What’s in and out in 2024? For this episode, I thought it would be fun to share my list of “ins” and “outs” for the new year. Each year is like a stepping stone to lift us higher to our goals, and I’m hoping that my list will inspire you to get intentional about the one ahead.
On Quianna Marie Weekly, we’re chatting about business growing pains, finding genuine connections, and celebrating wins of all sizes through the lens of a photographer at heart. Sprinkled throughout stories and interviews with past clients, photographers and other business owners this podcast is designed to help you step into your purpose and to truly create a life you’re proud of, a life worth photographing and sharing.
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Review The Show Notes:
Read The Room (4:17)
The “Ins” of 2024 (5:00)
The “Outs” of 2024 (18:07)
Your Ins And Outs (28:10)
Mentioned In This Episode:
Review the Transcript:
Have you ever been in a group of new friends while everyone is sharing stories? not gossiping? Not so 2017. But when girls are catching up chit chatting and laughing? A question is asked and everyone gets a chance to share what they have to say, only to be interrupted by a new friend joining the group with hugs and girls squeals quickly changing the subject before it was your turn to share?
Well, everyone begins to find their seat at the table for brunch, the ones that never stopped talking, keep chattering and a part of you feels left in the dust. The answer to that question is still burning in your mind. You want to share not only because you feel left out, but because you know it’s a great connector story that at least two girls absolutely need to hear this.
Just when you’re about to just let it go and tune in to the new buzzing conversations. A sweet friend grabs your arm and squeezes it. Wait, we didn’t get to hear your answer. The table goes silent. With smiles as the floor aka entire table is fertile listening ready to hear what you have to say. Now this isn’t a feeling of oh gosh, all eyes on me. I’m freaking out vibes.
This is a moment of confidence and a sigh of relief that someone at the table is thinking of you and sharing the stage. That friend that grabbed your arm with a smile is me. Yes, with my stories, I blur the lines. Because I’ve been in the shoes of the girl that sort of gets talked over. I’m definitely more of a listener than a share in large groups. But that friend that gasped to silence a table for you to speak. That’s me. I want to help you feel seen, heard and valued.
My passions have always been about people making everyone around me feel heard and seen, appreciated and celebrated. I’m guessing if you’re tuning into this podcast, you also feel that way about people introverted, extroverted or anything in between.
We love people and know that we can make an impact and may not be able to share these moments for you to talk at a coffee shop while we grab an iced coffee during bustling conferences while we’re in line at the bathroom, or even while we catch our breath on the side of the court while we’re playing pickleball I may not physically be near you anytime soon, but I’m here.
I’m here to support you while you chase your really, really big dreams, offer advice and mentorship and help you step into the person you’re meant to be your table. Your stage, your microphone is right there in your handbag, right in your phone ready to share your message with the world.
This is the year that we stopped playing small, we prioritize our needs to enjoy what we want. For this episode, I thought it would be fun to share my ins and outs of this year. Each year is like a stepping stone to lift us higher towards our goals. But I’m always thinking bigger than that. Like each generation is a flight of stairs bringing us closer to our desires.
Our ancestors for generations have made sacrifices, learned new languages went on journeys through treacherous waters and across the unknown land of America. Come on says we can write an email, we can make a phone call and we can show up to local events. We have so many opportunities right here at our fingertips. Let’s make each moment each day each week each month and year count. Let’s crank out this list of ins and outs of 2024.
Welcome to Quianna Marie Weekly, a podcast for creatives who love to celebrate wins big or small by dancing in the kitchen photographers who are excited to serve their clients and friends who are ready to chase really, really big dreams. You can find all of the resources mentioned in this episode at QuiannaMarie.com/podcast.
Join me as I share weekly motivation, chat about growing pains, finding genuine connections and celebrating your wins through the lens of a photographer at heart. Come join me for a dance party. Ready loves though. This episode is brought to you by the greenhouse the resource garden for photographers and entrepreneurs to help your business bloom.
