I'm learning that small, consistent actions are the secret to making things reality.

I mean, I've heard that more times than I can count and I've always nodded along - but I can only point to a few things where I actually followed through. For me it's always been big, dramatic actions or decisions that rarely brought me what I wanted but definitely changed things dramatically.

The last time I can point to was pursuing a promotion with my previous employer. Focused on that entirely. And while the celebration (and pay bump) were great, I remember being shocked and disbelieving when I realized what the job entailed and how much I didn't want it.

I just wanted the promotion.

This week I ran two AI Confidential: Confidence NOW sessions on Tuesday. Both wildly different audiences. Both made me realize I've been trying to serve everyone in one room - complete beginners sitting next to people ready to build GPTs - and it's not working for anyone.

I need beginner sessions. Advanced sessions. Maybe creative sessions for image generation. I'm not sure yet. That requires thinking time I don’t have - because every quiet moment is currently being eaten by logistics, follow-ups, and low-grade financial panic.

I'm also mentoring for the SheBuilds Lovable Season 02 buildathon - 48 hours of women building apps together. There's something uniquely inspiring about women building beside each other. It's a different vibe than any tech experience I've had.

All of it is good work. All of it matters. And all of it is happening at the exact moment my nervous system is already at capacity.

In the background? I'm calling credit card companies asking for a stay of execution until March. Reaching out on LinkedIn to see if anyone has work I can take on. Because none of this - not the sessions, not the mentoring, not the partnerships I keep talking about - is bringing in revenue yet.

Which brings me to what I'm learning about December.

What if the most radical thing you do this month is stop?

Not stop building. Not stop trying. Just stop performing productivity. Stop pretending rest is something you have to earn. Stop acting like survival mode is a moral failure.

The world tells us December is for finishing strong. I'm telling you it's for getting through without breaking.

Here's what I keep forgetting: rest isn't the reward you get after proving you deserve it.

You don't have to earn permission to stop. You don't have to wait until everything's done - because it's never done. And surviving December without a breakdown isn't giving up. It's the actual work.

The most radical thing you can do right now? Remember that you're allowed to stop at "enough."

Enough means the store-bought cookies, not homemade. The text instead of the perfectly worded card. The 'good enough' presentation instead of the one you rehearse five times. The email that says 'I can't' without a three-paragraph explanation of why.

Rest isn't the reward you get after proving you deserve it. It's what keeps you from breaking before you get there.

Carrd.co for stupidly simple storefronts

I was overwhelmed trying to figure out where to create a landing page for my offerings. Carrd made it so easy and ADHD-friendly I actually finished it instead of abandoning it halfway through. No, they're not paying me - I'm just relieved something finally worked the way my brain needed it to.

People who cry easily make the best leaders

This Instagram carousel explains that people who cry easily have a stronger bridge between their amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Which means they can read the room before the room even knows what it's feeling. Sent this to approximately everyone I know who's ever apologized for tearing up in a meeting.

Post-poo zoomies explained

If you have cats, you know. If you don't have cats, this video from renusdelph about orange cats and their post-bathroom celebration sprints will either make you want one or confirm you made the right choice not to. Fair warning: scatological humor ahead.

Partner of the week

Turns out newsletters don't pay for themselves. Who knew? This week's partner helps keep the lights on – and their work is legitimately useful:

Tired of AI that just talks? Lindy actually executes.

Describe your task in plain English, and Lindy handles it—from building booking platforms to managing leads and sending team updates.

AI employees that work 24/7:

Focus on what matters. Let Lindy handle the rest.

Get $20 Worth of Free Credits

The December Survival Prompt

If you're just trying to make it to December 25 without completely losing it, this is for you.

One AI conversation. Three ways to get relief:

No jargon. No tech-bro energy. No 47-step tutorials.

Just one prompt you copy, paste, and answer a few questions. AI does the rest.

When you're exhausted and "perfect" is the enemy of "done."

Role

You are a kind productivity coach who believes finishing beats perfecting.

Objective

Help me define "good enough" for one specific thing so I can actually finish it.

Context

I've been working on: [what you're stuck on]

For: [how long you've been circling it]

My perfectionism says: [the standard you're holding yourself to]

Output

Tell me what "good enough" actually looks like for this specific thing. Then give me the smallest next step I can take right now to call it done.

Why this works: You're not lowering standards. You're naming what "done" actually means and getting one clear next step so you can stop circling and move forward.

💡 Remember: If the answer feels too gentle, push back. Say "stop being nice, what do I actually need to hear?" ChatGPT doesn't get offended. Make it useful, not comfortable.

✨ Try it in ChatGPT (free version works great):

📅 Thursday, December 18th @ 11:00 AM CST

Emily Worden and I are teaming up again for a webinar on using AI in your job search. Check Emily’s LinkedIn page or website for details!

🗓 Tuesday, December 30th · 12 PM CST / 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

Feeling behind on AI? You're not. You just haven't had a chance to practice.

In this 60-minute live session, we'll turn "too much" into "I've got this." No jargon. No overwhelm. Just calm, practical confidence - and prompts you can actually use the same day.

You'll learn:

Includes replay access + 25-Prompt Pack + ROCO Quick-Reference PDF.

💜 Know someone drowning in tech overwhelm?

Send them this link. It’s a $30 transformation from panic to confidence - and yes, they’ll thank you later.

After months of searching, Joy Prompt Club finally has a permanent platform. I haven't gotten it in good enough shape for people to join yet, but come hell or high water, it's launching this week.

A real place where midlife women can connect, ask questions, play with AI, and learn without judgment.

I'm bringing in beta testers this week (along with the Founder's Cohort members who earned lifetime access this summer) to help shape it before opening the doors wider in January.

If you want in on the beta round, hit reply and let me know. I'm looking for honest feedback, not perfection.

You don't need to finish everything. You don't need to be perfect. You just need to survive the next 10 days without breaking.

The world will keep spinning if you do less. I promise.

💜

Take care of yourself, take care of each other,

Deb

P.S. Forward this to someone who's running on fumes and thinks they have to keep going anyway.

P.P.S. Hit reply and tell me - what's the one thing you wish you could stop doing in the next 10 days but feel like you can't? I read every response.