Page and Purpose

RICEMEREDITH

Money talks

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The number in front of me on the computer screen stared loudly back at me.

My nightmare, the one that had kept me stagnant for years, not taking a chance on myself, was happening. In real time.

This cannot be true, I thought to myself, shame and anger swelling inside of me.

How did I let this happen?

Down the rabbit hole

It was April 2024 and my ex-teacher self felt stunned by this news: my first real tax return for my first year full-time in my business. I had left the classroom after 17 years to pursue something I knew would feel more authentic in this stage of my life.

But I had never had to deal with taxes—not really. For my whole adult life I had been an employee.

Filled out a W-2.

Neatly chosen to claim 1.

Gotten a sweet, sweet refund. Every. Single. Year.

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Until now.

I laid my head on my computer and imagined the look on my husband’s face when I had to tell him.

We had often used our refunds for a bigger purchase we had been eyeing, to pay off debt, or to book a trip somewhere.

Now, we OWED MONEY. A LOT OF IT.

The money I had been “putting aside” wasn’t enough.

It wasn’t even close.

This could have been a moment where I shut down. Let myself fall down a rabbit hole and let the negative self talk wash over me:

I am a total idiot. I knew I wasn’t cut out for this. Now I’ve put myself and my family in a shitty situation. I should go back to being an employee where I’m safe from things like this.

It would have felt legit.

It was the thing I feared most and it came true. But… I was still standing.

It’s not the event that defines you

Was I knocked down a bit (or a lot)? Yes.

Did I give myself some time to sulk about it? Also yes. (Just being honest folks).

But truly, it’s never the worst things that happen to you that ruin you.

(Read that again.)

It’s what you choose to do next that defines a situation.

Every time.

So, I remembered why I wanted to have my own business. I remembered that every new venture will have learning curves. This was definitely one of mine.

…And then I picked up a book.

Specifically, I picked up Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. (not an affiliate…just a fan) A business coach had recommended it to me over a year ago. Did I read it then, [FIRST NAME GOES HERE]?

No.

No, I did not.

Was I now pretty pissed off that I had put it off? Sure was.

I learned more about finances in the first 50 pages than I had in the whole of my life before that. Also he’s a funny dude and it’s an easy read. Win-Win.

I immediately changed the way I was doing money for my business and, although I am still not an expert, guess what? When tax season rolled around, this year, I sweating much less.

Because I knew I had been following sound advice and putting the right amount aside—and not touching it, [FIRST NAME GOES HERE]. (Turns out that part’s important.)

I was still nervous. Because, as I said, money isn’t my thing.

Or wasn’t.

It’s becoming more my thing with each new nugget of knowledge I wrap my head around.

And if I can do it… you,[FIRST NAME GOES HERE], most definitely can too.

The 4 x1

  • Update about Content Biz: You or someone you know looking for quality copy done asap? I have a new Day Rate (VIP Day type thing) cooked up. (Think LinkedIn ghostwriting, email sequences or one-sheet case studies!
  • Update about Coaching Biz: I’m so close to opening my waitlist for an exciting new venture: built specifically for teachers who know they want to try their hands at content and copywriting in education. Stay tuned, you’ll hear about it here first!
  • Tiny Brave Thing: I’ve decided to chop my hair off for summer. Brave thing or Dumb thing? We’ll all find out soon. (except if it turns out it’s a really dumb thing, then you’ll never know… muhahaha!)
  • One to Grow on: Money is a tricky, tricky thing, and many people don’t know how they really feel about it until they have started their own business are tied in a different way to the way they earn. What’s your relationship like with money? If it were a character in your life, would it be the hero? The villain? The funny but clumsy side-kick? Give it a think.

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Here’s how you can work with me:

  1. Looking for quality education marketing content fast? (think ghostwritten LinkedIn posts, sales enablement copy or email campaigns)? I’m the girl with your Date Rate and VIP offers. Book a discovery call!​
  2. Are you a female educator who wants to be a paid content or copywriter? I’m building a combo learning/support container. Get on the list to learn more!​
  3. Are you a fellow entrepreneur and wanting to chat about, I don’t know, EVERYTHING? Book a virtual coffee chat!​
  4. Go connect with me on LinkedIn!​

I couldn’t believe what I found

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A sick feeling started in my stomach and crept, slowly, up into my throat. There were so many names. Each with only a few months worth of signatures.

