Hello Reader,

I've had my company Social Venturers for ten years but my transition back into full-time self-employment has put new wind under my wings!

Thanks to signing on two national partners that I'm very excited about working with (more in the coming weeks!), I am also bringing the podcast back in 2025 (you heard it here first!).

And not a moment to soon: My obsession with independent bookshops and small businesses needs to be financed SOMEHOW😂

While ambitious and fun projects like a brand refresh and new business cards will have to wait, I'm hoping I can get your 2 cents on a fresh tagline that signals to website visitors "Hey, this is EXACTLY what I've been looking for!":

Do none of these appeal to you? That's actually awesome, too! I'd love to hear what DOES resonate. Hit "reply" to this email and let me know!

Thank you for being part of building my business! And because I love nothing more than sharing what I learn in real-time, I'm sharing my three favorite service-provider-business-resources in my new section Shen-Anika-ns below⬇️

Read on to see what I've been thinking about, reading and working on:

Between my ears

Life, most recently: Things I'm excited about, pondering and trying out:

• Love a drink at the end of the day but don't love alcohol? May I introduce you to loose leaf (and bagged) tea from Rishi? They source the most delicious and delicate organic teas from around the world and I LOVE making myself a GIANT cup while I settle in with my book at night. Use this link for $15 off your first order.
• [For my locals] I'm hosting not one but TWO book events in October!
  • October 1 | Independent Bookshops in the Valley: A conversation with New York Times bestselling author Evan Friss and a panel of Indie bookshop owners.
  • October 16 | International Book Club feat. Prague by Arthur Phillips (pick up your copy at Staunton Books & Tea).
• I've been really digging this Nicoise Salad by Eating Birdfood. It's ideal for meal prep.
• A few years ago, my husband and I read Razor Girl by Carl Hiaasen. Now Apple TV is streaming Bad Monkey (the first part in the series) and it's hugely entertaining!
• The lovely April Auger-Perrin of AP Styled has been promoting Second-Hand September and hosted a clothing swap! I handed my gently-but-no-longer-worn items to the next owner and grabbed a few pre-loved items to update my fall wardrobe. All without spending a cent! You can watch a little recap here and give her a follow on the good ol' gram while you're there - her content is GREAT!

On my Bookshelf

After a week of grey skies and in anticipation of Halloween, I'm in the mood for some dark and spooky reading. I picked up T​he City of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, one of my all-time favorite authors who sadly passed away in 2020.

If I didn't have 60(!) unread books on my to-read list, I would love nothing more than to re-read The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series:

• ​The Shadow of the Wind​
• ​The Angel's Game​
• ​The Prisoner of Heaven​
• ​The Labyrinth of the Spirits (which is hands-down the BEST ending ever written for a 4-part series).

If you're buying any books, PLEASE buy from your local Indie bookshop (if they don't have it on their shelves, they'll happily order them for you) OR shop via Bookshop.org OR give a home to pre-loved books by buying them used.

Please and thank you ❤️

Shen-ANIKA-ns

Here are my 3 favorite resources for starting and growing a service-based small business:

1. ​Minima Designs: Michelle Martello is one of the smartest, funniest and down-to-earth humans I have ever met. She also creates kick-ass content to teach us what is what in the world of digital strategy and marketing. I have worked with her through programs, consulting and have read every guide she's ever published front to back.
2. ​Badass your Brand. It's an unconventional business book but Pia Silva has taught me everything I know about packaging, pricing and brand positioning. You wouldn't know it from the cover but her content is solid.
3. ​Her first 100k: Podcast. Book. You name it. Tori Dunlap has helped me understand how to invest and plan for retirement. As someone who has never had a 401(k) retirement plan, and likely never will, I learned a ton from her about emergency funds, financial planning, spending patterns etc.

On my radar

Here are events to keep an eye on:

• October 6-9: Entrepreneurship Funders Network Annual Convening, Baltimore, Maryland (exclusively for foundations and other entrepreneurship-focused funders)
• October 7-9: University Economic Development Association’s (UEDA) Annual Summit, South Bend, Indiana
• October 22-24: E.Builders Forum, Kansas City, MO
• October 28-30: SOCAP Global, San Francisco
• October 30 - November 1: Startup Champions Network Summit, Bay Area, California
• November 14-15: Innovation Ecosystem Summit (virtual)

What events are missing that other changemakers should know about?

I will be back in your inbox in two weeks!

In camaraderie,

Anika