I am making a few public-facing changes and reclaiming my attention. If you only have time to skim the top of this post, know this:
I’m thankful for you.
For me, 2016 – 2019 were one long 2020. As I think about 2021 and beyond, I am determined to be mindful, present, and yes, grateful in all aspects of life.
What’s Changing
This space will host all content across social media.
Algorithm changes mean I have more followers but reach fewer people than ever. I’m tired of living in a perpetual spin class where I create free content for billionaires who constantly move the line. I still use Instagram and LinkedIn if you want to find me. I include links at the end of this post.
Going forward, I’ll include snippets of these posts on my social channels. If you want more details, please come to my site! Links will be included with each social entry.
My upcoming novel is a departure from my usual work.
After putting out two books while very unwell, I have been more deliberate and intentional with my current novel. The Evangelicals: A Novel has two themes: Politics and religion. I set the story in the 1980s during the rise of the Moral Majority, because I grew up in that world. I understand how they produced the national dysfunction we have. We already see the fruits of their end game in recent Supreme Court nominations.
Will it be controversial? Yep.
Am I afraid some people will hate it? Absolutely.
Do I care? Nope.
From 2016 – 2019, private issues rendered me incapable of making this book as good as it can be. The book is complex, the subject matter in-your-face. I want the writing to match.
Stellar feedback from my editor helped me make a better book. It’s currently out with advance readers, all people who are pulling for me to tell the best story possible. If you want to be among the first to know when you can read, subscribe to my newsletter HERE.
Beginning 1 January 2021, I will only speak or write for a fee.
I hit a wall this year. Okay, several walls. One of the biggest came when a large chamber of commerce invited me to speak to their women’s group. I quoted them my fee. They replied that they expected me to do the speech for free.
Drive ten hours round trip. For free.
Put myself up in a hotel. At my expense.
Be exposed to covid. For free.
I asked them to find a sponsor for my fee. They said they couldn’t because they’d never done it before, and I should be willing to work for exposure and book sales. A CHAMBER GROUP DEDICATED TO HELPING FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS SUCCEED IN BUSINESS TOLD ME TO WORK FOR FREE.
I uttered many choice words. My publicist responded with a professional No thank you.
In March, I despaired that I may never give another speech or put my books in more hands. These months have revealed how hard I was working for everyone else, and how much I can have if I slow down, focus, and demand what I’m worth. I’m grateful for 2020, because it helped me understand how I was stuck. Working for exposure and giving things away for free are two cornerstones of the American Way, AND THEY SUCK FOR CREATORS.
On 2 December 2020, I’m speaking virtually at the Menomonee Falls WI Public Library. For a fee.
In February 2021, I’m keynote speaker at the National Funeral Directors Association State Conference in Columbia, South Carolina. For a fee.
If your group needs a virtual program and you’re willing to pay a fee, visit my contact page HERE. I’d love to get you on my 2021 calendar.
I gave myself permission to own my success.
For the longest time, I felt like I had to downplay my accomplishments. Or I talked about who I knew and what I did too much.
All because I am not confident in my value or abilities.
I’m still learning how to be confident without arrogance or self-debasement. When I sit with what I’ve done and where I’ve been, I’m gobsmacked by every high. And I believe I can climb higher in 2021 and beyond.
I will never stop giving myself permission to try.
I won’t be on Facebook.
In August, I deactivated my Facebook account. We cannot complain about misinformation and propaganda and continue to feed its primary tumor.
Do you know what’s been nice? I mean, besides avoiding the crazy election drama? I’ve been closer than ever to a few people. I know who truly misses me when I’m not there, and I have more time to strengthen those relationships. When I’m not scrolling and clicking like, I can video conference with one friend, participate in multiple chat groups, write notes and letters, and stay connected to dear folks around the world.
Sometimes there will be woo-woo.
I share my yoga and meditation journey every Saturday. Most of the time, I write about how my practice helps me stay grounded and sane.
But today, I want to brag.
When the instructor announced the challenge pose at the beginning of a recent class, I laughed out loud. “I’ll never do that!” I scoffed. I may not win a Most Graceful Pose Award, but I’m proud of this bound lizard.
Which is why we shouldn’t listen to those voices who tell us we can’t. Even if they are our own.
And to everyone who’s written to tell me how my yoga practice has encouraged you to either restart or begin your own journey, THANK YOU. I may not ever be a yoga influencer, but I’ll take those influential moments every time.
Find teasers on Instagram HERE.
Find professional-ish announcements on LinkedIn HERE.
21 Comments
So good to see you and I’m glad to know you are claiming all they you deserve and is rightfully yours
Good to see you too, Beth. I read a book partly set in Ann Arbor recently and thought of you.
