Wow, I have derailed on the blogging train the last few months. Sorry about that. Honestly, I was running low on content ideas and just wasn’t feelin’ it. At first I felt guilty for not keeping up with it, and then I sat down and wrote this quick year-in-review, quickly got over the guilt, and just decided I’d recommit to the blog in the new year. And that felt much better 😃
To help me get over the slump, I took a look back at the last year and how my business has grown and changed, and whoa – it seems so different now! I did a little year in review post at this time last year, and it was so helpful to reflect, for myself, as I go into a new year, but I also hoped it would be an inspiration to my readers to see what can be accomplished in a year if you put in the hard work, make time for your priorities, and do things a little differently every once in awhile 😉
And I’m going to repeat something that I included in last year’s post about why I like doing these year-end wrap ups: When my business was much younger and nobody had any clue who I was, I saw someone I admired in online business write a post like this, and I loved it. It was someone who was super successful and I sometimes felt like she just fell into it. (Of course, I was making the entrepreneur's biggest mistake – comparing my beginning to someone else's middle – so says Mr. Jon Acuff.) Then I read her post outlining her entire year of working her butt off, and my perspective flipped. She was no overnight success – she took risks, made sacrifices, spent countless hours on her projects, and worked for every single ounce of success she had. And it motivated me to do the same.
Here’s my 2016 in review
January
Met up with my mastermind ladies for the first time in Portland, and we had a blast. This totally set the tone for the entire year for each of us. Read about that weekend here, and how you can plan your own mastermind retreat.
Co-hosted another workshop + course bundle sale with my pal Jamie from Spruce Rd.
After some validation work at the end of 2015 (and fueled by an unexpected breakup, can I get an UGH), I started real work on the content of my next course: Etsy on Autopilot.
February
Announced dates + began some sneak peeks for the second launch of The InDesign Field Guide.
Launched the Online Business Planning Kit, now one of the top selling kits in my shop!
Kept plugging away on the Etsy course content – that thing was a beast!
March
The InDesign Field Guide launched for the second time.
Made the decision to move back to my hometown, and bought an 84-year-old house site-unseen. #riskybusiness
Turned 28. Holla.
April
Stiiiiiill working on the Etsy course day + night (see, it’s not passive in the beginning!)
Took a much needed trip with my family to the beach. Could have stayed there forevs.
Interviewed on the Grit + Glitter podcast, and had a blast chatting about the stuff you don’t always see in the life of an online entrepreneur. Listen to the episode here.
May
Closed on that house I bought (oh, and saw it in person for the first time 😬), loaded up the Uhaul and the dog and the toddler and #allthethings and moved back home.
Did I mention I’m still working on the Etsy course at this point? Cause I’m still working on the Etsy course at this point.
June
Finally launched my second course for the first time: Etsy on Autopilot + learned a ton about evergreen products… 2017 blog post, maybe?)
Joined Lauren for one of her famous Elle Chats all about selling digital products on Etsy – watch it here if you missed it.
July
Took the next 6 weeks off unexpectedly to help care for my grandparents. Briefly considered a career change into social work for the elderly – is that a thing? It should be.
Super thankful I had built my business up in such a way that allowed me to take this time off, and not feel it in my bank account. (Making Etsy on Autopilot an evergreen product right from the start played a big part in this.)
Planned, cancelled, rescheduled, and planned again a birthday party for my little Poppy who turned two (how the heck did that happen?!).
August
Bundled up my two courses for a 1-day sale. Will probably do this again sometime in 2017, so stay tuned!
Took one of the most relaxing trips of my life with some pals from the Society for Creative Founders (formerly Stationery Academy). Only one weekend in that gorgeous Florida beach house was not enough, we'll be heading back in just a couple months!
September
Wes Wages and the team at Armosa Studios invaded my house for a couple days, shooting for the Underrated short film, courtesy of Bryan Harris at Videofruit (you can watch it here, and watch all three films here, and consider this your tissue warning).
Hunkered down for a few weeks to prep for the next launch of the InDesign course.
October
Took 3 weeks off – 1 in Nashville with family, and nearly 2 in Europe + NYC with my brother. Didn’t bring the laptop, didn’t have data on my phone most of the time, and didn't bring the toddler. This was a for-realsies unplugged vacation… I highly recommend it.
That Videofruit film was released with overwhelming response (It just recently hit 30,000 views. What??).
The InDesign Field Guide launched for the third time.
November
Hosted a big giveaway with products from Val Marie Paper, Prairie Letter Shop, Grace + Serendipity, and the Wild and Free book by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan.
My little passion project, Post Script Postcards, released for a limited time pre-order period (combining it with the last P+O Gives Back of the year).
Interviewed on three different podcasts (now dubbed, The Month of The Podcast) — the Pinegate Road Podcast, Shailey + Katie The Podcast, and the Smart Passive Income podcast with Pat Flynn (To air in 2017! What?! Crazytown.)
December
Shipped off all the postcard orders – we were able to give $235 to the Early Family’s adoption fund!
Added two new planning printables to the shop: Travel Planning Kit and the Moving Planning Kit (do you notice a theme this year?!)
Last thing on the agenda? Rest. Rest, rest, plan for 2017, rest. And food.
So there you have it – my 2016 in a nut shell! Somethings were planned from January 1st, somethings most definitely were not planned until I found myself in the middle of them. This just goes to show that hard work pays off, risk can sometimes pay off (and sometimes blow up in your face), and my business mantra still rings true:
A year from now, you’ll wish you had started today. –Karen Lamb
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YOUR TURN
What was your biggest accomplishment from 2016? Is it helpful to reflect on the year before, to help you move into the new year's goals and planning? Speaking of which, what do YOU have planned for 2017?
