Hello Reader,

Welcome to the new year!

Looking back on 2024, I'm proud of everything I have achieved and collaborated on:

• I hosted 7 morning and 3 evening events for CreativeMornings Shenandoah Valley, and one national conference for entrepreneurial ecosystem builders.
• I sent out 20 editions of Impact Curator and doubled the list of subscribers. That's YOU! Thanks for being here!
• I read over 30 books (mostly fiction) - peruse my bookshelf!
• I re-established my writing routine and filled two large notebooks with Morning Pages.
• I rowed over 60,000 miles indoors.

I also took the summer off and organized my work schedule to be with my family in December 2024 and January 2025.

Prioritizing time with my family is something that I'm taking with me into 2025. I can tell that rest - while hard to stick to - allows me to come up with my best ideas and take on new projects with gusto!

Other things I'm looking forward to this year:

• Launching my Ecosystem Building services.
• Publishing my Speaker Reel (you can soon book me to come speak!)
• Spending the summer in Copenhagen.
• Visiting 40 Indie bookshops before I turn 40 in December.
• Launching season 7 of Ecosystems for Change.
• Working with two national clients to tell the stories of their ecosystems around the U.S.

Between my ears

Life, most recently: Things I'm excited about, pondering and trying out:

• For the time being, I'm cutting out added sugar and processed foods. I LOVE this reset at the beginning of the year with Pure Roots Nutrition's 3-week sugar cleanse. After weeks of indulging and enjoying holiday treats, I'm returning to healthy eating with some structure, accountability and seasonal recipes!
• Last Year, I spoke to Rachel Sinha about my experience with systems change which she has turned into a publication. Rachel highlights the powerful work of 35 womxn driving systemic change in overlooked regions of the United States, particularly in the Midwest and the Heartland. Join us for a free webinar on January 23 9 AM PT | 11 AM CT | 12 PM ET:

On my Bookshelf

Over my Christmas break, here's what I read:

• ​The Christmas Fix, Lucy Score. The perfect American Christmas romcom.
• ​The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, Ally Carter. A little Christmas romance/crime novel. Super fun read to get in the mood. The "romance" was laid on a little thick at times; I never bite my lip until it bleeds in anticipation of a kiss but hey, I'm no romance expert!
• ​The Picture of Dorian Grey, Oscar Wilde. This was this year's family book club and I'm glad to have read it. A little disturbing but well written. I need Jude Law to play Dorian Grey in a movie version!
• ​I Let You Go, Clare Mackintosh. Speaking of disturbing. My sister insisted I read this nail biter and it help up!
• ​Dirty Diana, Jen Besser and Shana Feste. Lots of talk about sex fantasies (each their own) and a strange plot. The main character goes down a strange path and stays there. Not sure I can recommend this.
• ​Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, Satoshi Yagisawa. This was a delightful read.
• I just started 22 Bahnen by Caroline Wahl (not available in English yet) and I can barely put it down. I get what all the hype is about!

If you're as passionate as I am about supporting Independent bookshops, go visit yours for all your reading needs (they'll be thrilled to see you!) or shop online through Bookshop:

On my desk

The Future of Ecosystem Building

Together with my friends at EcoMap I'm producing a monthly interview series called "The Future of Ecosystem Building": I have the opportunity to pick the brains of some of the smartest and hardest working ecosystem builders around the country, and then write about it! If you want to geek out with us and see what others in the field are thinking about, check out the first two conversations:

• ​Chris Heivly on moving the start line for entrepreneurs
• ​Cameron Law and Sacramento's Backyard Advantage

Deep Focus Hour

I'm piloting a deep focus hour at my local coworking space! I know that deep focus can be hard to get to, especially if you're working on your own and especially especially when you're working on things you don't enjoy and constantly put off (ahem... taxes and receipts anyone?).

So on Wednesday, January 29, we'll get together for a 1- hour "shut up and work" session at the Staunton Innovation Hub. If you're local-ish, come join us! The event is free to the community, everyone is welcome!

A front row seat to Innovation Ecosystems

In three weeks, I finally get to share season 7 of Ecosystems for Change! If you want early access to behind the scenes content and want to be emailed the day the season goes live, sign up here:

Shen-ANIKA-ns

I cannot tell you how much fun it has been to talk to Indie bookshop owners over the last four weeks! At first, I was nervous to impose on their precious time - I didn't want to get in the way of them selling books!

But with the first blog posts and several visits to Indie bookshops in Berlin, D.C. and Richmond, I'm starting to feel more confident. Speaking to booksellers like Justin Bray at The Potter's House has only deepened my love for Indie bookshops!

The Potter's House isn't just a bookshop. It also provides free meals to citizens in D.C. (more than 1,200 in 2024!) and acts as a cultural hub for the community. See what else I love about Potter's House:

I will be back in your inbox in two weeks!

In camaraderie,

Anika