Y’all, it’s been a lot since January.
Wrapping up the rebrand (the final bits are almost done!), finishing the book draft (I get to see my cover on Monday!), and navigating a mess of economic shifts, political tension, and recession talk. I know I’m not the only one feeling it.
And if you’ve been around here for a while, you know I’ve been in go mode for four years straight—no real breaks, just one foot in front of the other, always building.
My creativity needs a rest. My nervous system needs a breather.
So, I’m giving myself a Strategic Summer Slowdown.
Not a hard stop—just using the systems I have created to downshift the tempo in my business.
I’m doubling down on Resilient Marketing and Relationship Rhythms: the two areas that sustain my business even when I’m not at full tilt.
Resilient Marketing means using my existing content—long-form IP, articles, and videos—as strategic tools in my marketing journey, instead of feeling trapped by the pressure to create new content. (Deeper Business Members, there’s a full training on this in the Library!)
Relationship Rhythms is my system for staying intentional about building, deepening, and asking my network for help where it matters—without burning myself out. It’s the backbone of my business, even in the quiet months.
Here’s how I’m navigating this summer with these philosophies in mind:
Turning Deeper Business Dialogues into a Book Club
Every month for the last two years, I’ve taught a new class to build my body of work. But rather than creating a new teaching, I’m transitioning that monthly rhythm into a Book Club for the next year, starting this summer. Each month, we’ll dig into a chapter from my upcoming book, applying those frameworks to your business. I realized I don't need to create net-new content, because I just wrote a book! I should be leveraging that core IP. Attendees (and Deeper Business Members) will get early chapters before the book even becomes available for purchase, which may be a flywheel that gets the book into more hands.
Using the Newsletter to Refresh the Deeper Foundations Methodology
Weekly newsletters can sometimes feel like a burden (what new, deeply-insightful essay do I need to create this week), but I’ve been building a rich body of work that I can revisit. Some of my early pieces—like the Business Models spectrum—need to catch up to where my thinking is now. So instead of starting from scratch, I’m sharpening and deepening what’s already there, then sharing that via the newsletter and refreshing my blog posts at the same time.
Folding the Book Launch into Relationship Rhythms
It’s easy to treat a launch as a separate, all-consuming activity. But what if it’s woven into the relationship-building you’re already doing? This is how I'm approaching my book launch.
- Expanding my network with a reason to reach out—my book or a selected topic might be a great fit for their community.
- Deepening my network by sending books to my biggest supporters (anyone know how to produce and ship custom packaging?).
- Asking my network to join the launch team, speak in their communities, or write a review.
Maintaining Momentum on the Podcast
For me, input fuels creativity. And I know Aggressively Human listeners thrive on input too. Keeping the podcast rhythm steady this summer means continuing to get new exciting input, deepen relationships with guests and Meg, build business assets, and stay connected with current and potential clients. Does it bring in floods of new leads? No. But it's a creative outlet that's a joy for me and (I hope!) for our listeners.
Stepping Away from Social Media (Mostly)
The tides have been turning on even the places I liked to spend time online. Over the past month or so, LinkedIn’s had a noticeable uptick in sponsored content. Substack’s getting overrun with all of the influencers who used to make bank on LinkedIn—and they're bringing their "generic posts as notes" strategy to the platform. What used to be a refuge now feels like noise. So, I’m taking a step back to read actual books, to think bigger, and to give my nervous system a chance to exhale.
How you can embrace a strategic slowdown:
Here are a few questions to consider if you’re thinking about your own slowdown:
Where do you get clients?
If relationships are your main source of leads, don’t let outreach stop. It doesn’t have to mean endless Zoom calls or hours spent on emailing. In the Relationship Rhythms course, I’ll share ways to build and deepen your network—without burning out in front of the computer this summer.
Where can you reuse or refine your IP?
Revisit your previous content and frameworks. How can you update and share them with fresh eyes instead of starting from scratch every time?
How can you make your efforts multi-purpose?
Instead of ephemeral posts, think in assets: a podcast that becomes a relationship tool, an article that you can share with your network and prospects, an outreach email that also invites people into your next launch.
What can you pause or stop doing?
This summer, I’m pausing social media and reducing calls so I can refocus my energy on what matters. What might you set aside for a season to rest and recharge?
P.S. Curious about Relationship Rhythms. my approach to build a consistent, trust-based outreach system that fits your business and your energy? This is the backbone of my summer strategy, and it could be yours too. Registration opens next week; join the waitlist now to get first access.