KIS News Issue #35 - some links included in this issue may be affiliate links

This Week:

• January Money Challenge

• The Smartest Investment for 2025

• Free 2025 Planning Session

• My 2024 Numbers Wrapped

Life Update: And just like that 2024 comes to an end. I thought I’d serve a double helping of my newsletter this week, today to mark the end of the year, and then back to business as usual on Sunday.

It’s certainly been another wild ride in our household, especially when it comes to business, but after 18 years I’ve learnt to roll with the punches, and considering myself and my husband worked 7 days a week for 5 months selling one of our businesses this year, I think we’ve done pretty well and I don’t feel too scarred by it now the dust has settled!

Below is my round up in numbers, but overall I’m very happy with how 2024 played out. No I didn’t hit every goal, achieve every milestone or transform my entire life. But what I did was so much better than that. I moved the needle - I found a workout routine that finally works for me and stuck with it. I started running and kept running. I’ve continued to build a business and an income stream that has enabled me to take a sabbatical and spend time with my children. I’ve prioritised my finances and paid off debt. I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone and tried new things. Some worked out and some didn’t. And best of all, I’ve stayed true to my word of the year - money.

As a final wrap up to the year I want to thank you for being here. For trusting me in your inbox, for interacting with my content, for every comment, like, share and direct message. I hope you’ve found the content I’ve created for you this year useful, and maybe even inspiring enough to give you that push you needed to start. There’s nothing I love more than seeing people who started in my DMs go on to create amazing content, build businesses and even quit their jobs. It’s truly incredible and I’m so inspired by all of you every day.

Happy New Year! 🎊

Word of the year: consistency. If you read last week’s email you’ll know that I was all set on my word of the year being calm. But over Christmas it just wasn’t sitting quite right with me. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love more calm in my life. But actually, the thing I want to focus on more than anything is consistency. It’s something I consciously try and work on all the time and I’m much better at being consistent with some things rather than others. Parenting? Consistent. Every day, I will show up for my kids exactly how they need me on that day. Friend? Consistent. I talk to my school friends every day; we are consistently and unwaveringly there for each other. But there are lots of pretty big areas in my life where I’m not so consistent. Showing up on social media - I’m pretty good - but I’ve not nailed it. Showing up writing this email, again I’m pretty good, but I’m known to occasionally let the ball drop when life happens. Showing up for myself as a whole - not at all consistent. I’ll go through fits and spurts of eating well, remembering to drink enough water and move my body. And then when work gets busy, or I have a full-on schedule with my kids like I did before Christmas, it all goes out the window. And truly, I don’t like it. I know the power of discipline, habits, routine and consistency. And I want more of it in my life. For far too long I’ve been making excuses for myself for why I couldn’t show up - I have kids, I have a busy job, I have these businesses, I don’t have time… I can’t, I can’t do that, I’ll be setting myself up for failure… and I’m sick of it. They are rubbish excuses and I’m done showing up for everyone else and not for myself. So 2025 is the year I will be consistent.

Podcast to listen to: want to understand the psychology of setting and achieving goals? This episode is for you. 

Mindset Moodboard:

January Money Challenge

If sorting out your finances and making more money is on your bingo card for 2025 then my 14-day Money Challenge inside the Member’s Club is made for you!

Starting on the 6th of January we will be working together for 14 days to glow-up your finances, your money mindset and your relationship with numbers to kick-start your financial goals for 2025. We’re covering everything from how to set financial goals and price for profitability through to how to measure what matters, host a board meeting (regardless of how big or small your business is) and topping things off with a money mindset masterclass with the one and only Laura-Ann Moore. This challenge is completely free for members of the Keep It Simple Club and you can get started today with a free 7 day trial which unlocks everything inside of the community. Join here >>

Your smartest investment for 2025

Without a doubt the best investment I’ve ever made is in my own knowledge. I know that sounds like such a cliché but it’s true. Whilst logically it makes sense, invest in your own knowledge, use that knowledge to make money… money in = money out. For some reason, when it comes to making investments in business, or even in our life, we focus on things we associate with a more tangible output - investing in hiring someone to do X, Y or Z, investing in some software, or spending money on ads.

But here’s the thing: the best returns often come from the things that accumulate on your intangible balance sheet - your own knowledge and experience over time.

