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Welcome to Issue 79 of Clearly YOU! (Yes, the first 78 were Writing and Other Stuff, but the “stuff” evolved. Even newsletters deserve to 🪴 grow into their voice.)

Every second Wednesday, I share fresh ideas to help you rise above the noise and communicate clearly, confidently, and with your real personality leading the way.
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NEW NAME. SAME VOICE.

So… I renamed the newsletter.

Not a rebrand. Not a reinvention. Just a little growth spurt. 🌱

Writing and Other Stuff served me well. But like those skinny jeans I loved two years ago, it just didn’t feel like me anymore. The fit was too tight. I wanted more room to breathe. 👖💨

My denim choices have evolved (wide-leg cargos with pockets for everything), and so has my newsletter.

Still a word nerd, lover of the Oxford comma, and passionate slayer of unnecessary adjectives. But now I'm sharing more advice on how to be real and how to showcase your brilliance without sacrificing your quirky charms. Because in today’s world, rising above the noise (and preserving your sanity in the process) demands REALNESS. 🧠🏆

Anyhoo… it’s just a name change. A small adjustment to make the personality of this newsletter clearer to would-be subscribers.

But my voice? My personality? Same as ever.

Still cheering for clarity. Still allergic to fluff. Still sliding into your inbox every second Wednesday with practical ideas, honest words, and a reminder that your voice deserves space.

Here’s the bigger message:

You can grow without outgrowing yourself.
You can shift direction without shapeshifting into someone you’re not.

Because evolution doesn’t mean reinvention, it means realignment. A quiet (or not-so-quiet) adjustment so that what you’re doing feels more like who you are.

So if something in your work or brand or message is starting to feel a little… tight? Maybe it’s time for a stretch. Not a full makeover. Just a better fit.

Cool Quote

“You don’t need to find your voice. You need to stop hiding it.”​
​Brianna Wiest, author and emotional clarity expert

Try This →

Pick one thing: your website bio, your LinkedIn headline, that dusty “About Me” you haven’t looked at since coffee was $2.

📖 Read it out loud.
👂 Listen for the cringe. Or the meh. Or the “who is this person?” vibe.

Now... tweak just one sentence.

Make it sound like the current you. The one wearing wide-leg cargos with a pocket for your phone, your snacks, and your no-BS attitude.

No overhaul. No identity crisis.
Just a better fit for who you are right now.

You've got this. 💪✨

Stuff Worth Sharing

If your work brain is buzzing and your people-pleasing is on overdrive…

Check out The Friendly Mind. This website is over-flowing with insights on how to feel less overwhelmed and more like yourself - at work, in life, and in your own head. No deep-breathing-through-your-eyelids. Just useful stuff.

👉Here’s the link to the work-related articles: thefriendlymind.com/tag/work​

Inbox-Worthy

💥 NEW SECTION. Starting now, each issue will spotlight a newsletter I read, enjoy, and think you might like. Not a collab. Not a sponsored ad. Just me sharing helpful words from smart people.

This week’s pick: Neal Schaffer’s Weekly Digital Marketing & Generative AI Newsletter. Neal’s got his finger on the pulse of what’s actually working in digital marketing, especially when it comes to AI, social, and standing out without shouting. It’s useful, it’s clear, and it won’t waste your time.

Side note: Neal gave my newsletter a shout-out in his last issue (😎 very cool), and obviously I had to ask how he added my promo (with the subscribe button) into his newsletter. Turns out, if you use KIT, it’s easy-peasy.

You can subscribe to Neal’s right here. 👇
(Using KIT and want to know how to do this? Email me and I’ll show you.)

For the Word Nerds

In this issue, I called my newsletter update just a little growth spurt. 🌱

Truthful and respectful of both where I'm heading and where I came from.

When we make changes in our work - a service, a process, a product, even a name - we often talk about the past like it was a problem.

We throw around words like improved, fixed, or upgraded. And sure, sometimes those are accurate. But there’s also a hint of callous disregard. A low-grade “ugh, that old thing” vibe whispering just under the excitement of that announcement.

✨ Let’s stop doing that.

We can honour our work to date while acknowledging the need to grow.

Here are a few positive ways to describe change:

• I’ve grown since then.​
  Neutral. True. No shade required.
• It was right for where I was at the time.​
  Clear and grounded; a soft goodbye.
• This feels more aligned now.​
  A confident shift, not a reinvention.
• It helped me get here.​
  Give it credit. Then move forward.
• I’ve shifted direction.​
  No drama. No apology. Just evolution.

Bonus option:

• 🙏 Writing and Other Stuff was a lovely ride. 🚗 Clearly YOU is where the journey’s going now.

Feel free to borrow one of these for your next pivot.​
Growth deserves clarity - not an apology.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back May 21st. Until then: ​ 👉 Need a little voice clarity?​ Grab my Free Brand Voice Course​ ​ 👉 Thinking about a shift? Book a Free Consult. No pressure. Just real talk. ​