I was definitely about to get fired.

H2: The boss you have nightmares about

It was my first job out of college. A job I had wanted only to be able to live (and play) in New York City with my friends. This is not lost on me. But hey Reader, I was only 22.

My boss was a (much less stylish) Miranda Priestly-type, who seemed to truly enjoy making me look like an idiot. Here I was, a college graduate with decent street smarts for an upstate NY girl, feeling INCOMPETENT several times a day.

If I asked questions, any questions, it was met with a deep sigh and little help in return. I would sit in my little corner cubicle, wasting an inordinate amount of time simply because I didn’t know what to do, and I sure as hell wasn’t asking her.

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H2: WTF did I want to do?

In my last year of college, while many friends knew exactly what they would pursue upon graduating, I still had no idea.

Well…that’s not entirely true.

I knew I wanted write. And, I had no idea how to make that happen in a real way. I remember friends ribbing me a little, “what are you going to do, sit under a palm tree and write poems?”

(Yes, I thought, yes—that sounds perfect, actually. TBH, Reader, still does .)

While my dual “dreams” of being able to write whatever I wanted, and also to live by the beach have still not quite come true, I am way closer than I ever thought I’d be. (Not to the beach, but there’s time for that.)

H2: The discovery

I had almost made it a whole year in the world’s worst marketing assistant job. Every Sunday—All Day Sunday— I found myself in deep discomfort, wanting to do anything other than return to that office the next day. I wasn’t familiar with my body’s warning signals and didn’t really talk to anyone about what I was feeling. (I know Reader, but at 22, we don’t all understand that emotional peace and calm are our birthright).

And then, one afternoon towards the end of end May, I made a DISCOVERY. As the assistant, I made all travel arrangements and did a lot of events preparation and I was required to sign off on everything.

As I flipped back through previous records, I noticed the name and signature of the assistant would change every few months. Until I was hired. A sick feeling started in my stomach and crept towards my throat.

What happened next was unexpected, though. My dread dissipated as I slowly realized: IT’S NOT ME. IT’S HER.

After months of feeling like a failure, of thinking to myself: How is it possible that I am so incompetent that I can’t even handle an assistant’s job? How did I graduate college?

I realized: she doesn’t like anyone. She hires people, uses them up and then disposes of them. I’ve just allowed myself to be stagnant here for longer than most.

I immediately knew what I need to do.

I still wasn’t sure exactly I was supposed to be doing for work, but I sure as hell knew it wasn’t this. And my emotional well being had taken a major hit.

So I quit.

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Climbing the Mountain of Life

I wish I could say that this was the one and only time I needed to learned this lesson. That I learned how to listen deeply to myself and was never in this position again.

But alas, learning isn’t always linear, and growth often looks like: same view, different perspective. Switchbacks up a mountain rather than a path that cuts through the trees.

I am still on this path. Learning from my experiences. Honing my intuition and ability to listen to my heart and my gut with less doubt and resistance and more curiosity and trust.

Have you ever felt this way? That you thought you learned something only to discover that there you were again, with a slightly different take and maybe a little more trust?

Hit reply. I’d love to hear your stories!

The 4×1

  • 1 Update on the Ed. Content side: Need fresh (ex literacy educator) eyes on your Science of Reading content? Hit reply—I’ve got a few great, low key offers right now!
  • 1 Update on the Copy Coaching side: I’m building out launch assets right now for my debut course/coaching community! Grab your spot on my email list to be first to hear all the deets!
  • 1 Tiny Brave Thing: My friend and fellow copywriter coach Kelly Cline is currently running her Beta Email Marketing Course. I can only imagine it’s as brilliant as she is. Check out her post about it on LinkedIn!
  • 1 to Grow on: It’s so important to stop and see how far we’ve come instead of just looking ahead at where we want to be. Self reflection is an incredible tool for this.Use this journal prompt to spend some time looking at the many loops around your mountain and how your perspective has changed: Think back to a time where you felt that change was less scary than standing still. Did you listen to your gut? What happened if you did? What happened if you didn’t?

