New Year. New Column. New Community.

You’ve had enough wrap-ups landing in your inbox to fill you with enough imposter syndrome to last you a lifetime, so this post isn’t that. 

There’s nothing wrong with wrap-up posts and sharing what worked. Heck, I do my own spin on these each month here on the blog, reviewing what I did, what I learned, and what I’ll be stopping, starting, and continuing. But this reflection isn’t that. 

It’s not here to breed comparison traps in you. 

It’s not here to make you look at me and think, “look at her go!” (Ugh, the pressure of trying to meet everyone’s expectations.)

It’s a post to fulfill my promise of vulnerably and openly sharing my business journey with you and an invitation for you to do the same as we plan TOGETHER for what 2024 will bring.

Because here’s what I know about us as humans:

As RVers, we’ve chosen an inherently lonely path to travel. Distance. Wide open spaces. New faces every night. New cities to sleep in. It’s beautiful, but it also lacks long-term connection.

As entrepreneurs, we’ve chosen then same. To make our own choices. To make our own schedules. To show up in our own way. While beautiful, it’s lonely and can feel isolating when confusion hits.

On the flipside, linking arms with others, hearing other stories, and leaning on friends walking a similar path is life-giving. We need more on that, and, SPOILER ALERT: I have a way I’m offering it to you in 2024.  

But first, let me share with you what worked in 2023 and what didn’t work. Perhaps you’ll see some of yourself in these moments as I share mine. Or, perhaps you’ll feel a spark of an idea that’ll help you clarify what you’ve been seeking as you map out what your 2024 will look like. I hope both happen for you.

1. Prioritizing Outdoor Play

This summer, I said yes to more pool days, more lake days, more movie days, more time with my kids. All that playtime might seem unproductive, but in fact, it was one of the most productive things I did. It was through the drives to the lake, the time spent getting quiet, and the moments that truly mattered that I realized just how off-course I was with my business. Following the play came some huge business decisions helping me reshape how I enter this new year. 

2. Pressure Canning

I recently discovered the relaxation that is pressure canning. How it works is that you cook six meals at a time, can them, and then have them ready on your shelf. We’ve used these meals multiple times on busy nights following jiujitsu practice, late nights rolling into the campground, and those nights when I just don’t feel like cooking or eating out. 

3. Pomodoro Productivity Hack

There’s a productivity hack that many writers love called the Pomodoro technique. The concept is that you commit to doing something for 25 minutes, and then you take a 5-minute break to regroup. I’ve used this technique for years, but in 2023, as I made all these big shifts and my brain was using more mental calories to keep up, this technique came in clutch.

4. Intentional Private Business Chats

I’ve kickstarted multiple Voxer channels with fellow business owners I adore, respect, and admire. These private chats have been so great for me to process big shifts, learn about what others are doing, and stay connected. 

OK, I JUST CAN’T HELP IT! HERE’S SOMETHING I’M BRINGING YOUR WAY IN 2024 — a private space for you, my readers, to connect in a similar capacity. This space is available now for all paid subscribers to the Roadpreneur Substack newsletter. Upgrade to link arms with others now! 

5. Monopoly GO!

I admit that this little Monopoly app seems strange to have on this list, especially following the business connection call-to-value above, but hear me out.

Earlier this year, when my friend shared that his company released the app and encouraged us to try it, I jumped in. While the game itself is pretty darn addicting, what’s really fun is the connections it builds away from the app. Shared stickers. Shared partner games. Shared bantering about, well, nothing. It’s a connection point I have loved, so it deserves a spot on this what’s working list. 

You can play with me here (open that link on a cell phone) and bring some friends along too for the fun and private connections.

6. Board Games

This year, my kids picked up a love of board games, and I’m thrilled! It’s been so fun (albeit sometimes also frustrating) watching them learn how to compete in a friendly way, follow the rules even when it’s hard, and find fun even in the losses. It’s also been a nice reminder to me to do the same in business, too.

7. Building Out My Systems 

I love a good system. LOVE it! The more you can have a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in place for the things you do repeatedly, the easier they’ll become. This year, I’ve intentionally documented the things that take more than 5 minutes to do and that I know I’ll do more than 5 times. My goal is to hire some help in 2024, and I’ll already be leaps and bounds ahead when I do because of these documented processes. 

8. Airtable

The app where I’ve built these systems out is Airtable (affiliate link). It’s a nice drag-and-drop interface that works equally well on mobile and desktop, making it always accessible. In my Storytelling Marketing course, I shared one way I’m using this to capture lighting-in-a-bottle ideas for writing. I’m also using this app for my to-do list, tracking links for my business, tracking reachouts for Cruisin’ + Campfires wholesale strategy, and so much more. 

9.Writing a Book

In 2022, myself and three other women started crafting a story to share with the world. In November 2023, we put that story out there in my first-ever published book, Discovering Something Greater. Starting next week through February 14, I’ll be cohosting a book club with these authors. It’s a free book club, and you don’t have to be there live every week to get something out of it (although being there live will help you to get more out of it if you can be). If you’d like to join us, you can register here.

While I’m proud of the book, I’m also proud of the opportunities it’s opened up. Opportunities to connect with others. Opportunities to speak on more stages. Opportunities to write even more (a solo book is already in the works).

Reflecting on what worked has helped me shape what’s coming in 2024 for us here at Roadpreneur. I hope this exercise does the same for you, too.

Before I share what I’m starting in 2024 (already teased above), here’s what I’ll be stopping:

No, I’m not starting another coaching program.

No, I’m not creating another traditional membership.

Instead, what I’m starting in 2024 is a private space for the PAID Roadpreneur subscribers to come together, link arms, and do business without the loneliness. And EEK am I excited for this!

But, Kimberly! Why is this space limited to the paid subscribers? And why is more content going behind a paid wall?

Because the vulnerability hangover that comes with putting yourself out there is REAL. And, if you’ll get behind the scenes on my business-building journey, I’ll need an extra cup of coffee to offer up those details. ;) 

That’s a joke (kinda). The real reason is:

I want you to put skin in the game.

Committing to yourself requires you to stop watching others passively from the sideline and start stepping up to your plate. It requires that you do your own reflections, hold space for your own business, and start owning your own next steps. 

But, it’s hard to stay accountable when you’re doing it all alone. Having a space to declare what you’re working on, bounce ideas off of others doing the same, and a more intimate space to seek collaborations in the New Year is something that’s SO needed among RVers and entrepreneurs.

Every Friday, I will share a written interview with a fellow Roadpreneur (someone building their business while prioritizing time on the road). These adventure seekers have great lessons from their time in the proverbial trenches. I can’t wait to share the first one with you this Friday, and every Friday of 2024.

So….

Will you join me in 2024 as we link arms and keep moving forward toward our goals? Because this isn’t about making every new year “YOUR” year…

… it’s about building a life, one journey at a time, into something so beautiful you’ll look back someday and think, yep, I did that right!