I decided not to drink champagne on New Year’s Eve.
Even though I bought the good stuff. And all evening I kept thinking about pouring myself a glass…
But then I thought about Future Ilise. And about you, actually!
I thought, “Tomorrow I want to feel good. I want my first Quick Tip of 2026 to make an impact. And for that, I need my head to be clear.”
So instead, I savored a piece of dark chocolate and a book. 🍫
Then, I spent New Year’s Day working - yes! Because I wanted to.
Because I am so excited about our new Fill Your Client Pipeline Bootcamp that I couldn't wait to get up and write this very email message.
That’s how much I love marketing my business - and helping you learn to love marketing yours.
Skipping the champagne was a moment of clarity. Which is fitting…
Because to me, 2026 is “The Year of Clarity and Action.”
No big resolutions. No more waiting to feel “ready.” Just knowing what to do - and doing it.
One "baby step" at a time.
Because that’s what builds a business you can depend on.
And I’ve seen proof of it again and again this past year.
Take freelance ghostwriter, Tina Matras.
Tina was laid off from her big corporate job in 2021, while caring for her elderly father.
Since his care required so much of her time - time she wanted to devote to him - she needed something more flexible than another corporate job.
She’d already been a writer in her previous job. Maybe freelancing was the answer…
But her business didn’t “take off” the way she’d hoped. For 18 months, she floundered, volunteering here and there.
She was marketing herself a little, at random.
But she didn’t really know what to do. As many people do at first, she was wasting time on things that didn’t work. She spent months trying to choose a niche. And not landing any paid clients.
One day, she happened upon a course of mine and heard me talk about “baby steps.”
Intrigued, she joined my Simplest Marketing Plan Plus (SMP+) program at the start of 2025, and got something she didn’t know she needed…
Clarity.
She told me:
“Each baby step I took gave me clarity on the next step. That’s what finally helped me build my business.”
By implementing small actions, Tina naturally identified the kind of writer she wanted to be - and who she wanted to serve.
That’s when things started to work.
Watch her share exactly how things started to finally work:
And now things are really falling into place for Tina! Stay tuned for Part 2 of her story next week…
If you are starting this year thinking:
- “I don’t know where to focus.”
- “I do some marketing… then stop.”
- “I just want to know what actually works.”
I’d love you to join my Fill My Client Pipeline Bootcamp.
It’s Feb 9-12 - and it’s FREE to attend.
Over four days, I’ll help you:
- Get clear on who to focus on...
- Know what to do (without overwhelm)...
- And understand how little is actually enough to build momentum...
No champagne required!
Just clarity, one small action at a time.
Hope you can make it!