Hello Reader,

The end-of-year months are very different this year.

Instead of rushing to get everything done before the holidays, I got real about what can be achieved early on. The rest has to wait until 2024.

Instead of planning out my 90-day sprints, I left my whiteboard white (it's mentally taxing, I won't lie).

Instead of last-minute gift ordering online, I took care of Santa in November and shopped mostly local and at independent businesses (the Valley is great for this!).

Instead of putting off deadlines, I completed my least-favorite tasks as I went along.

I invested in three online courses to hone my skills during some holiday downtime. I enjoy hanging out in PJs as much as the next person, but after 3 days at home, I need to put my brain to work: I signed up for a course for creators, a course for writers and a course to develop my storytelling skills. And they're waiting for me whenever I'm ready.

Instead of looking for validation of my efforts from others, I'm turning inside. I prioritize things that I enjoy and that make life better for future-me:

• Hosting a murder mystery party for my birthday this week (Yee haw!)
• Seeing the dentist a lot over the last two weeks to get caught up on long-term dental care (ouch!)
• Getting a subscription to a German online magazine to feel more connected to my home country
• Going to mineral warm springs with two friends last Friday
• Meeting monthly with my new bookkeeper (I sleep more easily at night knowing where my $$$ are at)
• Going home to Germany to see my family before Christmas

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Between my ears

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

• I finished The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert - a historic novel well told. If you're looking for a book as a Christmas gift, this is a solid choice.
• Ever since I got hooked on Her First 100K, I've been on a journey of understanding money and investment. Tori's book Financial Feminist (also a great choice for Christmas!) is now available free of charge if you're a Spotify premium user.
• I'm curating a collection of my favorite wholefoods, gluten-free, mostly vegetarian recipes.

Order recipe collection

• We have an incredible community theater in Staunton called Silver Line Theatre Exchange. After a few months off, my daughter is returning to their Trolley Drama for creative play and storytelling.

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On my desk

What I'm working on right now:

• The new issue of Millpond Collective just dropped! If you want to see why I love my community and read my article about an unusual dinner series, check out Millpond Collective Issue 9!
• I'm updating Anika Lives with my favorite places in the Shenandoah Valley!
• We're celebrating the first year of Creative Mornings Shenandoah Valley with a birthday celebration/ fundraiser/ dance party in January. For my local subscribers - come join us!
• If you're curious about what an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder does day-to-day, read my monthly blog series Field Notes from the Ecosystem:

Field Notes

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Featured Episode

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On boundaries Isaac Jeffries is one of the people I most respect when it comes to boundaries and separating my professional from my personal identity. In case you need some of that advice, here it is: Listen & subscribe

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On my radar

I come across a lot of resources that I want to share with fellow ecosystem builders and changemakers. If we're connected on LinkedIn or Instagram, they might already show up in your feed! In case you missed any, here's my curated list from the last two weeks:

My friends at EcoMap tragically lost their visionary leader and fearless CEO Pava LaPere earlier this year. With the P.L.A.C.E. Fellowship, they're honoring Pava's legacy by investing in the next generation of ecosystem builders. I'm incredibly excited about this because I've long craved this type of program for our field and think it's a beautiful way to remember Pava by. Check it out and - if you're in a position to support - please do so!

​Systems Sanctuary is launching the Sanctuary Sangha, an international community for systems change practitioners. This program will run throughout 2024 and you can get all the details here.

Mark your calendars for 2024:

• February 4-6: International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Leadership Summit, Phoenix, Arizona
• March 8-16: SXSW, Austin, Texas
• April 14-17: INBIA's 38th annual conference, San Antonio, Texas
• May 6-8: Main Street Now Conference, Birmingham, Alabama
• May 29-31: Inventures, Calgary, Canada
• June 13-14: Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research Conference, Boulder, Colorado
• June 16-18: IEDC's Economic Future Forum​

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I will be taking the rest of the year off from this newsletter and look forward to popping back into your inbox in 2024! I hope that you, too, can move the non-urgent to the new year and give yourself the gift of slowing down.

Happy holidays!

In camaraderie,

Anika