you want and deserve so much, and watch for signs, take the challenge or look out for wet fish coming your way!

If you’re completely stuck and you feel like your challenges are too much at this point, then I’d love to invite you for a discovery call with me so that I can see how I might be able to help you.

There’s a link in the show notes to make an appointment with me or go to https://calendly.com/jenn-smm/discovery

We can have a chat about your goals, your struggles and roadblocks and what’s holding you back and how I can help.

To make an appointment with me go to: https://calendly.com/jenn-smm/discovery

Got questions or thoughts?  Get in touch or head to the Facebook group – Like Minded Business Owners and share with everyone over there. Email me jenn@jenndonovan.com.au or DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn – I would love to hear from you.

CONTACT JENN:

Don’t forget, you can book a free discovery call with me to talk about how I can help your nail your business goals, planning, strategy and marketing! Simply click the link and grab a spot!

My Like Minded Business Owners Facebook group is also a great community to join – full of awesome people in small business!

Or you can DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn, or send me an email jenn@jenndonovan.com.au

I wish to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Yorta Yorta People, on which I conduct my business today and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples reading this blog post today.

About the Author:

Jenn Donovan of Social Media & Marketing Australia.  Jenn’s an expert marketing coach and mentor from rural NSW. She is all about empowering business owners to earn what they’re worth so they can make a bigger difference in the world.  Not only is she a sought after expert on all things marketing for Small Business, she is a keynote speaker, author, was the Founder of Buy From a Bush Business and a Co-Founder of Spend With Us e-commerce marketplace, and is the host of the very popular podcast Small Business Made Simple and Stories from the Bush. Jenn is all about community and humans interacting with humans!  H2H Marketing – human to human marketing. Jenn talks the talk but importantly walks the walk!

Get in touch – www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au

On Instagram – @jenndonovan_

On Facebook – Jenn Donovan

Or on LinkedIn as Jenn Donovan