Make sure to check out QuiannaMarie.com/shop to grab free downloads, guides, masterclasses and digital courses to help you shine online. I’m just trying to read the room here. How are you feeling?
Are you feeling lit up about your recent pivot? Excited to create new offers feeling burnt out on the same thing wishing you were scaling faster. I know you have beautiful dreams that most likely involve helping others along the way. Personally, I feel the need to focus and slow down. I’m tired of the hustle and bustle. I know we have to put the work in and actually take action to see progress. But let’s make our here intentional. Ready for the ins and outs of the new year.
Let’s get this started by Okay, so we’re going to start with the end because I’m all about Okay, wait. I have these lists. What are we actually calling in and what are we going to be really intentional about.
So here’s my list for you planning seasonal gatherings. Okay, this one is going to be really important to me. Because honestly, I cannot think back without thinking of just maybe a couple times that I actually gather with a group of friends I said, Hey, come on over, there’s a glass, like have a glass of wine with us, we’re making pasta or we have pizza being delivered. Let’s just sit at the kitchen table and talk. Like,
I don’t know about you. But that sounds so fun, and so refreshing and so rejuvenating. And, you know, yes, it’d be fun to have a cute like cutesy paint night, or to even just go out to a concert with a group of girlfriends like, that sounds fun. I feel like I’ve just been so business oriented for so long that it’s like, I want to strip that away. And just have fun, just have fun, and maybe like, mix it up, right?
Like, have a friend that’s like from one group of friends connect with another group with another group of friends. Like, it doesn’t always have to be just these same people, right? I want to be really intentional with spending time with friends and family and different groups of other connections I’ve made. So that’s definitely gonna come with seasonal gatherings. I know my mom and I look forward to our witchy woman party every year.
I feel like that’s like a huge event for us, even though we just hosted here in our home. But I really want to get back to just why nights with the girls like opportunities for us to hang out without even having to wear a bra if we don’t want to right, like let’s just relax.
Okay, another in for this year is living in harmony with feminine and masculine energy to attract and take action. This is huge for me, because I feel personally, I have been in my masculine mode.
I know we’ve talked about this before on the podcast, and I’ve even had really special guests, kind of chat more about them and in masculine energy. And each of us hold those two energy types within us. But I do feel like certain situations are different seasons call on these different energies. And I am all about being more feminine, and definitely being more magnetic for the things that I desire.
But I also know that in order to get these things done, I have to step into my masculine energy as well. So I think for this year, I want to live in harmony with both because I think I’ve been hard, hard in my masculine energy for so long, like always having to only rely on myself to make financial decisions and take care of myself. And then now that I have been dating Mike and I just it’s like this whole hurts like already a sigh of relief. Like I literally felt my bones relaxed.
I said Mike’s name because he just he provides. And I haven’t felt that in a really long time. I know I always have my family to lean on. But this is the year of balancing that harmony, right. So I really hope that that is something that you can relate to, or something that you can acknowledge as well. Another end for this year is sharing your story with the intention to impact instead of sharing to increase your income. Once again, I’m bringing it back to the business mindset, like I just can’t get away from it. I know it’s who I am.
But this is a gentle reminder that we can share our stories. We can really share from the heart without feeling like oh, like, I’m only sharing this because I know it’s going to increase my bottom line. You know, I’m I’m a huge believer, I’ve done all the research in you know, marketing and sales. And yes, people buy stories people buy from people. But at the end of the day, like I don’t want every single story that I share on Instagram or every single moment to feel like oh, I can add an affiliate link to this or oh, I can add this like, Let’s just all take a beat and remind ourselves that like yes, you’re absolutely empowered to share your story when you’re ready. But sometimes stories can be shared just to be shared, they don’t have to increase our revenue.
I just I just think that’s a beautiful reminder because I think almost this is the way my brain works but like it actually will generate more income when you’re not thinking that way. Right.