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Here’s how you can work with me:

  1. Need clarification on or help with your Science of Reading-based content strategy or education marketing content (think ebooks, customer stories, sales enablement or email campaigns)? I’m your girl. Book a discovery call!​
  2. Are you a female educator who wants to be a paid content or copywriter? I’m building a combo learning/support container. Get on the list to learn more!​
  3. Are you a fellow entrepreneur and wanting to chat about, I don’t know, EVERYTHING? Book a virtual coffee chat!​

What the locals are doing

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Turn the Page

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This is it, I thought. This is where I die.

Walking through a blizzard, trying to understand directions in a language with nary a vowel in sight, I had never felt so lost in my life.

It was spring of 2001. I was in Prague, in the Czech Republic, for a weekend while studying abroad in the UK. We were definitely NOT there for the Absinthe (Remember Absinthe?? Me neither, Reader).

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My friends and I had met a group of “locals” and followed them to a bar across the river, in the part of the city less populated by tourists.

Basically, it was mid-plot in a bad murder drama when you are screaming at the TV: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”

My mom’s voice was on repeat in my head.

So of course, I went right along and followed them over the river, anyway (Sorry, Mom).

This ending of this story is safe, actually, and involves a long walk, and a deserted “tram” ride home, in the middle of the night, to the hostel we were staying at.

In fact, looking back, it’s possible I wasn’t really all that lost, but didn’t have the Birdseye view or perspective (or coherence if I’m being honest…) to see where I was.

And if there’s one thing that’s become abundantly clear, it’s this:

If you can’t see clearly where you are, you can’t figure out where you are going.

It took teaching from home during COVID for me to clearly see where I was.

The exact location was: on the corner of broke and exhausted. I knew I was done teaching and needed a way out.

I’m here to tell the story of how I made that happen and maybe, just maybe to be a light house for someone else who sees their story in mine.

(Not the lost-in-Prague-after-smoking-pot-at-a-locals-bar-part, hopefully. (WINK)

Please don’t unsubscribe Reader (!)

The 4×1

Here I’ll drop a weekly peek into what’s happening in all aspects of life and biz. Hopefully at least 1 of things make you pause and think (or laugh or roll your eyes)!

  • 1 thing happening in my education content biz: I am launching a new content strategy offer! Yay! It’s a Science of Reading-specific content audit for companies and founders who need to establish trust and authority in the Ed or EdTech Market and want to be sure all their copy is aligned and working FOR THEM. It’s also a low stakes, easy way to see if working together is a fit for both of us. Interested? Reply to this email and say hi!
  • 1 thing happening in my coaching biz: I’m working on my content and copywriting course specifically for educators who want to be paid writers! I’m so excited. Stay tuned for more info here! (if you know someone who would be interested, please do forward this along!)
  • 1 Tiny Brave Thing (mine or someone else’s) (for more like this, come check out my substack!): My tiny brave thing this week is this flipping newsletter. It’s taken me years to decide I am going to build an email list…with just the things I think are important to say? This is nuts. And I’m doing it anyway. I hope you’ll come along for the ride. I promise to make you laugh, roll your eyes and say What The Actual F*&%?? at least once a month. In fact that was on the short list for newsletter names. (I kid.)
  • 1 to Grow on (journal/reflection prompt, quote, highlight someone else’s work): this week I’d like to be cliche with a quote because it fits right in with my brave thing: “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” ~Rumi

Here’s to walking on the way.

Here’s how you can support me or work with me:

–Need clarification on your SoR content strategy or education marketing content (think ebooks, customer stories, sales enablement email campaigns?) Book a call!​

–Do you know you want to be a paid content or copywriter? I’m building a combo learning/support container exactly for this. If someone forwarded this to you, get on the list and stay tuned to learn more!​

–Are you a fellow entrepreneur and wanting to chat about, I don’t know, Everything? Book a virtual coffee chat!​

A New Freelance Writing Career…Turn the Page

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Ahem…is this thing on? Hi there. I am building a freelance writing business! There. I said it out loud.

I feel a little ridiculous writing this. This is because I’ve been avoiding writing in most forms over the past few months. Instead, I dove headfirst into the part that scares the bejesus out of me, marketing myself.

I’ve spent hours on my website (not that you could tell…), hours researching potential clients and sending LinkedIn connection requests and messages, cold Letters of Introduction (LOI’s as I’ve learned), and money on programs to help me build a freelance program from scratch.

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