I’m still opting for Substack, though my posting frequency has been a little erratic. Over the next three months, I am planning to either migrate or archive this blog.
Thanks so much to those of you who have supported my work since 2017 here on WordPress. I deeply appreciate you.
Here’s my latest post on Substack, a contemplation of what it means to be human in a world where artificial intelligence will continue to do more and more.
Hope we don’t lose touch, but just in case you want to connect “in real life” I’d love to connect with you via LinkedIn. If you send me a request and indicate you have been a reader, then hopefully we can connect there.
Be well,
Cristy
Yes, I have begun a round of Spring cleaning which always puts me in a mode of thinking and considering what is next for me. If you’re interested in a podcast on the topic of Equinox, Astrology, and ways to best work with the Aries energy coming up this week, check it out here.
I’m not a big believer in paid newsletters. Truthfully I’m actually kind of SICK of newsletters. They crowd my inbox, the detritus of my old interests. But it’s strangely hard to unsubscribe from them all. Because, you know, there just might be SOME juicy tidbit here or there. Once in a while.
Oh, who am I kidding? Anyone know of an AI service that can unsubscribe from everything that we are not opening at least 30% of the emails?
Now that I’ve been podcasting at Somatic Wisdom for 8 months, and I’ve generated ~45 episodes of content, I am truly loving the audio medium. It’s been joyful to write solo episodes, along with expanding to interviews. There were five in the first season (out of 36 episodes), and I think there will be at least 8 in the second season (~24 episodes planned).
And so far there were over 700 downloads in February alone, and 3k downloads in total for the podcast! I’m flabbergasted, given that there are 4 million total podcasts out there. Of course, only about 17% of those are regularly releasing content. That means there are ~680k different options out there for listeners, so I don’t take for granted when people choose to follow my channel.
I realize I’m still a “small player” in the podcast world, and I have no idea who listens. Still no written reviews on Apple podcast where it matters as far as scaling. But no worries. When we deliver good content over time, I believe that’s how we attract resonate listeners.
This was one reason I opted to start the Somatic Wisdom Substack page. Several of my mentors and people I follow have been opting to publish their work in multiple formats, like Tara McMullin and Jenny Blake.
Multiple Formats for Many Different People Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
For those of us who are business owners, consultants, coaches, and content creators, we need to have efficient ways to get our overall message out there. It makes abundant sense not to complicate things, and to free our time by approaching this more strategically.
I’ve deeply loved the ability to explore here on this blog since 2017. And for those of you reading, thank you for being here, and for engaging in my work. This blog taught me about what kinds of work energize me most (coaching, writing, and speaking about employee wellbeing) and now those are the things that are bringing in income for me.
Though I’m not yet raking in the big bucks, I feel grateful to have had a platform to help me navigate the huge career shift I was in from 2018-2022. Now it’s time to double-down on what’s working and cull back some areas where I no longer want to invest.
Within the next 3-6 months, my intention is to either archive this blog or to migrate the work. I haven’t decided yet.
I’ve not been successful at managing a newsletter related to my work, and I suspect Substack will make that much easier. It’s in a pilot/test phase. I like the notion that it’s a very voluntary process, and I don’t feel like I’m cajoling anyone into giving me their email address.
Your attention is precious, and I don’t want to clutter up your mailbox, unless I’m providing you 10x the value for opening that message.
Do you mind weighing in on a few questions (since you’re here) about the newsletters and subscriptions you most love and value?
I’m curious: what do you like about them? What drives you crazy? What do you wish they did more of? Less?
Wishing you well for March. I’m pledging to come back once a month here, until I make my final decision about where to migrate (if I do).
Thank you again for being here, being part of my writing community and for reading and/or commenting on my work. It’s helped me become a more thoughtful writer, and I deeply appreciate your contributions to that process.
Just a quick question for those of you who blog here and/or in other places: Do you have any experience with blogging for Medium?
The platform was recommended to me for visibility in getting some of the messages from my first book out into the world. I’m not sure if it is worthwhile but I do love to write so it seemed like a reasonable experiment to try.
Others have mentioned Substack and the paid newsletters that are out there, but I’m more interested in giving free content away to those specifically interested in the topic.
Thanks for any feedback or experiences you may have writing for other platforms!
I hope that September is treating you well and that you are your loved ones are healthy and safe. For those that face the start of school, and some of the anxieties that are likely to crop up, I hope you are taking deep breaths and centering.
For those that are enjoying the unofficial last week of the summer before Labor Day, I wish you a last lovely week. Labor Day typically signals the end of Fall for many of us, with schools starting around that time. For me, it has always felt like “the new January” because I have always loved the start of a new school year. New notebooks, a new school outfit or two and the freshness of a new set of subjects to learn.
For me, I have been contemplating a change, specifically a “sunset” to regular posting here. I have spent 3 years producing regular content here. For one year I posted every single day! (And for most of that I was working full time…) In total I have produced 720+ pieces of content. This blog began as a test for me. I love to write. And I wanted to see if I could produce consistently, on a challenging schedule. Mission accomplished.