I am doing something similar with my social media. I have been scrolling less and less and sharing less as well. Diminishing returns for social media engagement over the past several years has been ridiculous. I have a number of friends on IG, so I spend more time in DM there than anything else. And that is fine by me.
Love you and everything about you. Xoxox
You continue to be a great example to me. I love our IG chats. It’s empowering to set the terms of engagement and stick with them. Love you too sosososo much. xo
I’m happy to see that you are honoring yourself, Andra, by claiming your worth and accomplishments. It’s pretty crusty of those who think you should travel and speak for free, as if you have limitless funds or should be happy that they invited you. You are worth every cent of your fee and I’m anxiously awaiting your new novel. Your fans are all in need of a great piece of literature. 🙂
I wish I were speaking live in WI, but I’m grateful to speak virtually on Wednesday. My family has avoided covid there so far, for which we are grateful. Enjoy your holiday and stay safe and well. ❤️
Same to you, Andra! Be safe and healthy during the coming months.
I’ll still be wandering the periphery and sending good energy. In the read. I’ll be done next week. Stay tuned.
Staying tuned.
Glad you’re still creating, can’t believe people still ask you to speak for free. Thinking of you and MTM, hope you have a safe and happy holiday. I read about how you’re not going away this year, and now i don’t know who to live vicariously through this year.
Christmas 2020 can eat a bag of dicks, seriously. An entire bag.
Nothing is the same this year.
I can send you a travel photo every day from our preposterous cache. ? 2020 has sucked for many, but it has been especially unkind to you. You cross my mind daily.
I keep a Commonplace Book. It is a journal type book in which I place words that stir, inspire, calm etc. I just now wrote in my own hand your words, Andra. 🙂 Thank you. “Which is why we shouldn’t listen to those voices who tell us we can’t. Even if they are our own.”
Honored to be there, Penny. Please say hi to Tom.
The first thought in my mind was, oh shit, what is Andra going to do now? The image conjured crazy images of an impossible hike through Siberia. I was relieved to learn there was no such plan. ?Congratulations on closing your facebook account. Not an easy decision but it is amazing to discover the world beyond its limited boundaries. A friend told me about a documentary titled The Social Dilemma. You will never look at algorithms the same way (1984). I look forward to hearing more about your upcoming work as well as reading your latest books. Continue to take care of yourself and be well.
The main image is the Wright Museum in Kill Devil Hills NC. ?
I am supposed to fly your way mid-January but I expect to bump it again given the pandemic situation. I’m going back to Iceland to work in Feb and March. I hope you are staying safe in CA, though you probably know enough about this to scare us all to death. Are you still working at home? Or did they come up with ways for you to get back to the mother ship?
Wright Museum! That explains the long straight path. Very cool. I can’t imagine flying anywhere right now on a commercial flight with strangers. So far we have avoided colds, the flu, and Covid-19. Work has kept me busy working at home but recently I have been going on site to work on the installation of equipment. Our program was deemed essential so they put controls in place so we stay on schedule. Where this is headed is unsettling based on the previous pandemic a century ago. California leaders have done a good job from the start. The S.F. Bay Area health departments have been very conservative in their handeling of the pandemic. Masks when outside your home have been mandatory since the beginning. We now have a 10 pm tp 5 am curfew. They are now warning of returning to a shelter-in-place. I expect the new administration to follow California’s lead on a national level.
I flew to Iceland and back earlier this fall. They have it down there. Test at the airport. Mandatory quarantine. Second test 5 – 6 days later. Free once second test is clean. I also used their tracking app. Being there was like going back to pre-covid times. No cases in the tiny village. I look forward to being back and truthfully feel safer there.
We’ve needed science-based national mandates all along. I hope we get them, though too late for the many who have died.
I fully agree. With stricter, science-based mandates, we would have fewer cases and far fewer deaths. Our Governor started out strong on the science-based approach but compromised to recover the economy. The laboratory director has stayed with the scientific method and our works controls are very rigid. Everyone is to work at home unless there is a specific reason to be on site. We took a short trip to Hope Valley (south of Lake Tahoe) and found several hiking trails where we could feel like normal (besides putting up a mask when passing others on the trail). If you make it back to Iceland, enjoy your time there. No doubt it is a good feeling to feel safe from the pandemic,
I will definitely enjoy being there. It’s the most gorgeous place I’ve ever been.
Stay safe.
Copying the 3 lines from your blog that hit me:
Will it be controversial? Yep.
Am I afraid some people will hate it? Absolutely.
Do I care? Nope.
Got yourself a new follower.
Look forward to getting to know you, Johnny!
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