A golden pen. A bubbling toast. And the permission I didn’t know I needed.
Would you listen?
Last month, I stepped into a dream, only it wasn’t entirely fiction.
(Just a warning, things get a little woo before I return to my research-backed-rant roots)
I was at a retreat in Mexico participating in a visualization exercise, the kind that doesn’t just ask you to reflect but guides you to meet yourself five years from now. There were no prompts or outlines, just subtle cues like “what object do you see?” and “who’s waiting for you?” It left space for the subconscious to paint its own picture. (Sidenote: this was my second time hearing Sarah Ashman speak, and I hope it’s not my last. Her voice is like butter, and her brain/background are 🤯)
I rode in on an ultra-modern, glass elevator that shot upward in a single, breath-stealing whoosh. At the top: a luminous, candy‑painted walk-in closet bathed in natural light. Luxe fabrics hung from satin hangers. A gleaming island anchored the room with a mirrored tray of perfumes. A chandelier shone overhead. And in the corner, a gilded mirror next to a chaise lounge and a small garden stool with two bubbling champagne flutes, raspberries floating at the top.
Then I saw her.
Me.
The five‑years‑from‑now me was dancing toward me, laughing. She did a little shimmy, showcased a streak of new gray hairs like they were glitter, and handed me a box. Inside? No tennis bracelet (womp womp), but a golden pen that bloomed when I lifted it from its velvet casing.
It reminded me of this quote by Anaïs Nin:
She didn’t say much, this future version of me. Just two words: “Just write.”
But lately, that mantra has shifted shape in my mind. Just write, yes. But also… just right.
That vision stirred up the real question that’s been circling around in my business, in my writing, in the hours I spend mothering, mentoring, and mulling over what’s next:
Am I enough? Doing enough? Giving enough? Writing enough? Marketing enough?
These questions echo through so many decisions I’ve made over the years. It’s the heartbeat of my next keynote and the seed of my manifesto for Stilettos in the Sandbox.
Here’s the truth I returned home holding:
We are enough.
We are doing enough.
And when we want to grow more, we can do so without shame and without a megaphone yelling “more, more, more” from the sidelines.
We can expand in peace, not panic. We can succeed by our own standards, not someone else’s vanity metrics.
You’ve probably mapped out your own mountain, too.
At different points this year, my plan included:
- A podcast
- A book club
- An audio series
- My 1:1 advisory
- A speaking tour
- Digital products
- A YouTube channel
Look, I seriously considered all of them. Because the online world will have you believing more must mean better. That if you’re not building multiple income streams, you’re falling behind (or “lEaVinG MoNEy oN tHe TaBLe”). That six figures are automatically the baseline, and seven is the non‑negotiable goal.
But let’s pause for a second.
Is your version of “enough” actually yours?
Or is it a story you’ve absorbed from someone else’s Instagram reel or perfectly polished testimonial?
(Research-backed-rant incoming)
If six figures is the goal, after taxes and expenses, that could be a far cry from “freedom.” Profit First puts owner salary at 50% of revenue until you gross $250k. So that $100k promise becomes $1,000 weekly payments after taxes & expenses stake their claims. That fits the bill (literally) in cities like Tulsa, OK, or Toledo, OH, but leaves you less likely to make ends meet if you live near the coasts or in a big city.
And even if the income number works, the reality for many entrepreneurs is exhausting: nearly 87% report anxiety, depression, or burnout. I didn’t lead the study, but I’m sure that reality stems from the numbers listed above.
A 2025 research study focusing on small business owners found that those who build their lives around constant hustle often struggle to find real recovery time. Entrepreneurs in that study reported lower levels of relaxation and detachment after work compared to typical employees, and the quality of their “off‑time” had a major impact on overall well‑being.
This rings alarm bells for me. Because we can chase every dotted line of opportunity, podcast, book club, courses, and still end up frazzled, burned out, and wondering whether it was worth it.
So I turned a spotlight inward. I asked myself, “Do I really need all that? Or do I need less?”
What if less could be right‑sized? What if focus could feel like freedom instead of pressure?
Here are a few prompts to meet yourself honestly this week:
- What are you still trying to prove, and to whom?
- Which offers or ideas genuinely light you up and pay the bills?
- Where have you said “yes” out of obligation instead of alignment?
- What have you been holding onto that feels more like pressure than possibility?
- What feels abundant for you, not just financially, but emotionally, spiritually, and energetically?
These are questions I’m wrestling with in my quiet, honest moments when I just write. The deeper I go into this season of clarity and focus, the more I realize what’s actually sustainable.
For now, it’s my 1:1 advisory, and it’s my book club, The Dig.
The advisory feeds my family.
The book club will feed my spirit.
That’s enough. That’s just right.
A dear friend recently took a solo trip to the islands. Her family assumed it meant something was wrong. But no, she simply needed space. Breathing room. A reset. And isn’t that the heart of this, too? Giving ourselves the time to define our own version of success and then living into that. Fully. Fiercely. Freely.
Let’s normalize that.
Your success doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
You’re allowed to bloom on your own timeline.
And you are already enough.
That’s what my golden pen taught me.
And I believe it’s what yours would say, too.
If you feel brave, drop your definition of “enough” in the comments. Or name one thing you’re letting go of to get closer to what feels just right.
If today’s post hit home, let’s keep the conversation going. You can:
- Get ROLO, your free Digital Social Selling Advisor (a GPT to help you GTD)
- Complete my 7-question subscriber survey so I can shape future posts around you (I’ll donate $100 to Kiva for every 100 responses)
- Join the waitlist for my 1:1 advisory if you’re ready for a personalized system that sticks, or book a Catalyst Call if you need help untangling your brain right away
Sources
- Anais Nin image (Quote Fancy)
- “Mental health of entrepreneurs and daily recovery experiences,” 2025 study showing that for small business owners, relaxation and control during non‑work time strongly predict well‑being and reduce burnout. (SpringerLink)
- Recent survey reporting that 87% of entrepreneurs experience anxiety, depression or burnout. (Fortune)
- Analyses and commentary on why multiple revenue streams and constant hustle can lead to exhaustion rather than freedom. (futurefocusedwealth.com)
- Here’s where you can spend less than $1,000 on rent. (New York Times)
- (Profit First)
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