How A Weekend Project Turned Into A Mindset Shift

Core Article: How A Weekend Project Turned Into A Mindset Shift

Paragraph I’m Pondering: “When we convene day upon day in the same space…”

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “My mind is clear…”

Book Review: Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield

Cool Stuff: Finally, an answer to my shower thoughts…

AI Info & Resources: Robots powered by insect brains… huh???

How A Weekend Project Turned Into A Mindset Shift

This past weekend we had some really nice cool weather, which was very uncustomary for 3-digit summers in Redding…

So my spouse and I decided to finally tackle something that has been on our home to-do list for what feels like forever—build the new shed for the side yard.

The goal? So that we can create more space in the garage by having all the garden tools easily accessible in the shed.

Yeah, right about now you might be thinking to yourself, “What in the heck does Shannon and her spouse building a shed have to do with marketing?”

Well… hang out with me for a few more minutes, I promise, it will be worth it! 🙂

Yep, we got one of those “build a tool shed” kits on Amazon. It was gonna be one of those long, drawn-out projects that might make or break the relationship. Hence, we kept putting it off! 😉

Have you been down this “make or break building something with your spouse, partner, or friend” road before?

Doing a project like this is NEVER simple. Yet, why do we fool ourselves that it will be? Maybe it’s cuz we wouldn’t start it otherwise, or we’d pay someone to put it together for us!

What’s worth noting here is that anything worth building, whether it’s a tool shed to free up space, a business, a course, or a dream, there’s the plan, and then there’s real life.

Well, 53 steps, thousands of parts, and many hours in the sun later, the shed was built.

So, here’s what I noticed: This project felt more like a metaphor for my experiences as an entrepreneur, as well as for my clients and students.

You have a vision, a goal, or maybe a map of what you want to accomplish.

Then, you second-guess yourself, try to rush the process, get stuck, make mistakes, or just get overwhelmed, frustrated with yourself or the people you’re building it with…

Does any of this resonate?

Have you ever felt like you should know how to do something, only to discover you’re knee-deep in confusion, with technology, next steps, or maybe, like us, fighting with boards, hammers, and screws? (Thank goodness we laughed a lot during this process.)

I’m happy to share that Alice and I are still very much talking to each other. And thank goodness we laughed a lot during this process.

What I also noticed as we dug into this project was that I had to follow the directions implicitly, which was weird for me. It was as if the directions felt like safety. I had this fear that if I didn’t help her correctly, the whole thing would be built backwards or something… And I’d be at fault.

Yet, I know better. It’s interesting what comes out when you’re actually working on something…

Cuz, how often in your business, or your life, do you let fear of getting it wrong keep you stuck in place?

Maybe you’re like me and feel like you have to overprepare for everything.

Or, have you ever stopped mid-project cuz you were afraid it wasn’t “ready yet?”

When this happens, there’s one truth I keep reminding myself of:

You can’t learn how to build something by just reading the directions manual! You have to get in there and get your hands dirty. You have to start, mess up, adjust, and then keep going.

Yeah, sometimes not so easy for me either!

There was one moment in putting the shed together that I thought we put a wall on backwards, which meant we had to take a lot of pieces apart. I was hot and ready to call it quits.

I got really frustrated, and my inner critic tried to ruin the day. You know the one: “Shannon, you should have read the directions more carefully.” And, “You should have known better…” and more…

You know the favorite battle cry of “Shoulding all over yourself?!”

That’s when it was time to step back and take a well-deserved break. Then, when we came back to it, we got curious, laughed at our own issues, and then we figured it out together.

The big question is….

WHAT are you REALLY building?

Whether you’re mapping out a new project, writing your first sales page, or creating a whole new path in your business—this journey is less about getting it right and more about discovering what’s right for YOU.

So let me ask you:

Where in your business (Or your life) are you trying to do it perfectly?
What mistakes are you afraid to make?
Where could you offer yourself a little more grace—and keep ‘building’ anyway?

Cuz here’s what I know:

You’re here to build YOUR version of success, something meaningful, aligned, and uniquely yours.

It’s time to come back to the plan AND YOURSELF.

In Soulful Marketing, I share a lot about creating from clarity—not chaos.

And sometimes clarity means giving yourself the space to pause, ask for help, regroup, and remember your plan is a guide, not a prison.

The same way that shed came together—one part at a time, with a few breaks and laughs and do-overs— this is also how your business comes together too.

So, if you’re ever feeling stuck… or a little lost in the middle of the project…

I want to invite you to sit at my virtual kitchen table. I’ll make us a cup of virtual tea and we can take a breath together…

Now, I want to ask you:

What are you building, really?
What’s your deeper why?
Where do you need support, perspective, or a shift in mindset?

