This morning, I was at my desk with my planner open, coffee next to me, answering messages and moving little pieces around, and for a moment, I felt productive. But underneath that feeling was something quieter and more honest. I was working, but I wasn't moving the one thing that truly matters for the next season. And that is the real problem we are solving. Not laziness. Not lack of ambition. Not that we need another system. It is drift. We are capable. We are disciplined. We care deeply. But without clarity, we spread our energy across too many things and slowly lose confidence in our own follow-through. So before we jump into our 12 Week Year, we are slowing down on purpose. I created a short, podcast-style audio based on the official ideas from The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran and layered them with my Burn Bright, Not Out strategies. I built it in NotebookLM, and honestly, I am so excited about how it turned out. This podcast gives you a clear overview of what the 12 Week Year actually is and why we are choosing to do it together right now. It explains the heart of it. The shift in thinking. The reason a twelve-week season creates clarity in a way a twelve-month goal often cannot. It is simple, grounded, and easy to listen to while walking or driving. It will help you understand what we are building before we officially kick off. And I am pairing it with this Gentle Reset. Before we talk about goals, tactics, or execution, we pause. We acknowledge something that went well. We honor the effort we gave. We notice what we learned about ourselves. We release what we no longer need to carry. And we choose how we want to feel as we begin again. That is how we build self-trust. That is how we move forward without burning out. So today, just press play. Let it wash over you. Let it spark something. Let it clarify something. I truly cannot wait to build this 12 Week Year with you. Kickoff is Tuesday, February 17, at 12 PM EST. We are doing this intentionally, together.

Are your journals and books profitable? It’s such a good question. And it’s also a really hard one to answer with a simple yes or no. Because before you choose any business path, you deserve to know two things: Is this a viable opportunity in general? And is it viable for you? Here’s what I’ve learned the long way. People say “it takes money to make money,” and for a long time I nodded along without really understanding what that actually meant in real life. Now I do. Even the most “simple” business costs something. A book on Amazon KDP still costs money. Marketing costs money. Ads cost money. Designers cost money if you hire them. Time absolutely costs money too, even when we pretend it doesn’t. And when you move from print on demand into physical products like journals and planners, the stakes change again. You’re paying for shipping and inventory. You’re often paying for your next restock before the first one has fully paid you back. Cash flow becomes the real game, not just sales. I’m not sharing this to scare anyone. I’m sharing it because this is the part people skip when they sell the dream. Yes, you can start scrappy. Yes, you can grow organically. Yes, platforms like TikTok Shop can reduce upfront costs. But none of that is free. You’re either paying with money or with time. And eventually, if you want to scale and buy back your time, most people will need to invest money too. Here’s the part I think matters most. Before you build a business, even a small one, even a nine dollar Skool, you need to understand your own finances. Not in a scary way. In an empowering way. Because when you know your numbers, you make decisions from clarity instead of fear. You stop chasing shiny ideas. You stop comparing your chapter one to someone else’s chapter ten. You choose growth that fits your real life, not someone else’s highlight reel. Income without burnout is not about avoiding effort. It’s about choosing effort on purpose. It’s about asking: What can I sustain?

Get comfortable. Sitting or standing is fine. If it feels okay, close your eyes. If not, soften your gaze. Picture a jellyfish moving through the ocean. It moves slowly. No rush. No effort. Bring your attention to your breath. As you breathe in, imagine the jellyfish expanding. As you breathe out, imagine it gently softening. Do not try to breathe a certain way. Just notice the rhythm. Notice the colors of the jellyfish. They might shift. They might stay the same. If your mind wanders, that is okay. Just come back to the jellyfish. Come back to your breath. Stay here for a few slow breaths. Inhale. Expand. Exhale. Soften. When you are ready, open your eyes. Giving your brain a calm image and a steady breath helps your body settle. It creates a little space. Sometimes that is all we need. If you try it, drop one word below that describes how you feel. I am doing it with you.

I want to pause for a moment and share where things stand. I am actively building out the classrooms and calendar behind the scenes. This space is still in its early chapter, and that is intentional. We are building it together, thoughtfully, not rushing it. Right now, there are two spots left in VIP at the current price for this cohort. Once those spots are filled, this cohort will close. I am not yet sure when the next one will open and for what price. Premium members receive full accountability support and mastermind sessions during our upcoming 12-week year. You can see all upcoming times in the updated calendar. The 12-week year kickoff call will be free for one week. After that, all access will be moved to Premium. If you know someone who values calm, intentional growth and building income without burnout, now is a great time to invite them. Grab your invite link on the community page (computer) or in group settings (app). Thank you for being here. Thank you for building with me. More is coming soon as the classrooms take shape, and I am genuinely excited about what we are creating together. It’s a good day to have a good day 💛

@Charli Fels, we are so glad you are here. In Multiple Streams of Income Without Burnout, we build together, have fun, and actively create a space where everyone belongs. Jump in anytime. We are happy you found your way here.