Knowledge, I’ve come to learn, is the ultimate investment. It doesn’t depreciate. And even better—it compounds. One skill, one strategy, or one system you learn today can ripple out into results for years to come.

Let me give some examples:

• Learning how to automate a key part of your business could save you hundreds of hours every year.

• Mastering email marketing could unlock thousands of pounds in revenue every single month.

• Understanding how to leverage AI or automation could give you back precious time—for your family, your goals, or even just yourself.

Where to Start: Smart Tools for Building Knowledge

If you’re ready to invest in your knowledge, here are a few of my go-to recommendations that are either free or low-cost.

1. Learning Platforms

   • Coursera: Affordable or even free courses on everything from social media strategy to productivity hacks.

   • YouTube: Swap Netflix for YouTube and learn a new skill in a few days or even hours. I know it might seem obvious but there are a lot of people sharing things for free on this platform and chances are you’re not taking advantage of it!

2. Books That Shift Perspectives

   • Atomic Habits by James Clear: A game-changer for building habits that stick and creating momentum.

   • Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller: Essential reading if you want to attract the right customers and stand out in a crowded market.

3. Short Workshops or Challenges

   • Many creators and communities offer bite-sized workshops on topics like building funnels, mastering AI, or refining your sales skills. *If learning how to monetise AI and build customGPTs is on your list then let me make a shameless plug for my own masterclass on the topic here >

This week, before you go steam-rolling into 2025, think about what you could learn that would create the biggest return for your life or business this year. Whether it’s mastering a new tool, building a habit, or learning a strategy that saves you time…

Free plan with me 2025

The Virgo in me absolutely LOVES the start of a New Year. And whilst I’m a huge advocate of just starting and taking immediate action on step one as soon as you think of an idea, there’s something special about starting with a fresh slate at the beginning of a New Year and making a solid plan of action.

So bring your best pen, crack open your planner, grab whatever stationary tickles your fancy or just get yourself some blank sheets of paper and let’s plan out 2025! By the end of this session you’ll be excited, confident and raring to go to make 2025 one of your favourite years yet.

When: Thursday 2nd January 2025 - 8pm - 9:30pm GMT

Where: Zoom

This session is free for Keep It Simple Club members and you can join the community on a free 7 day trial to get access to the full community and attend this planning session here >>

2024 Wrapped - My Year in Numbers

The time has come. The metrics you’ve all been waiting for. Or maybe you haven’t but I will share them anyway… here’s how 2024 ended for me…

Revenue - I started the year with a PUNCHY goal of £300,000. And just like last year, I’ve missed my target. BUT I came close(ish!) I finished on £218,154.44 . I’ll give this all a healthy bit of context and a reminder that this is a top-line revenue and definitely isn’t my personal income for the year. Various taxes to the tune of around 55% of this number will go straight away (sob!). But considering I also sold a business, was on maternity leave for half the year and generated all of this income from my “side hustle” I’m absolutely chuffed.

Social Stats - I wanted to hit 100,000 followers on TikTok and I ended on 109,801.

Email List - My goal was 25,000 subscribers and I’ll finish on 10,345. To be honest, I just didn’t put in the groundwork here with getting people on my email list and it kind of took a back seat. I did however manage to publish 36 issues of this newsletter and I feel like I’ve found my groove with showing up here, staying consistent and creating in a different medium which I absolutely love.

Fitness - This year I wanted to get my strength back postpartum and for the first time in my life, I’ve actually cracked a work out routine with 3 runs and 3 gym sessions a week. It’s been mentally extremely tough to be disciplined on this front and I’m still a work in progress going into 2025 BUT the accountability of having pals to run with and investing in some personal training has done wonders. Working out has been a long-term lifestyle shift and goal for me and by baking accountability into my plan for how I was actually going to achieve this shift has meant that I’ve actually done it.

Businesses Sold - 1. This was one of our biggest achievements this year - working 7 days a week for nearly 5 months with absolutely no respite to sell our broadband business. My husband has stayed as CEO and as part of the deal I resigned from my position on the board and working in the business to take a two year sabbatical. Of course, this has lasted about 2 minutes as I’m already working on launching another new business in 2025. Stay tuned.

Happy New Year & remember to keep it simple.

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