If you feel ready now, grab a piece of paper, your journal, or your “Notes” on your phone and answer the questions above.

If you want some guidance, you know how to reach me 🙂

Just remember, maybe it’s not the strategy or the how-to tactics that are missing—it’s the mindset, the permission, and the support.

You’re allowed to build it your way.

Good enough is not a cop-out. It’s a path to get it out the door.

If you feel so moved, tell me… what are you building right now?
And what’s the next best step that would feel soulfully aligned to take?

Send me a note. Or grab a cup of coffee/tea and journal it out.

And I’m right here, hands at your back – ”tools at the ready.” 🙂

Paragraph I’m Pondering

“The monks in their saffron robes mount the steps to the zendo at the same hour each morning. When the Abbott strikes the chime, the monks place their palms together and sit. You and I may have to operate in a more chaotic universe. But the object remains the same: to approach the mystery via order, commitment, and passionate intention. When we convene day upon day in the same space at the same time, a powerful energy builds up around us. This is the energy of our intention, of our dedication, of our commitment. The goddess sees this energy and she rewards it.”
~ Steven Pressfield, Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work, Bestselling Author of The War of Art

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire

“Every goal I set is already achieved in spirit—I now walk the path to its physical expression.”
“My mind is clear, my heart is open, and my spirit is grounded.”
“My life is a testament to what is possible when purpose meets passion.

Book Review

Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work by Steven Pressfield

Cool Stuff

FINALLY, the answer to why all my best ideas come to me in the shower!
This is one of the ultimate and original self-made women of the early 1900s. She was an absolute force in her generation.
This is pretty wild. Remember Alan Turing, the famous code breaker of World War II. The movie, The Imitation Game, was largely about him. It seems his famous note and all his papers were found and were saved from the shredder, and some big money exchanged hands for them.

AI Info and Resources

This won’t come as a huge surprise – CEO’s now want an AI clone of themselves. Hmmmm….
This is pretty wild, dancing robots and DeepSeek are being powered by this university to help China win the tech race.
Now this is a bit out there. Yet in AI these days, maybe not as much as we think… Check out this article on Robots powered by insect brains that might be used on Mars… Huh???

Weekly Photos

This is what Emma was doing while Alice and I were putting together the shed. I’m not sure how that’s comfortable… And yet, she sleeps.
There’s me, doing my best to “study” the ole 40-page manual of 53 steps. In the shade of course, it was fricking hot on there and my sensitive skin had to beware of the sun.
Alice is doing what she does best, power tools in hand, getting the walls held together. And her favorite hobby is creating stained glass in her studio. And nope, we had professionals from Tuff Shed build that for her.
There she is, the shed all completed, everything right side up, and we even got the window in correctly. Welcome garden tools to your new home!
Check out the blue heron buried in the greenery. Alice and I had an early morning walk with Emma along the Sacramento River Trail and ran into this guy.
Isn’t this dog a beauty?! I don’t know its name. I walk by his house several days a week, and he’s always talking to me. He has some beautiful Husky eyes.
This is the Sacramento River Spillway. One of the many reasons we love the Sac. River Trail. You are close to the river the whole trail, and it’s a lot cooler there, especially in the summer. North of the river is Keswick Dam, which is connected to Shasta Lake. In late winter and early spring, when it rains and snow starts to melt, the lake levels rise, and the overflow flows down the Sacramento River. That water feeds the CA Central Valley, which produces almost 75% of the nation’s annual production of fruit and nuts. (I know, I couldn’t believe that either.)

NEW: P.S. This is me being bold and giving you an invitation. 🙂 I’m going to run the Soulful Marketing Accelerator Cohort again. If you’re longing for like-minded community and ready to move through your fears to grow a purpose-driven business rooted in authenticity and aligned with your dream clients… Welllll. Go here to be first in line when I reopen the doors again. Would love to have you.

P.S.S. Whenever You’re Ready: Here are 3 Ways I can make an impact on creating greater success in your business using marketing that’s aligned with your mission and values without feeling like you’re selling your soul.

1. Make Money Now Sheet – It’s one of the bonuses in my 7-Step Soulful Marketing System. I wanted to give it to you for free to help you create more success.

2. Love Books Like I Do? – I’m always reviewing the best nonfiction books – Where Buddha Meets Business.

3. Get my proven 7-Step Soulful Marketing System. It gives you the framework you need to implement authentic and connected marketing using online customer experiences and launching your products, services, or courses. It will help you create greater success.

It’s a simple system, especially if you love to read like me. There’s no video or audio. Plus, you get my proven templates, tools, and worksheets, all with tremendous value. And I’m pricing it incredibly low so it can be more accessible to more people. 🙂

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I appreciate your sharing. Thank you!

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