Today's Spark: What a year!
When I launched this consultancy in 2023, I felt a mix of pride, anxiety, and hope. As the first full year in business as Spark Focus LLC has passed, each feeling ebbed and flowed along with the work. Looking back now, hope is winning!
Goal: build a site to share examples of the value I bring to my clients. Result: done! It’s fun and bright and very me. Next steps: update with new work.
Goal: connect with clients to diversify income. Result: fully booked with both paying and volunteer work for 2024 into 2025. Next steps: create and share digital products on the site.
Goal: support causes I care about with my skills. Result: between volunteering my time with voting rights with When We All Vote and launching July Society, a non-profit virtual co-working space, VERY DONE! Next steps: partner to expand this non-profit from sustaining to thriving.
Goal: build a DAM community. Result: a work in progress. By speaking and writing about digital asset management, I was happily surprised to be sponsored for a new opportunity at my main client (more news soon!) - nice to be talked about when you aren’t in the room! Next steps: continue to expand ways of connecting with other “lone rangers” in this field.
Goal: set up systems. Result: another work in progress, one that will likely never end. One reason July Society is so important to me is how it helped with this goal. Daily hosted sprints, community for accountability, peer support without competition: I definitely got more done in less time with less angst. Next steps: continue to work on prioritizing.
Goal: focus on health. Result: good work on making doctor’s appointments and losing weight; need to return to the basics of nutrition and sleep. Next steps: improve weekly menus, add more strength training, and get back in the outdoors.
Goal: make time for family. Result: why I started this whole thing! After 2 layoffs in 4 years and an uncertain job market, taking (literal) ownership of my work has been psychologically freeing especially when it comes to our family’s future. When we spend so much of our time and energy on our careers, it should matter. We’ve been able to spend more time together as well as visit relatives. I am happy with the flexibility along with modeling these values to my children. Next steps: reduce busywork to allow for more family time.
Not too shabby! If 2023 was all about learning the business of running a consultancy and 2024 was about doing the work, 2025 will be the year of continued growth. Excited to see what’s next!