While I do not strive here for news-worthy New York Times quality journalism, my goal is authenticity, personal learning and growth. I have been so grateful for the support of this community at WordPress. I have not been reading as much of your work lately, as I turn attention toward finding more sustainable income for my family. And I know you will be generous in understanding how that goes…
I have been neglecting the task of working on my professional website and producing consulting and coaching resources that will help launch my business and help my clients. And as I have been letting go of old files at home, and culling my library, it occurred to me that it’s time to decrease the “open channels” so I can go ALL THE WAY in this endeavor.
After every sunset, there is a sunrise. And new opportunities on the horizon…
Rather than making offers to potential clients, I have been staying stuck in indecision mode about what is next. When I listened to my soul and got really honest with myself I admitted I love to teach, coach, and develop curricula around the needs of an organization or department. Writing is breathing to me. So I will “pitch” myself for projects in that arena also.
It is time to make offers every day to those may need what I have to offer. Rather than applying for jobs with descriptions that are only 50-60% aligned with my strengths and interests, why not create offers for potential clients that are 90-100% aligned?
Short answer: because it is scary. Because it means rejections are inevitable. Sales people understand that there is typically a ratio of 10-30 “nos” for every yes. And yet, I am confident and driven enough to use those “nos” as fuel. Each one gets me closer to a new client.
I see so many managers, directors and VPs that are leading in tough times. In normal times, the best ones do a lot of coaching of employees. Now, they are barely able to keep their heads above water, and development coaching has fallen by the wayside. They also need support, and are not always getting it if companies have had to let go of L&D staff and internal coaches to cut costs.
I see employees who need and want support for their own development, given that their roles may have dramatically changed in the past 6 months. And I see companies that are so stressed and stretched that they are not able to assess emerging needs beyond getting through the current daily challenges. External perspectives can help.
As I brainstormed what I will offer, I recorded a few videos of myself talking through what I can do. Suddenly an explosion of energy bolted through me as I saw how I have been holding back due to fear. No more. I am ready.
This blog will stay live temporarily as I figure out how to archive and possibly re-write my favorite pieces for short LinkedIn articles. And occasionally I may not be able to help myself from issuing political commentary once in a while when I need to save my husband from my wrath and yelling at the news. You knew that yoga teachers are not the calmest people, right? We tend to teach what we most want to learn. 😉
This is my love letter to all of you. You are a wonderful community.You have engaged with my content in meaningful and helpful ways to me.I am ever in your debt in terms of your contribution to my growth. As winter emerges and business cycles for my industry typically slow at some times of the year, I hope to return to being a more regular reader of your work. In the meantime, stay safe and healthy.
I know I made a commitment a while back to a series on clinical trials and on resources for those who might be considering participating in a research study. I am working on collecting resources, but frankly it is taking time to evaluate the sources I have found.
Most of the resources I have scanned so far are podcasts and news sources. The ones that are targeted toward clinical research professionals are pretty dry and a little difficult to endure (even for me). The ones that are more “mass media” related tend to dumb down the research in ways I do not believe are helpful.
I am enjoying “Short Wave” by NPR as a science podcast generally. They report on the COVID situation of course, but they also report on a broader range of topics. I especially appreciated their coverage of “challenge trials” and the ethics of people volunteering to exposed to the virus. In a relatively short time, they manage to convey useful concepts that may help non-scientists understand important principles.
I continue to hunt for better material, or might just start creating material on my own if I cannot find sources that serve. I am never one to re-invent a wheel so scanning the landscape was my first part of this project.
Be well. Feel free to ask any questions here if you imagine you would have if you would consider volunteering for a research study. That way I will know what your doubts and fears might be and can better speak to what comes up. Thanks!
I have been wondering how best to use my expertise and skills to be of service during the COVID-19 situation, and brainstorming ways to put my experience to good use in a new job.
Offering yoga online has been very fulfilling, and it has allowed me to contribute to keeping a small business running that had to close acupuncture operations for 2.5 months. I love getting to know my students better and the Sunday (Re)treats have been my favorite.
It has also occurred to me that clinical trials are running for treatments and for vaccines to help save lives and stop the spread of this infection. I have 12+ years of experience as a clinical researcher, and I am good at explaining technical concepts to non-scientists in a way that makes sense. Mission taking shape…
I have noticed that Universities have difficulty explaining clinical trials to potential participants in ways they understand. Many of their resources are text-heavy and use a lot of technical terms. It is a chronic problem for the informed consent process as well, which is required before volunteering to participate in a trial.
In service to helping people understand which trials might be the best fit, I am considering a series on de-mystifying the clinical trial process. It may be a matter of curating the best content that is available and sharing it. I am strongly committed to advocating for participants who may be confused and want clarification of their questions.
The ACRP (Association of Clinical Research Professionals) explains that with the pandemic looming large at hospitals, many trial sites are not recruiting participants and face the danger of not completing their enrollments. This could have devastating effects on the development of other life-saving therapies outside of this virus.
My questions are these:
Have you ever thought about volunteering for a clinical trial?
What are your reservations about participating in a trial?
For now, since the biggest question people seem to have for the news media on vaccines and trials is: why will this take so long? I am posting an info-graphic from St. Luke’s which nicely summarizes the process. I’ll be back later this week or next to follow further in bite-sized stories if there is interest in this topic.
mexi minnesotana 