Reading · Overcoming Financial Trauma

6/30/26

Happy Summer!

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Juneteenth!

Happy Knicks take over New York Day!

A lot has happened since I last wrote…(here) and I was suddenly reminded that I haven’t been showing you as much love as you deserve.

I’ve taken to journaling (by hand) many of the thoughts, ideas, and experiences I’ve been having of late rather than running directly to the internet and sharing my business with the entire world before I had time to really sit with it… In truth, I’ve been having the hardest time of my adult life of late. Every time I think I begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel the tunnel seems to collapse in front of me and there I am digging myself out again (and posting in vivid detail about it on social media).

I said all that to say, I’m here. I’m smiling. I’m optimistic in a very real way because those are things I have direct control over and that is how I’m choosing to spend my energy.

This was hard for me emotionally despite being 8 months removed from the incident because it finally became real that all of my belongings were destroyed. I watched as the team bagged up and tossed all of the artifacts of more than a decade of memories, gifts, and things I purchased to make my house a home. My first bed, my living room set (or what was left of it), books (oh the books…), all tossed into a dumpster. I let a few tears drop, then, quite ceremoniously I took the first swing with the sledgehammer to the wall initiating the demo.

Now, there are no walls. There is no floor (just sub flooring). There is no “home”. Just a gutted echo of what was… and I’m beginning to be ok with it.

I delivered a talk to HR professionals introducing financial trauma in a TED style micro talk that lasts 5 minutes with 15 seconds per slide for 20 slides that auto advance. Needless to say it was TOUGH… but we got through it. My talk kicked off the event and I’ve attached the video above for your viewing pleasure.

As I refine processes in my business;

leaning into my role as a keynote speaker,
creating thought leadership pieces,
IP creation that will be licensed in the future,
promoting “Overcoming Financial Trauma”,
etc…

I’ve realized that I’m doing A LOT.

A frequent point of consideration lately has been whether or not to keep this newsletter active and if so, how do I want to leverage it.

It’s funny because this newsletter has served multiple purposes over the years. It’s been

Reflective cultural commentary and critiques tied to financial trauma (its rise to fame)
Thought leadership pieces as advice and resources to refer back to (what has made it award winning)
A diary of sorts sharing my thoughts, experiences, trials, and accomplishments (this gets the most engagement).

One thing however is certain, this publication is the single most valuable business asset I own.

If Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, & Twitter (because who calls it X) were to go tomorrow, this (growing) list would remain.

So with that being said I want to leave the future of this publication to you.

What kind of content mix do you prefer to receive? A magazine style publication with articles and insights? A heart to heart “dear diary” type where I share my raw thoughts, trials, experiences, and accomplishments? Reflective cultural commentary and critiques tied to financial trauma? A blend of all three?

What I’m really asking is what is going to drive you to open the emails, visit the page, and click through the content? Should I archive the old posts and start fresh? Is there something there you feel I should keep static? Let me know in the comments or respond to the poll below.

Truly, if you take the time to provide me with feedback I appreciate you. Sometimes when I write, even though I know the emails are being opened and read, I feel like I’m speaking into a void. This is a sincere attempt to improve your experience and my effort.

Thanks in advance.

I’ll talk to you soon.

Shutting It Down

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