July Jammin’

Greetings friends,

Happy July 1st! The new month kicks off on a blue sky Monday that is also refreshingly brisk for this time of year. It’s a short holiday week, the town is buzzing at its peak, and I’m feeling good!

West Cape May charm! Hydrangea, cedar siding, and the red, white and blue - what’s not to love!

I realize some time has elapsed time since I last sat at my laptop to prioritize blogging, but doing so now feels quite refreshing. In the past, I’ve written about the balance of being productive and routine oriented, but also not forcing things just to check a box. Be intentional in all that you do. That is definitely the theme of this month’s reflection.

In the early days of transitioning from regular old SL to new business SL, I thought I had to switch up the way I would manage my social media. In my mind, I needed to post a certain amount of times a week to grow my following and share less about my personal life because I was now a business page. If you are a regular here, you know that strategy didn’t last long. I post what feels meaningful and will strike when the iron is hot, or in other words, when I actually have something of substance to share.

This concept of being intentional can apply to a lot of lenses beyond just social media. I also envisioned myself being hyper busy with markets this summer, which isn’t the case. Instead, I decided to only do a few pop ups that make sense for my schedule and would be positive for my brand’s positioning in the local community. Simple as that and it feels spot on. Trust your intuition and make decisions that feel right for you.

Beach weather is here to stay! We love Poverty Beach (the very end of Beach Ave) in CM.

All of this made me think about defining success and what it means to me. I’m sure at one point or another in life you’ve been asked that same question. It seems like it is becoming clearer as my time with SL progresses. Sometimes I feel pessimistic since it remains a small operation nearly a year after inception. I am freelancing other jobs as my primary sources of income and this is still very much a side hustle. I put a lot of pressure on myself anticipating the summer season here all year long. I expected things to *take off* since that’s when all of the other businesses in town are slammed.

Things haven’t necessarily taken off, but there are other aspects of success that may be less obvious than fiscal growth. One of those aspects is community. SL has helped my husband and I to settle into our new community a lot easier than if it didn’t exist. I have met complete strangers over coffee who have blossomed into new friends thanks to this. I have connected with other local business owners and customers with similar interests both in person and online. It is fantastic! While community is not a monetary gain, it has made my husband and I feel fulfilled in our choice to move here. My hope is that remaining authentic and building genuine connections will help me to continue to find my path as a business owner. I recently read a quote from a successful female podcaster who is really finding her stride in recent times. She reminded the audience that she has had her podcast for 5 years and she is just now feeling the true hype of success. It takes time to figure all of this out and that helped to put things into perspective as well.

My little wildflower patch on the side of my house is my pride and joy at the moment!

Business stuff aside, our first summer as Cape May residents has been very fun. The ability to sit on the beach and swim in the ocean at the drop of a dime is not lost on me. The gardening and abundance of Jersey Fresh produce is amazing. The festivals are non-stop. There is truly SO much to do down here between all of the shore points! Candidly, I don’t think our brains have processed that this is reality and that we are not actually on vacation. I love that I can host friends and family for their getaways and bring them into our world of fun. And I also have a new appreciation for the slower seasons. I am happy to see local businesses thriving, but also look forward to the quaint, cozy times and slower pace of life come fall and winter. It’s all so interesting to experience! I wonder if we’re destined to stay here for the long haul, because for now I don’t want to give any of this up or be anywhere else!

Caught the sunset with friends at Harpoon’s on the Bay last weekend. It does not get old!

That seems like a very positive note to conclude this month’s blog with. My hope is that the takeaway is don’t force things and take a look around at what *is* working for you. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you can and should take pride in!

Xo,

L