Jessica's Friday Five

Hi Reader, Nine years ago, I almost skipped a support group for second-time moms because I was newly out of the ICU after a dangerous birth experience and not feeling up to meeting new people. I nearly backed out of a community painting class I'd signed up for this week because I felt too busy to fit it in. Both times, I forced myself out of my comfort zone – and both decisions proved invaluable. That moms' group provides daily support and laughs for me to this day, and the painting class...

Hi Reader, I imagine most of you have heard about the devastation of multiple active and uncontained fires in Los Angeles this week. As Californians ourselves (we're hundreds of miles from the fires, so we're safe right now), it's not been easy to focus during a week when many of our friends are evacuating their homes, out of power, and/or supporting their people who are. If you're impacted, please let us know if there are ways we can support you specifically as a Friday Five community (just...

Hi Reader, Welcome to the first Friday Five of 2025! If you like to set goals for the year or a word of the year, here are my best ideas for how to keep those top-of-mind so that you don't forget them. Yesterday I just added a free template for making a bookmark with your goals/word for 2025 if that would help you. Thank you for voting last week on where to donate our most recent affiliate commissions. I contributed $459 yesterday to World Central Kitchen on our collective behalf, bringing...

Hi Reader, It's been an honor to support nearly 6,000 of you in your leadership roles at work this year with these monthly suggestions for being a more effective and joyful manager. Leading workshops for 44 of you and your teams on various topics was even more fun. Here's to continuing our work together in 2025! Let's get to your Monthly Management Memo - as always with something bold, something new, something borrowed, and something to pursue. Something Bold - Suggest a Bad Idea If...

Hi Reader, It's Friday! If you're like me, it's hard to track what day of the week it is during this between-holiday time of year. I've learned the hard way as a small business owner that it's easy to forget to take days off during times like this, so I specifically planned out which days I would be working and not working during the few weeks where my kids are home for winter break. It's been lovely to not have to decide and re-decide whether to work on a given day - I'm just following my...

Hi Reader, Earlier this week, my aunt passed away after a brief fight with cancer. I found myself seeking out advice from my past self that I'd written after losing my mother earlier this year. I will travel this weekend to remember her with family, and try to take care of myself and my people throughout. Send me luck for smooth travels during a time of year when airports are not known for being calm and easy to manage. I suggest considering how you might find even half an hour to do...

Hi Reader, It's been a bit of "a week" over here. One family member got a new diagnosis and has entered hospice care, another was in a car accident and is hospitalized, and annual blood test results for another showed something a bit off that might be no big deal or potentially a big deal. I made some hard decisions on things to stop doing so that I can prioritize other things more. There's been moments of love all throughout, but it's also a lot right now. I am planning to put on my coziest...

Hi Reader, This week started off with the sad passing of my 1o-year-old's hamster. She was pretty shaken up by it, but many of you gave great advice on social media when I solicited your suggestions for supporting her through the loss. Thank you. It's also been so fun to see some of you say hi in FLOWN sessions this week! Over here in my home, we're looking forward to a weekend full of friends and the start of a new basketball season for my 8-year-old. I hope you've got something you're...

Hi Reader, I don't know about you, but I am already feeling the pull of the new year energy when it comes to my plans and the fresh start energy that always comes with that. At the same time, I'm anxious about what is ahead for the most vulnerable members of my community with the transfer of power here in the US. Both are true simultaneously in a complex mix of feelings about the future. Let's get to your Friday Five, shall we? Gift Guide: I've been saving up a handful of planned gifts to buy...