005 | Choose the first colors & building in public
In this first voice memo edition of Breathing Room, I reflect on the pressure to show up perfectly online and why I’m choosing to share more of the messy middle.
This episode covers building in public, overcoming perfectionism, relaunching the Best Days Club planner, and why I’m shifting from written newsletters to a voice memo format.
If you're a creative or entrepreneur figuring things out as you go, this one’s for you.
[00:00:00] Welcome Back to Breathing Room
Hello. Hello, I'm Luci and welcome back to Breathing Room, or welcome to this format that I'm testing out.
Basically, Breathing Room is a newsletter I started for a more long form way to share my thoughts about productivity, personal growth, give business updates, and generally just a space to share what's on my mind with you in a more personal way.
I took a break from writing this newsletter after four whole issues, but I took a break partially because I got out of the habit of writing and incorporating it into my routine. Work. My full-time job also picked up and transparently sharing my thoughts just felt so insignificant in comparison to what's going on right now, and I just had a hard time finding where my voice fit into everything.
You know, a little bit of this and that, but also, yeah, like writing doesn't really come naturally for me, and so I would just sit and be really stuck.
[00:01:00] Switching to Voice Memos
So after sitting with my thoughts for a little bit, I've decided that I want to shift the format of this newsletter — I'm putting that in quotes — and share it in a voice memo format.
Is this a podcast? I don't know, but calling it voice memos or voice notes just feels like a lot less pressure than officially calling it a podcast. If I call it a podcast, then I'm like, okay, I need an intro, I need music, I need this, I need that. So I'm just gonna call it Voice Memo Newsletter for now, and we'll see how it goes.
I really want this space to be like chatting with a friend — more vulnerable and less polished. And my communication love language is definitely voice memos. I love sending them and receiving them and listening to them.
And if you are also one of those people who just listens to your friend's voice memos in the car, this one's for you. I want to do that for you. If you aren't into voice memos, that's okay. The transcript and quicker notes will be still written down in newsletter form.
[00:02:00] The Reality Behind the Scenes
So here we are.
While I've been sort of offline and not sharing about business related things or even creating content, I've just really been in a rut with the content and online stuff. I have been doing so many things behind the scenes, and so the topic on my mind today is really about building in public, sharing what you're working on, even if it's not perfect.
I'm pretty sure my last newsletter before my hiatus was about the same thing, so it's definitely a recurring theme and something on my mind. Maybe it resonates with you, and if it does, let's chat about it.
[00:03:00] Shifting Focus in My Business
You may or may not know that I've had so many different pivots when it comes to my business and creating content online, but for the past couple of years, I've been really wanting to focus my business and content on helping you with personal growth and productivity, but in a way that is sustainable and more about just enjoying life, building your dream life, and feeling less pressure and less hustle when you are going for your goals.
[00:03:45] The Planner: A Year in the Making
I created a goal planner in 2023 that I have recently redesigned — recently, as in it's taken me a whole year to redesign this thing. But I recently redesigned and updated it to launch it again this fall under this new business. And I'm super excited.
It's honestly so much more than a planner. I would say it's a journal and it's a planner, it's a guide, a companion, and it's really a way to help you turn your goals into actions and feel like you're really making progress towards the things and just focusing on what you wanna do.
This planner is so amazing, I promise — but you wouldn't know that because I haven't talked about it at all.
[00:04:30] Why I Struggle to Share
I sort of do this thing where I work on something, heads down for months on end without telling anyone, and then I just pop back up and I'm like, hey, I have this thing for you that I wanna share.
And so I'm not sure why I do that, but I've been thinking about that and building in public. And maybe it is because on social media, or at least what I see in my algorithms and businesses I follow, I feel like I tend to see the finished products or super polished marketing and graphics and things like that, and not the in-progress pieces.
And then I just really get in my head about it.
[00:05:00] Perfectionism & Visibility
I don't know, maybe it's because I also want to show up with it altogether, but because of that I don't post, I don't share. No one knows about this planner or my ideas or my business or anything like that. And then I'm like, why doesn't anybody know about my business? But it's literally because I'm not talking about it. I'm just talking about it with me, and that's it.
I always think I have to have this perfect polished marketing or piece or feed. And while I do think it does help when it comes to having a cohesive brand — and as a designer by trade, I love the branding, I love the pretty things — I am also not at that stage where I can market my business in that way.
But I still do want to share this planner with you, and I do want to share this business with you. Also, the business is called Best Days Club. I have not said that yet. I just keep saying this business.
[00:05:55] Sharing the Messy Middle
So basically I want to share more about the “messy middle.”
I call it the messy middle — messy, not necessarily in a bad way — it's just things are in progress, things aren't fully put together, and it does feel scary to me. But I feel like it's just based on expectations that I have for myself.
I think it is okay for you to show up — for me to show up — and say, hey, I'm really still figuring this thing out.
[00:06:30] A Word of Encouragement
So if you're in the middle of something too — a project, a shift, wanting to create content, wanting to start that blog, or something that you need to be online for or in person — just getting your ideas out and your thoughts out, I want to encourage you as well to share it.
Let's not wait until we feel like it's perfect to share. Let's not wait until we feel like all of my stuff is together and now I'm gonna share it. Because that could have been time building a community, meeting people, making friends.
There's so much value in the process, and I do think that letting people in before it's all buttoned up — I feel like that does really build the deepest connections.
[00:07:00] Vote on the Planner Colors
So here we are. I am sharing this tidbit, this piece, my messy middle.
And on the topic of building in public, I am finalizing this goal planner — this updated version — and I would really, really love your help.
Since this is the first run of the updated planner and I am ordering it in bulk, I'm only going to order two colors. And so I've narrowed it down to four colors, and I would love for you to help me choose which two colors you want the planner to launch with.
I am including a link to the voting inside of this newsletter, and I would love, love, love if you could share your favorite colors. I really want you to be a part of this planner and this planner launch. And so whichever two colors are the top colors voted for — those are the two that I'm going to do.
[00:07:55] Wrapping Up
Thanks for listening to this first voice memo. Thanks for listening to this experiment.
I hope it made you feel a little less alone if you're also in the building process or building season — navigating the middle of something, especially when it comes to building businesses online, creating content, and sharing things online.
Don't wait. Don't be like me. Share the progress. Share the process. We can do it.
[00:08:20] A Few Quick Requests
I'll be back soon with more behind-the-scenes updates. I promise.
In the meantime, I do have two requests. So one, let me know what you think about this format. Are we into the voice notes? Do we like it? Do you want video? That might add more pressure, so maybe I will just stick to voice notes, but let me know what you think.
Did any of this resonate with you? I guess that's number two. So I guess I have three requests. Did any of this resonate with you today? If so, let me know. I'd love to hear what you're working through, what's going on, how you feel.
And three, please vote for the planner colors. It would mean so much to have your input, and that link is later on in the newsletter.
I will talk with you soon.
Let me know if you'd like me to turn this into a downloadable PDF, blog header image, or SEO-optimized post too!
