At some point this year, I started to really psyche myself out about writing on Substack. I still can’t quite pin point what the feeling is (fear? anxiety? nerves?), but I think it relates to feeling like I should be way clearer about my throughline.
Whenever friends ask me for advice on growing their personal brands, I always bring them back to the question “why”. Why are you doing this? What’s the purpose of what you share? What do you want your audience to takeaway? As the nature of content and media evolves, it’s obvious it’s no longer all about “niching down”.
You don’t have to talk about just books, or perfume, or fashion, or design. Everything you’re interested in becomes a piece of the puzzle. So long as you figure out the greater story—what your creative house is all about—you’re free to fill the rooms with whatever you want
I recently purchased the book Start With Why by Simon Sinek as a gift for someone, but it served as a good reminder to reevaluate my own “why” as well. The premise of the book argues that the most influential leaders, companies, and movements don’t inspire people by leading with what they do or how they do it. The key is why they exist. Even if it’s not explicitly said in every day language or messaging, every brand has a why. And when all of your work stems from this core purpose, it becomes the invisible magnet that helps everyone else connect with everything that you do.
Apple’s original mission during the Steve Jobs era was: “To make a contribution to the world by making tools for the mind that advance humankind.”
Notion’s mission statement is: “To make it possible for everyone to shape the tools that shape their lives.”
I’ve been noodling on my why for YEARS now and while it shape-shifts now and again, the theme stays the same:
Feel good, look good, do better.
Or to be more explicit, documenting my learnings about designing a life that feels as good to live in as it looks on the outside. The architecture of an meaningful life.
When I wrote out my mission statement at the very start of my entrepreneurial journey it read: “To create a world where people wake up motivated, love what they do, and end their day feeling fulfilled.”
Ask me for my why again next quarter and the words will probably change slightly. But for now, I’m keeping these on a stickie on my desktop to read every day. Hopefully it makes creating feel a little easier in the coming months.
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Reflecting on the week of my move and I’m so glad I spent it the way I did. There might have been a few things I should’ve done differently like maybe moving out of my apartment a little earlier so that I wasn’t dealing with move-out details so close to my flight. I would’ve also loved to have my belongings sorted, weighed, and packed at least a few days before my flight rather than packing and repacking up until the night before.
But besides the logistical stress and physical labour, I actually spent most of time just hanging out with loved ones.
I went to a FIFA match with my friend Khayla and discovered that maybe I could be a football fan after all. It never used to be a sport I enjoyed watching but the Canada vs Saudi game couldn’t have been more hype.
My friends also organized the most wholesome surprise send off I could’ve possibly had. I was actually thinking about organizing a small park hang out before I left but decided against it when a few people said they were busy. Turns out they were busy because something was already planned. We barbecued, played spike ball, and just enjoyed a lovely Vancouver summer day. Quite literally exactly what I imagined the perfect send off would be. God I love my friends so much.
If you ever decide to move to a new country on your own, I’d highly recommend booking a private transfer if you can budget for it. I actually went through Air France and booked their concierge service because it was my first time landing in CDG and I’ve heard horror stories about this airport. With the private transfer, the service came out to be about $600 CAD which is steep but well worth the peace of mind I felt navigating a new airport on my own with 3 luggages and a bike box.
If I were to do it again, I’d probably just book the private transfer separately and skip the concierge service. Having someone walk me through the airport and being able to go through priority lines was a plus but unless the airport is massively bottlenecked that day, it just wasn’t worth the extra money.
But having someone meet me outside the baggage claim ready to help with my luggage—that’s a luxury I’d definitely pay for again.
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Ever since my therapist and I discussed “seasons of life” and how each era of your life requires different versions of you with different priorities and expectations, I’ve loved labeling the seasons as they goes by.
Living in my last apartment in Richmond was my “transition” era. I initially thought I’d only be there for 3-6 months but ended up spending exactly a year in that space. While I furnished it, cried in it, and really lived in it—it never really felt like home. Knowing that it was a transitional spot between leaving Squamish and moving to Paris created an invisible barrier that kept me from getting too comfortable.
(Luckily I had Summer’s home that felt like being home. Thank you.)
In my life planning journal I labeled this current era my “build” era. Beyond just trying to get clearer about where to take my business next, my Paris era also feels like I’m (re)building the foundation of who I am. Not only did I minimize my ability to feel during my last relationship, I also let the essence of who I am slip into the void. Paired with the grief of losing a friend, everything I knew about myself both internally and externally blurred.
My first week in Paris happened to land during the height of the canicule (heatwave). The 40 degree days stripped me of the option to explore, especially with Mika in tow. Our days were limited to 3 outings: a 6 am walk before it got too hot, a quick mid-day park pee, and an evening walk post sunset.
My Parisian apartment is lovely, but it didn’t offer us much reprieve during that week. I’m almost a little embarrassed to admit that I spent most of my days horizontal on the couch, trying not to move around too much and create unnecessary body heat. But instead of seeing that first week as a “failure” (because old me definitely would’ve), I reframed it as a reset.
Even though I spent time with friends and really got to enjoy those glorious first weeks of a Vancouver summer, my nervous system was far from relaxed leading up to the move. So while yes, I wish I could’ve jumped right into exploring Paris, I think my body needed the R&R that the heatwave forced on me.
With the 36+ days fading behind me, a new weekly routine forming, and finally having the desire to wear more than just a tank top and shorts, I’m feeling more myself than I have in a really long time. My Paris era is only temporary but I’m excited to see what version of me comes out of this season.
I’m already planning my next big life adventure but in the meantime, I’m making it a goal to really immerse myself in this one while I still can. How lucky are we to be able to design every version of us that exists? Gosh, I love life.
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Angel xo
Yesss to immersing yourself in every chapter, and taking the time to understand or figure out the 'why' in-between! Loved reading this!
Reflecting on the WHY is really important in figuring out who you are! So glad you're enjoying France and FIFA is SO Much fun to watch!