So I think that was like the deeper message I wanted to get out. Another infor me is plan to have no plans. So this is really important for me. I am a planner I like to have things on the calendar I like to be aware of what’s coming up. But I also know that like sometimes just knowing that I have a full day to do absolutely nothing.
Oh my gosh like just it feels incredible because I always creep in more work I always creep in more opportunities right so I guess what’s in for this year for me is like not just having blank days on my calendar like if I have blank dates on my calendar I want to be more direct with like action items and things that can check off my list versus just having a day to relax like these golden days are these these just moments of like relaxation where I have nothing to do like I don’t even have to feel like I have to do laundry that day.
If I don’t want to write like after my plan is to have no plan And that just feels really good. I want to sprinkle those throughout the month. And then another end I have, which kind of is like piggybacking on this is more day trips and flow days.
So my friend Annette and her husband, Paul, they actually kind of introduced these flow days to me and I’m obsessed with them when they do these because literally very similar to that have plans to have no plans. So it’s kind of piggybacking on this is they will literally just flow with the day like they may have a sort of a plan where they’re like planning on going on a hike, or maybe they’re, you know, going to go kayaking or something really fun. And they just let it happen. They that’s when they discover really cool things. When they try new restaurants or they meet new awesome friends and like they just let it go. Like there’s no no plan.
I love that I feel like that’s different than plan to have no plan dates like these are very different in my brain because the one day is a day to like literally do nothing and veg and relax and just kind of let the day unfold. Where I feel like a flow day is more like an action item day like, okay, like this is you actually getting out in nature and trying something fun. I mean, maybe you end up at a concert that evening, but you don’t know where you’re going to dinner until you’re on the way you’re in the car.
No, let’s just place right, like just letting the universe guide you I think sounds really fun. Another end is calling friends and family while in traffic to catch up. So I’ve been on this podcast frenzy for a long time. I mean, obviously you too, right be like we’re listening to this podcast together.
But it’s true. Like I just feel like I’m an education junkie. And I just I don’t want to waste any time. I’m always learning. And I’m always soaking in different strategies and hearing different stories and launching, I don’t know, like systems and stuff like that I’m always learning. I feel like sometimes, especially when I’m in traffic, like I know if I have a good 15 Even 15 minutes, 15, 20, 30 minutes, if I’m driving from Scottsdale all the way home or something like I can call my uncle Todd like I can call my cousin’s I can call my girlfriends that are in California or in Montana. Just check in just say, like, Hey, I’m thinking of you. I miss you.
How are you? Right. And I think that is just so beautiful. Because I know a lot of us stay in touch simply by sharing memes and funny reels and tic TOCs all day. Like that’s how we know our friendships are alive. And every once in a while we like you know, see their kids or send photos of their kids to us and stuff. But like, I want to know how they’re really doing. Like, I want to stay intentional with my friendships. So I’m definitely adding more phone calls. And PS if you want to call for me, like just send me a DM like, I’d love to call you if I’m sitting in traffic. I’m not even joking.
Okay, another in is pitching for podcast interviews, speaking events, mastermind guest speakers. Okay, so this is huge for me, because I feel like I’ve kind of sat back for a while, like, I’ve been waiting for people to reach out to me to invite me and they’re like, that’s like that’s out. There in is me being really proactive. Talking about even this podcast, your weekly, I’m so proud of this podcast and this passion project. But like, I need more people to hear about it right.
I believe pitching further podcast for myself to be a guest is huge, definitely want to be doing that. And I encourage you to do the same. I feel like you know, sometimes it is kind of scary. To the idea of starting your own podcast is a huge commitment. It is a lot of work. But thanks to Gaffin creative and my incredible editors, Hayleeand Megan like this, they make it possible for me to do this, but I didn’t talk about it, like it’s on me to market it. And you know, they produce it like they make it sound good. And you know, they get it up onto all the players for me which something I would probably never would do.
