Lunar New Year, Re-Emergence, a New Home for SKB

And a warm welcome back, to me and to you. . . 3 Quick Things, What I'm Dreaming for Lunar New Year, How That Might Help You, Some Gifts On Their Way, and Please Stop In at the Comments to say 'Hi'

I realize it has been a while since I last communicated through this newsletter, and I hope you will take a moment to have a glance at what’s here before deleting or ignoring so you can plough through the mountains of stuff in your Inbox. Lots has happened for me, as I’m sure it has for you. I could only wish that this was more of a two-way communication, so I could grab a tea and hear your story. But even if you don’t have time to read everything now, perhaps you could indulge me, by saying ‘hi’ in the Comments, with a line about your life these days? Much appreciated, if you can spare the time.

3 Things, The TL:DR
First things first: if this newsletter looks a bit different, it is because we have migrated it over to Substack, which is a better fit for this writer/speaker/facilitator/singer who also happens to be an entrepreneur.

Second: yes indeed, School of Kind Business went underground for a bit, in all the ways. There are (good, I think) reasons for that, which I hope to share in a video in my next post. There will also be some (nice, I think) free resources to share.

Third: the content of our free newsletter and paid curriculum has changed. There are common themes that you’ll recognize if you’ve been around for a while. We are still focused on helping solo- and micro-preneurs in service-based work reverse engineer a living and a life they enjoy.

And, we want you to know that some strong and exciting themes have emerged around: storytelling, imaginative and mindful practices, seasonal ritual, resilience, and starting your own little ( r ) evolution through building a fair trade business that’s kind to you and your clients. Stay tuned.

For Lunar New Year, I’m focused on creating and amplifying beauty in the world.

And to me, if your work is helping, healing, making, growing, repairing, innovating, facilitating, teaching—with a sense that you are doing your best to leave the world a little kinder than you found it—that’s a beautiful thing.

Plus—and here’s where the ( r ) evolution comes in—if you are doing the work you are meant to do, and sharing about it in a way that others can see clearly the honour in what you are creating, and gather to the beacon of hope you are shining. . . and if I am doing this also, and so is my other neighbour. . . . my hope is that maybe, eventually, most human beings in our communities will have access to services, supports, tools and spaces that are beautiful to them, somehow. And if that sounds ridiculously optimistic: well, good.

For me, beauty includes encouraging people to express themselves with radical precision: in writing, speaking, and social media posts; in community storytelling, song, and harmony. It is providing tools that condense business ideas into actionable clarity, so that people doing stuff I admire create sweet micro-preneur containers for their work that will sustainably radiate wholesome nourishment in the world, and in turn give them a more beautiful life.

Who this Stack is For
This Stack shares creative prompts, practical supports, fresh perspectives and human stories for solo- and micro-entrepreneurs. But we also warmly welcome those who desire to express themselves well, who are curious about how their expertise can contribute to the moment we now find ourselves in, who are longing for us to tell better stories about what is possible.

If you are here, I like to imagine one or more of the following is resonant (they are all resonant, for me):

-I am curious, clear, or puzzled by how to earn an ethical living in what appears to be a messy and unjust economic system.

-I am curious, clear, or confused about how to contribute something useful to the culture, in the face of the sometimes overwhelming currents of change.

-I feel hope in the notion our thoughtfully-made, fair trade businesses don’t have to contribute to the inequalities, ickiness and sickness we witness; they can actually be beacons for the changes we want to see in community.

-I want to earn a sustainable, ‘enough-for-my family’ living, and still be accessible to the people I help. I want the same for you.

-I have a service, skills, or experience that I leverage into work that I enjoy; I find purpose in offering my best in business, volunteer work, or at home.

-I need to create a container for my good work (aka my ‘business’) that nourishes me with currencies beyond money, such as: time, wellness, purpose, community.

-I take heart in the fact that introverts, empaths and quiet good listeners who prioritize relating well, instinctively hold many qualities to run a successful organization—business or otherwise. Ya’ll are my people.

-I am delighted to remember that instead of ‘marketing’ I can share, help, tell stories and have conversations. Those are things I know how to do.

-I know that my (and your) innate creativity, curiousity and body wisdom can be trustworthy guides.

Some Special Stuff Next Newsletter + A Request

As you’ll see if you stick around and check out some of the new workbooks coming in 2025: Time, Attention, and Community are all currencies I value. If you are giving some of your Time, Attention and Community currency to this Substack, I hope that in turn I am providing good value, to you. Here’s what is coming, next newsletter:

The Stuff:
-a gift workbook that some of you may have in pieces, but I wanted to consolidate in one package, and make sure no one was missed

-a new gift workbook that I haven’t shared before—sort of a starter kit if you are dreaming up a new service or revising an old one

-a video with a more personal story and why I can be ridiculously optimistic even at THIS moment

The Request: If you are moved to do so: please like, share, and most of all drop us a line of greeting in the comments so I know I’m chatting with some people out here!