At the end of every year I reflect back on its highs and lows. I generally find myself doing this on an airplane, returning from my last trip of the season which purposefully is a rest only vacation right before Christmas. This year, my flight was delayed 5 1/2 hours putting me in my driveway at 3:30 am and feeling unmotivated to write my blog post. So, 24 hours after returning I find myself writing this blog freshly out of a meditative bath including Wei of Chocolate and White Heron Gunpowder Green Tea.
At the start of the year, I took a road trip Virginia, Hilton Head, Pensacola and Gulf Shores. Driving to Alabama with my family was an enjoyable way to start of this year. Turns out I loved visiting Alabama, especially Fairhope. So much so, my husband and I started to think, could we swing living in the south three months out of the year?!
Another exciting personal event of 2017 was checking off a bucket list item. I have always dreamt, while albeit somewhat terrifying, to ride in a sea plane. I did it in May, flying from Seattle to Victoria BC. What an exciting adventure that I am truly grateful to have experienced.
The truth is, I made connecting a priority in 2016 just as I will in 2017…connecting with family, friends and spa colleagues. The most important things to me are time with family and friends, enjoying experiences not material things, helping my clients find a work life balance while building their own empire and giving back where I can.
This year, as all others, had its highs and lows. I guess we all have those, right? The four most significant things that shaped my year were:
Choosing to shift my business to more of a lower cost membership based consulting firm with ala carte services so a client can be selective as to exactly what they need and when at a cost that will fit their budget
Creating valuable partnerships with ThriveHive and Zeel that will offer my clients more value for their dollar and more ways to achieve their business goals
Learning through malicious and deliberate hacks of my web server how to better protect my assets and the assets of my clients
Through the successful launch of the industry’s first of its kind online spa community spahive.com, I learned that fear, vulnerability and uncertainty do not have to prevent growth or prevent me from moving forward with plans that I believe in.
My takeaway of 2016, worth sharing with you, is this:
Focus on collaboration. We are stronger in numbers than we can ever be alone. Surrounding yourself with like minded people willing to be open, share, collaborate and make a deeper connection will help elevate you personally and professionally.
The best advice I received in 2016:
“At the worst, if he fails, at least fails daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory not defeat” Theodore Roosevelt quote but I was reminded of this by Brene Brown at our ISPA Conference 2016.
My big hairy audacious goal for 2017:
Well, that 15 pounds on the 2016 goal list has turned into 25…I want to lose those extra pounds that found their way back to me somehow. Continue to focus on helping our industry work and grow together through the spa industry’s only Mastermind events that I am hosting in Providence, Cleveland and Sturbridge including a cool pop up spa boutique. Excited to be further developing our membership based community to offer spa professionals a community to share and grow. And, thrilled to have reinvented our Spa Concierge program with more revenue generating tools.
My word for 2017:
Fearless. Focusing on growth rather than the fear of failure. Being grateful for mistakes and using them as an opportunity to learn, tweak and reach sustainable success.
What is your word for 2017? I hope you’ll share.
PS..Did I tell you that in 2016 I became a Nana? The excitement of experiencing everything in life for the very first time with your grandchild, what an amazing gift. 
Happy New Year, xoxo Julie
Beautiful Julie!