But it’s up to me to talk about it and market it right. And so that’s where it comes in where I want to put myself out there. Even if I have to hear knows it’s super in to pitch.
Another in is walking daily, more hikes and more pickleball games I need to physically like move my body more. I’m gonna get my blood flowing. That’s when all the creative juices start flowing.
I mean, yeah, like when you feel good, you look good. So it’s not about losing weight. I’m being super clear on that. Like it’s not about getting in shape. For me it I mean, I guess it is getting in shape like it’s for me been able to chase Elianna when you know, she just finished up T ball and now she’s gonna be starting flag football. I wanna be able to like actually practice with her and not feel winded and not be able to keep up with my little six year old niece.
I want to be able to do those things. So that that starts with walking daily plus faith. She needs to get out like she needs to get her exercise. So walking my puppy Faith is going to be huge.
Another in collaborations and affiliate offers with business besties so it may have sound for a while this list so far is like ah like I’m tired of making everything a business opportunity.
This one is actually an in for me. And I truly believe that collaborations with other businesses is where it’s at Whether that is, you know, creating offers either together sharing affiliate links, getting your name and your business and your offers out there is huge and it can start with our friends. I’m not going to hesitate to ask any more like say, Hey, I have this offer coming up, I think it’d be so great for your audience are so great for your friends and your followers. Can you please share? What are they going to say?
No. Oh, yeah, I love I’d love to share. But maybe next week when you know, my social media content calendar is like a little bit slower. Fantastic. Thank you. I appreciate that. Right. So definitely, collaborations are, that’s where it’s at. And then affiliate offers, I want to be more intentional to with my affiliates. And you know, it’s just crazy to me to think that, yeah, like, just by sharing the things that I’m already using, and organically mentioning them in my my daily life, you know, through my business on my social media, like, people want to know what type of programs I’m using.
If they happen to click that link, like, I might as well get a kickback. It’s not much guys like it’s really not, but it does add up. So that’s all I will be prioritizing this year as well.
Another in for me is date nights and cooking together. This is really important to me, I truly enjoy spending so much time with my boyfriend Mike and our little family with our two dogs. And it’s just so much fun, that I want to continue to try new recipes, I want to go on, you know, fun date nights together. And, and we’re trying to save to buy a house, right? It’s like we are literally pinching pennies over here, trying to save and be really strategic about that. And I just want it to be fun.
Dating each other doesn’t have to be expensive. I’m literally down for a walk in the park picking up Chipotle, like, I don’t care, right, or just making sandwiches if we’re really that broke, like it’s fine. I just want to kind of keep that fire alive. And just have fun, just make a memories. And another end, this is the last and before we get into our outs is baking more bread and Kenny so it totally goes into the whole cooking together like this is piggybacking on this last in.
I really do want to bake more like my goal is to find the perfect recipe of the toast bread and sandwich bread that Mike can take to work every day. He always brings a peanut butter sandwich to work.
I would love to replace that with the bread that we’re making it home. Not only is it so much cheaper, like actually a financial, you know, a better financial decision for our family, but just a little bit crap and like, I get to decide what goes into our bread. And that’s really important to me. And so, and then of course canning. You know, I feel like our family members have done this for years. And I honestly don’t even know how to can like I really don’t. And I think that’s kind of sad. I think like we should know how to either, you know, grow produce, preserve our own foods.
This is something that we need to get back to like as a society. I think it’s creeping back at least I’m definitely on that tick tock for sure. The homesteading Tiktok but anyway, that’s enough about all of my ins. Let’s tap into the outs.
Okay, so here’s what we have for outs, overthinking and worrying, no more overthinking babe, we need to tap back into our intuition, we need to absolutely tap back into the knowing that, you know, maybe this one thing won’t work out or maybe this sounds silly. Or maybe this offer may be a flop but like the knowing is that even if it does, it’s going to be okay. That would mean that’s like the out is like overthinking worrying, thinking anything else, then it will be okay.
