🧠 Simplify. Focus. Flourish. This month, we turned inward to get outward results. In Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, we were challenged to break free from overwhelm, eliminate distractions, and focus our energy on what truly matters. “If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.” For poetry business owners, creatives, and entrepreneurs alike — this book was a wake-up call and a roadmap. 🔑 Here are 5 Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Do fewer things, but do them exceptionally well. 2️⃣ Saying “yes” to everything is costing you more than you think. 3️⃣ Boundaries are your creative superpower. 4️⃣ Clarity creates leverage. 5️⃣ Less but better = more impact. From cutting back on projects that aren’t aligned, to protecting our creative time, to saying “no” with confidence — Essentialism gave us tools to build poetry businesses with more purpose, peace, and power. 💬 Now we want to hear from YOU: What was your biggest insight, shift, or “aha” moment from Essentialism? Drop your thoughts, quotes, or favorite chapters below 👇🏽 Let’s grow through this together. And stay tuned — August’s Book of the Month is on the way! 📖🔥

Poets, it’s time to declutter your mind, schedule, and business! After last month’s deep inner work with The Mountain Is You, we’re shifting into strategy with this powerful next read: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. This book isn’t about getting more done — it’s about getting the right things done. It’s for anyone feeling stretched too thin, saying yes to too many things, or losing clarity on what really matters. 🔑 What you’ll gain: ✅ Clarity on what’s essential in your poetry business and life ✅ Permission to say NO without guilt ✅ More energy, more impact, and less stress ✅ A mindset that values depth over distraction ✅ A practical approach to building a life that aligns with your highest contribution This book is going to challenge the way you think about productivity and focus. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, overcommitted, or off-course — this is the book to realign and reset. 📖 Grab your copy this week and share a quote or takeaway using the hashtag #PoetryBusinessNetwork 💬 Discussion prompts will be posted weekly in the classroom! Let’s simplify to amplify this month. Drop a comment if you’re reading with us!

Transforming self-sabotage into self-mastery Throughout this month, we took a courageous journey inward through the pages of The Mountain Is You — a powerful and practical guide for anyone ready to stop standing in their own way. 🌋 The Core Message: The mountain isn’t something outside of you. It’s the internal barrier you must overcome.Whether it’s fear, limiting beliefs, unhealthy habits, unresolved trauma, or emotional suppression, you are both the problem and the solution. Wiest makes the bold — yet freeing — statement that self-sabotage is not a sign of failure, but a survival mechanism rooted in outdated beliefs. 🔍 Key Insights from the Book: 1. Self-Sabotage Is Misdirected Self-Protection Wiest explains that we often block our own growth not because we’re lazy or unworthy — but because our subconscious minds are trying to protect us from discomfort, uncertainty, or the unknown. “When you are not getting what you want, it is because you are subconsciously resisting it.” 2. Your Triggers Are Your Teachers Instead of avoiding or reacting to emotional triggers, the book teaches us to lean in and examine what those reactions reveal about our deeper wounds. Growth begins when we see our triggers as signs of what still needs healing. 3. Rewiring Your Beliefs Is Essential for Growth If you believe you’re unworthy of love, success, or happiness — your actions will reflect that. Wiest emphasizes the importance of reprogramming your beliefs through awareness, repetition, and aligned behavior. 4. Emotional Intelligence Is the New Self-Discipline Learning to feel and process our emotions (instead of avoiding them) is foundational. Emotional suppression creates blocks. Emotional honesty sets us free. 5. Rock Bottom Is a Starting Point The book reframes breakdowns and burnout as the body's way of forcing you to change. The moment you feel stuck or defeated is the perfect moment to rebuild — from the inside out. 🧠 Why This Book Matters for Us: In the Poetry Business Network — where we are literally becoming the business — this book hits home. Every poet, entrepreneur, artist, and visionary faces the internal mountain of self-doubt, procrastination, fear of failure (or success), and perfectionism.

📘 Week 1 – Introduction & Part 1: A World That Doesn’t Start With Why (Ch. 1–2) Key Concepts: Most people start with what they do. But the most inspiring leaders? They Start With WHY—their belief, their cause, their purpose. - Most organizations and leaders communicate from the outside in: What → How → Why. - The most inspiring leaders and organizations (like Apple, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Wright brothers) start with WHY—their purpose, cause, or belief. - People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. Insights: - There's a difference between manipulation and inspiration in driving behavior. - Manipulations like price drops and promotions can drive short-term results, but they don’t create loyalty. - Starting with WHY builds trust and emotional connection. 📘 Week 2 – Part 2: An Alternative Perspective (Ch. 3–5) Key Concepts: This simple model mirrors how our brains work and how trust is built. People don’t buy what you do—they buy WHY you do it. - Sinek introduces the Golden Circle: - This model maps directly to how the brain works: the limbic brain (WHY) controls emotions and decision-making; the neocortex (WHAT) handles rational thought and language. - Truly successful individuals and companies communicate and lead from the inside out—Start With Why. : - Clarity of WHY leads to discipline of HOW and consistency of WHAT. - Trust emerges when our values and beliefs align with those of others. 📘 Week 3 – Part 3: Leaders Need a Following (Ch. 6–8) True leaders lead with clarity of purpose. Charisma isn’t energy—it’s conviction. Loyalty follows those who stand firm in their WHY. Key Concepts: - Charisma comes from clarity of WHY; energy is just enthusiasm. - People don’t follow leaders for what they do but for why they do it. - Loyalty is earned by those who are consistent with their WHY, not those who chase trends. Insights: - The power of WHY helps rally teams and customers around a common purpose. - Great leaders create a following not because they have authority, but because they offer a vision others want to be part of.

As Poetry Business Owners, our growth isn't just about the business — it's about the person running it. That’s why every month, we commit to leveling up through intentional personal development. For June, we’re diving into: “The Mountain Is You” by Brianna Wiest This powerful read is all about transforming self-sabotage into self-mastery. If you’ve ever felt like you were standing in your own way, this book will meet you where you are and push you to where you need to be. Let’s climb the mountain together — not just for our poetry, but for our purpose. 📝 How to participate: - Grab your copy (physical, audio, or digital) - Share your reflections weekly in the group - Look out for live discussions + prompts - Create content around what you've learned and post on social media - Tag @PoetryBusinessNetwork and use hashtag #PoetryBusinessBookClub Let’s grow together, not just in business, but in mindset, mission, and movement. Who’s reading with us?