A little while ago my grandmother passed away. Maybe it’s the moment you lose a loved one that you start considering life in a different way. It certainly did for my mom. Actually, knowing my mom she’s probably pondered this for a long while (she’s an excessive planner) but she started sharing some of the things she wants when she passes.
She shared with me what she already has in place and what she thought I should start thinking about too. She shared that I should talk to my aunt and uncle (both her siblings), who don’t have children of their own, saying that it’s likely I would be part of helping them arrange their last years and final wishes.
Then she asked me if I knew how much it all costs - to budget for what you want your last years to look like. To budget for costs of laying someone down to rest, the way they want, including any cultural, traditional or religious ceremonies.
I’ll be honest. When she shared the number with me, it made me pause.
You know what I’ve never dreamed of? Private jets. Yachts. A huge mansion. My version of “rich” has always looked a little different.
It’s being able to say, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this,” at any given time without thinking. It’s coming home to a space that feels like an exhale. A pantry full of childhood and current favourites (because no one can stop me from stocking up that specific type of potato chip or treat). A spare bedroom always ready just in case someone I love needs a place to land.
It’s sending help before a friend has to say they’re struggling. Putting together a wholesome care package, not because they asked, but because I noticed. It’s getting all the handmade items that a kid or adult is selling, no matter the cost, so they can go home early with pride and joy in their hearts.
That kind of wealth, the kind that allows you to give, to soften someone else’s day, to turn the mundane into something tender. That’s the kind of rich I want to be. Enough to live a life that feels like mine, simple, generous, rooted in meaning.
You don’t build that kind of life by staying vague. You build it by being unmistakably clear. Clear in what you want. Clear in what you don’t want.
In business, it means being clear in your message. Clear in your voice. When your brand reflects what actually matters to you, it naturally resonates with the people who are meant to find you and invest in you.
Don’t create content for content’s sake, but craft a brand that feels like a true reflection of who you are. Uncover the real message at the heart of your work - one shaped by your lived experiences, culture, beliefs, and values. Then translate that into strategy-aligned content that’s not just beautiful or bold…it actually works.
Because ROI isn’t just about revenue. It’s about ease, feeling wholesome and creating a business that fuels the rich you’re dreaming of. One where your work creates space for others and for yourself.