Hello, fellow tinkerer 👋

This is the first in a series of newsletter takeovers while I recover from brain surgery.

First up is Liam Carnahan. I attended a webinar Liam hosted a few months ago and then he attended one of mine. I was supposed to host a workshop for his community but then, brain tumor. I was thrilled that Liam reached out and offered to write something for my newsletter.

Some quick facts about Liam:

He's the co-host of FLX: Freelance Success, a community for freelancers.
He's an essayist and digital nomad, with a home base outside of Boston.
He specializes in content marketing, SEO, and fiction editing.

Liam is always down for a chat, so you can check out his LinkedIn or subscribe to his mailing list to say hello.

And now, here are some thoughts and tips from Liam!

1) Reflection:

Today, I volunteered with a local community group to rip up two invasive plant species: the porcelain berry and bittersweet vine. Such beautiful names for such vicious plants! I spent two hours sweating as I dug around in the dirt, trying to dislodge the roots of the vines, which were about the size of a baby's fist.

It was hard work, but when we were done, the little meadow where we'd been working was transformed. All that remained were the native daisies and milkweed, and removing the brambles revealed paths and dirt tracks that had been swallowed by the weeds. The butterflies and bees looked ecstatic, and the whole meadow was breathing a sigh of relief.

Hard work can feel so overwhelming when you are elbow-deep in the dirt. That's why it's important to stop every once in a while, stand up, dust yourself off, and look at what a difference you've made so far.

2) Product

I start most mornings with a cup of coffee and about 30-minutes of journaling. It's a routine that helps me begin each day with calm intention, but if I'm honest, many days I just don't feel like doing it, even though I know it's good for me.

Lucky for me, my Auntie gave me a LAMY Safari pen for my birthday a few years back, and it has made writing by hand a real joy. I'm going on a writing retreat soon and plan to edit the manuscript I'm working on, and I'll be buying a red LAMY to mark up my manuscript.

If you like writing by hand and want to feel like a legit writer, check it out.

3) Tip

I've been a freelancer since 2019, and to this day, I still do most of my work solo. I wouldn't be able to keep my business running if it weren't for all the tools and tech I use to keep the gears in motion.

I made a handy Notion board that shows my entire tech stack, including:
- What I use the tool for
- How much it costs
- Why I like it
- Where to go to try it out yourself

Enjoy, and if there's anything you think I should add, let me know! Just send me an email at Liam@InkwellContent.com or a DM over on LinkedIn.