Right? Like let’s focus on that. Another out is paying for subscriptions. You don’t even know what they’re for. So I need to shout out to Apple because I’m not even kidding. At least once a week. I’m getting 299. withdrawals, 999 withdrawals, you know, 12 then and I’m withdrawals and I don’t understand why the description is not clear. So like I don’t know if this is just a me thing or what maybe if you get these Apple charges, you will see it too. But like it doesn’t give a description of what the heck it is it just says like Apple like iTunes purchase.
I’m thinking what the heck. So I need to completely go through these subscriptions, clear out what I don’t need what I’m not actively using and just kiss it goodbye. Like just it’s just unnecessary. Okay, we’re done with that. That’s out.
Another out is confirming future plans without checking the calendar. So, okay, I want to first preface this by saying I’ve been really good about this for the last couple of years without just saying Oh, sure. And then either double booking myself or not, you know, clearly looking at like open space. But I think what I’m bringing into 2024 is actually being energetically like aware of what I’m confirming for the future. Right.
So what I mean by that, and this is a perfect example, which is something that was so a part of my life for years photographing weddings for literally almost two decades. It’s like I could not I could not aren’t physically book anything on that Sunday after a wedding and even that Monday after wedding. So if I had a Saturday wedding, I could not book something that following day.
I would even be very proactive about not booking something that Friday evening as well. If I was having, you know, coffee and cake birthday party for one of my cousin’s no problem, like, whatever, like, that’s fine. Like, I’m not exerting so many things. But going to a concert the night before, not gonna happen. Like I just, I’m being a little bit more proactive about my energy and what I can give, right? Because here’s the thing, like, you may look at your calendar and think, oh, yeah, I have that open day. Sure, let’s play on Brian, or let’s play in coffee. But you forgetting Oh, but I have a phone call at 12 o’clock that day that I actually have to do some prep work for. And you know, up until that date is kind of crazy.
I’m not really having time to do that. So just being super, hyper aware of confirming plans. without checking the calendar. That’s out goodbye. Like, I am not making spur of the moment decisions. I know some things obviously are that exciting. But then once that’s on the calendar, then we can be very, very careful with what we’re adding to our calendar. Right. Okay, another out old clothes, clutter and crap, I don’t use I’m sorry, goodbye. I’m literally looking over my office right now. And I just felt so much like crap to like, go through and get out of my energy. This clutter in space is truly weighing me down. And I don’t want that for you either. And so maybe that’s on your list too. But definitely getting rid of old clothes. I
mean, the sweats I’m wearing right now. I’m not even kidding. Like, have a whole like from the pocket should actually post a picture. This is ridiculous. But like from the top of the pocket to like my hip band. There’s a hole there. Like what the heck, like, come on. Like, I deserve to have nice cozy, clean, like non holy pajamas. Let’s get it together, Qui!
Okay, so like that’s out after I record this podcast, that you’re getting sewn up because I’m all about, you know, reusing and taking care of my clothes. Or they’re going in the donation pile. I don’t care.
Okay, another out, is saving my leftovers from restaurants. Well, this is getting out of hand.
I can’t tell you how many times I save my food from a restaurant. And then it sits on the fridge for two or three days. And then it gets thrown out? Like is this just a habitual cycle that we’re all going through? Or is this just me being crazy. I want to be very clear, though, because I am a huge leftover eater. So like my mom raised us to cook like one big meal. And then we literally can get like two or three lunches or dinners out of that one meal.
I’m all on board with that. I feel like there’s just something different about making a pot of food at home and then putting those in like individual lunch containers and then eating that sounds ridiculous. I know. But like, come on key. Like we got to stop taking home those Styrofoam boxes like they just get thrown out. It’s just not necessary. That’s out. Another out is checking to see who viewed my stories. Oh, and like totally calling myself out right now this is kind of embarrassing, but I know we all do it. But I’m done. Like, you know what, if you like my stuff, fantastic.
