Meet Emily (part 0.2)
Background - In May of 2021, I published an article titled “.meet emily”. Almost two years later, I am sitting down to write a revised version.
about me
A lover of all this world has to offer. It’s messiness, it’s joy, it’s suffering, it’s kindness.
In the last 2.5 years, I flowed* through the grandest phase of transition so far in my life. During this time I quit my first ever “serious” job, lived in three provinces and five cities, called seven houses home, started offering small-business consulting services, got engaged, bought a house, got a new full-time job, got married, and quit that new job.
**flowed might be a bit of a stretch. swam for my life might be more accurate…
Along the way, I also learned to ski, went on my first canoe trip, saw some of my best friends become parents, and quit caffeine.
I did none of this alone. I talked to friends weekly. I made new friends by the dozens. My now husband was a ROCK. And I hired three different coaches, I started going to therapy regularly, and my husband and I found a couples therapist.
Many things have remained unchanged. My sweet tooth, reserved for dark chocolate and pinot noir, is intact. I’m still the weirdo that hangs out at dog parks to say hi to other peoples’ dogs (future dog-mom in the making). I remain deeply in love with the creative & problem-solving brainpower that launching new ideas demands.
I’ve added some incredible experiences to my belt:
- managed a rural coworking community of 200+
- launched a pitch night designed to tap into collective genius instead of competition
- designed an internship program to help bridge the gap between solopreneurship and hiring a team
Along with the unique experiences of my early career:
- ran a post-secondary entrepreneurship program
- mentored hundreds of student entrepreneurs launching their first business
- pitched a tourism business to a crowd of over 300
- founded and supported businesses in industries ranging from wine, tourism, home & garden, and health & wellness.
My approach to business is still founded on the belief that doing good is good for the books and that collaborations will 10X your business, always. I love writing of all sorts and have come to own the identity of Writer. This is relevant because I have also come to believe that good copy is quintessential to every successful business.
And on the other side of a wild few years, I ended up back where I left you in the first .meet emily article; I’m announcing that my books are open to entrepreneurs who want to take their businesses to the next level!
My business, Things My Friends Made, is a boutique startup & growth agency that helps solo and first-time entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level through startup strategy, copywriting, and growth roadmapping.
I help solo and first-time entrepreneurs through:
- Expert advice to get you unstuck
- Tried + true frameworks and operational processes to help you get more done while working less
- No bullshit sales + marketing strategy to get you in front of your dream clients
- FANDOM (aka we become your biggest hype person) to help make this whole entrepreneurship thing less lonely and more joy-filled
My own entrepreneurial journey has had many twists and turns. I’ve worked on three startups in three different industries, I’ve opened and closed my books to consulting clients, and I’ve explored dozens of ideas for new businesses.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is having friends (acquaintance to bestie) who hype you up, keep you on track, and inspire you, is the only way to survive and thrive through the twists and turns.
