I’m dreaming up a new offer. (Oops…but also not sorry about it because I’m super excited and it’s been a long time coming.)
So, I’m putting it out there, this little seedling of an idea:
I want to create a membership. Or, more likely, a subscription-based thing. (But probably not calling it either of those things.) Basically, an ongoing group setting to go a bit deeper, broader—all-around MORE—with people who view life and business like I do.
I unpack all the elements I’ve been thinking about below. So that you can hopefully get excited to join or so that you can translate these VERY work-in-progress musings to whatever YOU’RE working on these days.
And I actually, truly, legitimately want your feedback.
Either because you think it could be the perfect fit for you OR because you’ve tried something similar and have all the insights to share.
I’m trying to be systematic here…as opposed to my normal mode of operation, which is full-steam-ahead based on whims and gut instincts and subconscious amalgamations of things I’ve seen, heard, and experienced. It’s gotten me this far, but it’s a bit of a wild card.
⇒ I have an official survey here if you can take a few minutes to share your knee-jerk reactions. ⇐
(^ If you fill it out and share your email address, you get 1 month free access whenever this offer makes it out of my head and into the real-world.)
Caveat: this will likely be a highly experimental container.
One that members/subscribers will shape based on their feedback over time and that I’ll adapt based on my bandwidth and interests. A little live-action business board game, if you will, that’s built on trust and understanding that we’re all just figuring out this life and business thing together.
I’m not a “guru.” I can’t promise “business growth” or that you’ll “uplevel” with me. (Whatever either of those even mean.)
But I can promise to share things I find interesting and insightful with the hopes that you’ll be able to translate them to your big ideas and view them through the lens of your own vision and values and audience and goals and bandwidth and brain.
So, I’m thinking…
EITHER the “membership” vibe: a community of cool people doing cool things.
Imagine along the lines of the Founder Friends section of this newsletter, but rather than JUST shoutouts, you’d be in conversation with each other. So that you can collaborate with each other, learn from each other, support each other. I’d mostly be a facilitator and space holder.
From there, I could even pull together cohorts of people for deeper work together (à la Peer Pods) if I see personality/skill matches forming organically. This would be more about the people in the shared space than access to me.
My hesitation:
I’ve been part of lots of communities before and they almost always fall flat, despite the best intentions, the most interesting members, and the most thoughtful conversation prompts from the host. Which is the last thing I’d want to happen.
I also know that people are craving in-person connection, which just isn’t practical for what I’m creating since lots of my favorite people span every nook and cranny of this country (and the globe!).
OR the “subscription” vibe: a regular (weekly or semi-monthly or monthly) dose of more access to me with a deeper dive into my orbit, my brain, my frameworks.
The basis will likely be the long-form content I already love to create with opportunity for actual exchange and conversation.
Maybe something like “office hours”/ask me anything style meet-ups, bonus private podcast episodes, access to my conscious marketing workbooks that I’ve already created or tons of tools I could create (plus access to feedback when you actually work through them), audits/edits on stuff you’re creating (offers, copy, pitches, content, etc.), requests for me to connect you with podcast hosts/collaborators/clients, an occasional private workshop.
I’d maybe even start saving my long-form reflection newsletters for your paying eyeballs. Or I could do the opposite—making the curated resources round-up like last week’s newsletter be behind a paywall and the ranty reflections (like this) would be my public newsletter.
My hesitation:
This feels a bit self-centered. (Even though I realize all my free long-form content and 1:1 client work is already centered around me and my insights anyway. 🫣)
I also wouldn’t want something you pay for to simply clutter up your inbox or be yet.another.thing you have to get through on your to-do list. I COULD stuff about 101 things into this container, but I want it to be only the juiciest, most useful, everyone-loves-it stuff, not a ton of extras for the sake of it. Especially because I’m imagining something super affordable.
^You can probably tell, I’m leaning way more heavily to this “subscription” model…
Regardless, this offer would center around:
⇒ conscious marketing, values-aligned decision-making, and sharing messages that matter from your big brain (and heart) out into the world. Aka what I already talk about and facilitate.
⇒ permission-giving content—not because you need MY permission, but because you likely need to give it to yourself. Permission to explore and experiment, try and learn, follow your own energy and interests. Permission to live life and do business on your own terms. That’s the vibe I’m going for.
⇒ my perspective, brought to life with your interpretation. I inspire, you implement.
Other elements
Whether it’s more of an active community or a gateway-to-me-type-setting, I could incorporate dedicated features of [members/subscribers/insert-whatever-I-end-up-with-here] on the podcast and/or via email. If that’s even of interest. On my end, that would be super fun and super well-aligned. (I mean, it should be obvious by now that I love a good shoutout.)
Plus, I think this would mostly live directly in your inbox—the place you already hang out. (Probably more often than you’d like to admit.) Platforms are great in theory, but I know for me, all the extra steps and logins and notifications and learning curves just get to be too much. I’m guessing the same is true for you. (Although, PLEASE correct me if I’m wrong.)
A long time coming…
I’ve been sitting on an idea like this for years. I’ve journaled about it, then let it fizzle out when I got to thinking about the logistics of it all. I’ve gotten all the “but I’m not a REAL content creator” imposter syndrome about it. I’ve stirred up all the years of memories of being the weird-ish, misunderstood-ish girl growing up and doubting how or why I could bring people together now.
But this more community-based concept has popped back onto my radar and I’m excited about it. Which makes me want to take action around it.
I’m a Generator and a (pretty positive, but officially-undiagnosed) ADHDer and a mama with big time constraints. So let’s go where the good energy vibes take us, right?
Double but: only if my perfect-fit people are excited about it too. Maybe that’s you, or someone in your orbit!
(Tell me I’m not the only one who’s created a thing that no one wanted or they did, but you didn’t translate it well enough so your people could actually recognize it as the thing they wanted. I mean, are you even an entrepreneur if you haven’t fallen into that trap at least once? 🫣)
Give me all the feedback!
So I’d love to chat with you (via email, in the DMs on IG or LI, or on a call) if you:
- Have created a community of any kind…lay the good, the bad, the admin considerations on me.
- Have been part of a community and loved or hated it (and which parts specifically made the biggest difference!)
- Have thoughts on what you’d love from me in particular (that I already offer or that you’ve been wishing I would).
Or fill out any part of this “official” survey. So I can actually make something useful and supportive and action-inspiring.
📍 Reminder:
In exchange for your feedback to the above questions and/or the survey, I’ll give you 1 month of the membership/subscription/new group thing free.
Because while I’m not a fan of discounts in general, this is definitely more of an ever-evolving-experiment than a buttoned up container and I want to honor your role in that!
So, that’s a peek into what I’ve been thinking about and brewing in the background. Wishing you all the clarity and community insight for whatever you’re working on!
This is an excerpt from Toward Purpose & Progress, my newsletter where I share business tips, good news, shoutouts to Founder Friends, and other juicy snippets. Subscribe here for more rants, reflections, and resources.
