Labeling Ourselves, Summer Songs, & Celine Dion

If you work for yourself, one question that has almost definitely popped into your head at some point is, “So… what do I call myself?”

Freelancer? Consultant? Entrepreneur? Solopreneur?

When Laura started working for herself 12 years ago (!) she really struggled with this. “Freelancer” didn’t feel like it quite captured everything she was doing. But “entrepreneur” felt inauthentic and intimidating.

In fact, for a number of years, she felt like she was failing because, despite having consistent clients and 6-figure years, she wasn’t hiring a team, doubling her revenue year-over-year, or working towards an 8-figure acquisition. (Basically, she wasn’t following the hustle culture/entrepreneur bro playbook.)

And then it hit her.

She didn’t actually want that. She didn’t want to train and manage a team. She didn’t want a business with tons of overhead. And she didn’t want to feel like a bad business owner because those things didn’t appeal to her.

Maybe you relate. Or maybe your dream is to head a Fortune 500 company, and you’re well on your way. Maybe - like Lauren - you’re somewhere in between. That’s all fantastic!

What’s most important as we continue to create in a business landscape that was not designed by or for women and gender diverse people, is that we feel empowered to challenge the definitions, terms, and “way it’s always been done.” You get to define success for yourself, and it can be measured in dollars and cents, time spent on the beach, or both. Because no matter what else you are, you are definitely the boss.

So we want to know - how do you identify right now in your journey as a business owner? Reply to this email and let us know - bonus points if you’ve created your own title!

And be sure to scroll down to grab tickets for our July dinner, add our summer songs to your playlist, and see the NYC restaurants we’re drooling over.

🪢 Laura + Lauren

Things We Loved This Week

Laura’s Things

⚾ The only baseball game I want to go to.

👗 This fun (and comfy!) set that I bought in both colors.

🎸 This list of songs of the summer (I was kind of terrified of the Speed one until they whipped out a flute at 1:35 😨).

🎓 I am a scholar. I am a learned woman. Give me the details.

🤤 This list of the best Georgian restaurants in NYC. Who wants to indulge in khachapuri and Georgian wine with me?

Lauren’s Things

🐶 This video of Barney that makes me laugh until I cry each and every time I watch it. (He's Laura's dog, but we fell in love at first sight.)

⛸️ This incredible winning performance at the World Figure Skating Championship that featured six quads and the Succession theme song. 

🎧 All of the historical, cultural, class-conscious and feminist ground this podcast covers on its way to demystifying the Tradwife. (h/t AO)

🎬 Hit Man, a movie that combines my love of Richard Linklater with my lust for Glen Powell. In theaters and on Netflix.

🍜 Just showing up at Bangkok Supper Club, which I swear is the best way to get a table.

To Tie Things Up…

Working for yourself can be lonely - emphasis on can.

When you surround yourself with a community of other smart and successful badasses who understand what you’re going through, it gets a whole lot easier - and more fun!

(We think we do a pretty good job of creating this community, so here’s a not-so-subtle reminder to join an upcoming dinner or co-working day!)