13th freelance-versary
Sharing the monthly highlights from my 13th year
Latest
The tone
A letter to paid subscribers about an interaction I had at Expo
The optics could’ve been better
The optics could’ve been better I used to be confused by the reference to “optics” in phrases. It felt like yet another circular logic corporate-speak word. But I get it now and the word kept popping in my head throughout Expo weekend. For many things, the optics could’ve
On momentum
Shedding, sustaining, and gaining—a letter for paid subscribers
Day jobs
Are they worth having?
How rituals ground us
(*me, how they grounded me)
Coffee moments in Taiwan
An essay of words & photos from my trip
🔎 In Focus: Brit Alexandria, Part 2
"I am not a monolith. I'm not telling you this is how you have to treat disabled baristas. We are all different. So accept that there are things that I won't know because I don't know everyone on your staff."
🔎 In Focus: Interview with barista, writer, and advocate Brit Alexandria
We talk about being a barista, coffee hot takes, endometriosis, and their creative writing practice.
Finding the right sounding boards
Never ask a friend for business decision advice if that person is not a business owner themselves.
Embrace your weirdness and what makes you, you
Essay on how having hobbies have helped me
My favorite & least favorite parts of being self-employed are the same
Having the freedom to do anything comes with a set of risks + a freebie mastermind group framework! (For paid subscribers)
Throwing spaghetti at the wall
(but make it Asian—I threw instant phở) An essay on the phrase
📸 Photo Essays
On hands, slowing down, and intentional creations
A letter to paid subscribers about some BTS of photoshoots and making dumplings for the new year.
Anxiety as a friend
It can help me or hinder me.
A new financial mindset
A letter to paid members about the thinking behind changing my financial mindset and the actions I've taken since.
2025 word of the year: Growth
Why I chose the word and what I'm hoping to do this year.
Taking a winter break
A letter to paid subscribers summarizing my thoughts about the year and the winter break.
2024: A reflection on what worked and what didn’t work
In my business and personal life, a look at the good and bad, plus highlights from the year.
BTS
Quieter holidays and time management
For paid subscribers, a look at my attempt at time-blocking.
Holiday gift guide for every interest I have
Dogs, plants, cozy things, and some work items.
BTS
Some thoughts on the future (in general and for tanjennts)
For paid subscribers, some thoughts on what future tanjennts will be like and how I can prioritize joy.
A thrive budget
Not to be confused with a budget that is thriving, if you’re going to anthropomorphize budgets
A post-election letter
A letter to paid subscribers.