Well I received the most amazing surprise yesterday. I have been nominated for an award by the very entity that helped me start my business 16 years ago! SHOCKED!

In my humble opinion, the words of an amazing and wise leader resonate long after they are gone, even if all they ever lead was their own family. I know this to be true, as I take a deep breath and acknowledge the date - September 28, 2025, 20 years since the passing of my amazing mother. Yet, she walks with me every day. She comes with me to every event. She is the inspiration behind every post. She is my driving force. She is my example of just how strong and happy an Indigenous person can be, when bridges are truly built. Because, you see, my father wasn't Indigenous. But he was the perfect ally. He held and even built space for my mom to be exactly who she was. He didn't doubt her strength and resilience to get us through tough times. He counted on it. And she counted on him. In that good soil, my mom flourished. Nothing she did in that home was done without laughter. Everything from cooking to doing dishes, washing floors to making an incredible Christmas dinner was done with laughter and love. Because she knew she was safe. She knew she was loved. She knew she was valued. She knew she was needed. Yet, I sigh as I acknowledge that so many Indigenous people (including myself, at times) do not know such good soil ... yet. And that is my mission, that is my purpose, to create good soil for all who exist and live and love within Canadian borders. A mission inspired by a woman with a grade four education that had a smile that lit up even the darkest corners. Twenty years has not minimized her impact. Rather, the twenty years highlight that her teachings and examples are just as resilient as she was. The journey and the work continues. Mom, I miss you more than anyone could ever know. Twenty years hasn't minimized that fact either. (And please, to those reading these words, no platitudes. No "She is in a better place." No, "You were lucky to have her." Be like my Dad. Just sit in this moment with me. Type that you hear me and nothing more. That is the first step to creating good soil - being able to sit in the moments of grief and pain without minimizing it, discarding it, or excusing it. A'ho.)

Don't add more to your plate. Take AWAY that old identity that does not believe in your success. Take AWAY those habits that undermine your hard work. Take AWAY everything and anyone that does not serve you. And get REALLY GOOD at saying "No" to yourself (when bad habits and old identities creep in). You got this! Love ya! Sandi

Okay who is gonna try this with me? This is what I just received in an email. It said "to boost productivity" but I think it is a GREAT tool to: - Learn about your audience - Get over the fear of speaking on camera - Build an audience - Build relationship with viewers - And on and on! So this is what the email said: Adopt the “100 reps fast” rule to get good quickly: pick one primary channel (YouTube Shorts, newsletter, or podcast) and commit to 100 consecutive publishes as fast as your life allows (daily if possible, otherwise 3×/week). Keep a living checklist (hook, promise, proof, CTA), use AI to beat blank page syndrome, and reserve your human time for voice, stories, and examples. At rep 25/50/75, pause for a data review and prune anything that isn’t moving opens, watch time, or replies. I did up a spreadsheet so I can track: - Hook, promise, and proof in each video - Number of video and date I will do it - Opens, watch time and replies. Also, I am an over-achiever so I will be shooting and releasing the same video on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram cuz why not! lol. (I expanded my spreadsheet to capture that lol) I already have the topics for the next THREE videos and I am starting TODAY! Also, 100 days from now takes us to December 16th which is EPIC information to have on your viewers/followers going into the new year! So whose with me? I have attached my spreadsheet (without my ideas already in it). Feel free to use it!

I don't know how other speakers feel but as MUCH as I love being on stage or in front of an audience, nothing beats being home. No bed is more comfy than my own. My coffee is perfect. And my desk ... where dreams are made. So after a week on and off the road, I am looking forward to a few days in the home office. I am looking forward to downtime, boring stuff and the behind the scenes stuff that take no brain cells at all but are important. The little things that keep my machine running. So this is me, grateful for the events, and even more grateful for my soft place to land, my home. The journey continues ...