Newsletter #60: Words are useless without action

Wow, it’s been a minute since I’ve sat down to write to you. I could give you a list of reasons for the delay, and I’m guessing a lot of them might make sense to you too. You see, I’ve been really trying to do the things. More than I’ve ever tried before.

Let me know if it’s the same for you, but I am definitely someone who can churn out work. I can work fast, I can get things done, particularly if it’s for a client. But what often happens is, the things that truly mean a lot to me personally, the things I’ve imagined myself doing - well, they kind of get pushed to the side. I still think of them, but there’s no action behind them. Something happened in the last four months though - I watched a video by one of my favourite YouTubers: Hindz. I don’t even remember which video it was - I did try to find out for you this morning but, deadlines prevented me from finding it. Besides, pretty much any video from Hindz can act as a wake up call, if you’re listening.

Now I am someone who has read a lot of books and watched a lot of videos and definitely listened to a lot of podcasts that are all focused on getting me to live up to my purpose - not find it. But for some reason, I’m finally understanding all that advice; maybe that’s what a moment of clarity is?

Watching the video gave me this insight: you say you want the things, you even write them down dutifully. You practise your affirmations in the mirror.

But all of that is USELESS, if you don’t take some kind of action towards The Thing/s.

This concept has been floating around in my head for the past month, and I knew my next newsletter would focus on it. But the reason I finally sat down to write to you, is because it’s that time of year where everyone is projecting what and who they’re going to be in 2023.

I love seeing friends on the internet saying that they are ‘claiming’ this or that. Some are claiming to have started entire movements and trends; others are a little less overt, and instead are claiming that their lives will be full of creativity/love/travel/wealth. A lot of this comes from a positive place - if you can’t say what you want to do or be, how can you do or be it?

But, what you really want is for others to say those things for you. How many people call themselves entrepreneurs and then you find out that this claim is based on the fact that they set up a website back in 2020 and they’re no longer in business?

How many call themselves trend-setters, and what they’re really doing is reading absolutely everything and turning an off-hand comment they made in 2021 into an Instagram carousel claiming I Said It First?

This is not a criticism by the way. This is an urgent point of view - I get that someone told you ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ but did they also tell you, with each little fake moment, that it really helps to add a little reality too?

I say this as much for myself as for you. I am a dreamer, but I do not want to live off dreams for ever. And dreams will never feed or dress me or get me on that plane to Tahiti.

Instagram/WhitneyMadueke

Take a look at the seemingly new attention TikToker - and YouTuber, fashion designer, actor and model - Whitney Madueke is getting. She has been seen by millions in the past week, because she uploaded a video that saw her talking - in her real voice - about relationships and authenticity - while doing her makeup. The video has had over 1.6million views and over 300,000 likes on TikTok alone. And it has doubtless impacted sales of Givenchy’s Prism Libre Foundation worldwide.

Whitney did not set out to go viral. She has been creating content for NINE years; during which time she has been herself. In the viral video she is simply sharing an opinion and looking stunning while doing it. That’s it. There was nothing ‘special’ - she didn’t use a weirdly robotic voiceover and it doesn’t look like she’s used any filters. She was simply showing up.

Again, and again, and again.

Just like the rest of us, she has dreams and desires and perhaps that means she writes down affirmations and meditates every day - but she is also taking action. She’s planning her videos, she’s doing her makeup, she’s recording the videos - she’s editing them. She may well be ‘faking it’ towards some point we have no knowledge of, but she is also taking a step every single day. Nine years is a long time and I am thankful Whitney is being seen and showing us that if we’re gonna be all the things for 2023, we need to start now, actively.

Click to watch Whitney’s most popular video: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFpC3SyX/

P.S. These past few months of focusing on action have made a big difference to me. Let me know if it works for you.

Just some of the beauty moments I discuss in this ‘90s series

Speaking of being active, did you know I’ve produced a series of 25 ‘90s Beauty Moments as my alternative Advent Calendar?

From December 1st, until Christmas Day, I released one podcast and a matching video every single day. That’s 25 podcasts and 25 videos. I wanted to do it for several reasons: 1: to show myself I can be consistent and enjoy it; 2: to see if I noticed anything from being consistent when it comes to increased social following/listens/interactions and 3: I wanted to make it a gift to my listeners.

It went really well, and I am so grateful to everyone who shared a video or episode! It’s also got me inspired to take on former guest Dulma Altan’s 100 days challenge - she’s really good at challenging herself and along the way it’s undoubtedly helped her bring her unique take on women in business to a wider audience. The challenge is to pick a social platform and commit to posting every day for 100 days. If you want to know more, visit her Instagram @iamdulma.

If you haven’t checked out the ‘90s series yet, head to BeautyMe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music - anywhere you like to listen! You’ll find the matching videos over on my Instagram or my TikTok. I can’t wait to get started on a new series of podcasts for you and I’m always open to your suggestions so feel free to DM or email me beautymepodcast@gmail.com.