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the real work happens behind the brand

An *almost* sales free newsletter with lots of free stuff inside

Published 4 months ago • 3 min read

2ND EDITION | ISSUE #163

I have 12 unread emails I’m “saving” to catch up on in my inbox right now.

And chances are, you are chuckling because, like me, you hoard your favorite newsletters to catch up on on a rainy day.

Let’s be honest. The behind-the-brand newsletter can be meaty. But we both know it’s worth the read.

Still, I want to honor your inbox, especially this week, when I, like so many others, will be running an end-of-year/Black Friday Promo and hitting your inbox a little more than usual.

Therefore, there will be no sales talk after the following line of copy. Not a single CTA with a paywall at the other end.

Here’s what you need to know: Studio Sessions are 20% off through 11/30. I have 4 slots left before the end of the year - but if you want to wait and talk after the 1st, you can still book it now and save yourself some cash.

If you inquire about one of my DFY 1:1 services before 11/20 and book before the end of the year, I’ll extend the same 20% off.

This includes DFY Illustrations & Brand Identity Design inside Brand Brushstrokes (2 spots open in Q1) and…

DFY Website Design inside The Signature Site Offer (1 spot open in Q1)

Okay end of the sales talk for this email.

Now it’s on to the fun part.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving - as Jess Day would say, “An American holiday where we celebrate that we didn’t know how to grow our own food.”

Today’s newsletter is going to be a little different than usual. Instead of a behind-the-brand section, we’re gonna have a treat yourself moment. Because I truly am grateful for every single person who reads this newsletter, and I want to take a moment to give you something as a thank you instead of selling you something in this newsletter.

01. Stop letting your brand be the last priority

Get the free CCO week framework that helps you make real progress on your website, offers, or strategy - even if you only have an hour a day.

​FREE DOWNLOAD​

02. The $5 CJ Brand Color Kit

Grab the Brand Color Kit & transform your DIY color scheme into a strategic foundation that works on every platform (no design degree required)

​PWYW Starting at $5​

03. NEW Leveraging Notion AI for Reflective Research and Content Creation (A Mini Masterclass)

In this impromptu mini masterclass, I share how I’ve been using Notion AI chat feature for research and internal documentation, especially as we reflect on our accomplishments this year and plan for the next.

​WATCH HERE​

04. Brand Audit Mini Course

A free 3-part mini course and framework that shows you exactly how to audit your audience, content, and impact to create 2025 data for your brand reflection.

​FREE LINK​

05. Steal my Notion Meeting Notes Template

In the Leveraging AI for Reflective Research video, I mention how I keep all of my meeting notes (from Fathom) in Notion. This is the exact template I use.

​GRAB IT FREE​

06. Quarterly Brand Reflection Notion Template

If you are a girlie who loves a writing prompt, this one is for you - this template is designed to help you reflect on the last quarter and what you’ve been doing behind the brand.

​DOWNLOAD HERE​

Shopping for a new planner:

After YEARS with the Passion Planner - I’m ready to make a move for 2026. So far, the top runner is the Laurel Denise Project Planner (which I am planning to use for our “family” calendar to keep track of wedding plans, house projects, and life). And the Anne vertical week and month as my personal planner. As a both digital and paper gal, this is a big commitment. I also like a lot of the features in the motherboard planner - and I’m still not 100% decided.

Currently Planning For:

December and January are my favorite times of the year to create content and educate. From the "Quiet Pause" of December—a time for reflection and intentional rest—preparing to plan for 2026.

To the new year's vibes of setting goals and intentions for your brand and business.

I’ve got lots of free content coming out in the coming months, plus a website launch I am so excited to share more about.

Currently Consuming:

Binging - all my Thanksgiving Faves

New Girl, Gossip Girl, Friends - all Thanksgiving classics.

Lots of Renaissance Historical Drama

My sister has me watching The Tudors for the first time, and I’m also reading a biography of Catherine ​de' Medici, which overlaps in timeline and characters.

Plus, I’ve got a couple of books calling my name over the weekend, including the latest Hunger Games, a re-read of my client Crystal Smith Paul's book Did You Hear About Kitty Karr (as prep for our current project).

231 Exchange Street, Attica, NY 14011
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the real work happens behind the brand

Behind The Brand is a weekly newsletter for solopreneurs and small business owners navigating the ongoing reality that their brand needs to evolve—whether they're working with a DIY setup, in the middle of a rebrand, or maintaining an established brand through business pivots.

The newsletter teaches slow branding: the philosophy that brands evolve in seasons and don't need to be rebuilt from scratch every time something shifts. Through real brand breakdowns and practical strategy frameworks, readers learn to recognize what actually needs attention versus what can wait—so they can make confident branding decisions without the constant "should I start over?" spiral.

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