I’m so grateful that you’re here and I love that you’re reviewing my stuff. I want to be like very transparent about that. Like, I’m grateful for you. But what is draining for me is viewing that all the time. Like, oh, who saw this? Who didn’t see this? Or oh, they saw these first two stories, but then they dropped off. I wonder why they didn’t see the last two stories like what like do they what’s going on in their head? Like I just I would obsess over it. And you know, I want to be perfectly clear like this is a huge business strategy. So like I will look and see who has viewed my story is that I’m not gonna let it consume my life. I’m not going to look and see if that one friend saw it.
Or if that one guy who lives in another state that had a crush on years ago if he is he looking at my stories, like who cares like I’m in a very loving and committed relationship?!? I don’t need to see that. So I am letting that go.
And then another piggyback to that which is another out is scrolling for inspiration when I’m really Mindlessly scrolling so that’s always in my MO like someone catches me scrolling like Oh, I’m doing research Oh, I’m looking up trending audio.
I’m looking up things for new trends and you know all the analytics like I’m looking at no I’m not I’m literally just like my eyes are burning. I’m scrolling that’s out absolutely out. Honestly if we’re being really strategic about social media you really only need like two minutes so scroll and then you’ll find a trending audio. It doesn’t take hours and hours of like your eyeballs burning looking after his video. Alright and another out is drive thru unless you’re on a road trip so no more drive thru okay key come on like I’m well into my mid 30s now and don’t get me wrong McDonald’s french fries are seriously life.
I love a good knowledgeable grande I love in and out Mike and I go to and and I just asked demos like how often do we have an in and out and we were laughing with like, pretty much like, I think he said like three, like three to four times a month is what he said I was like, so not quite once a week.
So yeah, to kind of say how long and how often we go. But yeah, like it’s just not necessary, like no more, okay, like pack a frickin lunch key Get it together, like, let’s go. Okay, that’s out no more drag throughs in the caveat is well, in case we’re on a road trip.
All right, another out, creating offers that I think I should create, instead of what feels fun and exciting. So throwing out the window on these products on these things that I’ve had on my list to do for a burr.
You know, I feel like they’re still in my pipeline for a reason, I feel like I have that. Like, I have that tick in me that like, if something doesn’t get done, I’m going to constantly think about it and regret it and wish I had done it. And so sometimes, I have to just get things done and get them off my plate to release them. I know of some, some products and some master classes I will be offering soon that I’m really excited about, like I know are going to be impactful and help other businesses. But I just like I’m over here now, like I just want to do something else.
So definitely no more to creating offers that I think I should make, instead of what like I’m feeling pulled to make.
Another out, we’re almost done, I just have two more, is comparing myself to others and wishing I had what they have. I’m done, like I am done looking at these barndominiums that I’m dreaming about. I’m done looking at, you know, just like these beautiful families that, you know, these, these influenza moms that have super cute kids.
I just wish that I had what they have. And and I’m laughing at that thinking, you know, gosh, we all just what when we don’t have, right? Because I can see, like, you know, in my mind of minds and the way the mind works like, you know, I’m literally just praying and wishing that I have what they have.
Well, I’m literally on my couch with my dog at my feet, like no care in the world, like no extra mouths to feed. You know what I mean? I feel like if our lives were switched, like Freaky Friday, I’m sure they would be just as happy to have my life without all those responsibilities of marriage and kids and all these extra bills and all these extra activities. They just want to be scrolling on Instagram to like just doing that man. Right. So like, I feel like in these different seasons of our lives. Yeah, sure.
We’d love to switch, you know, like, hypothetically, but in reality, no, like, I love my life, right? And we’ll get into that a little bit too. But that’s what leads to the next out for this year, which is feeling like I’m lacking anything. Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. When I go down that rabbit hole. And that’s why this is another piggyback of comparing myself to others is like, No, we are done comparing ourselves to what we’re seeing on social media, and even what we’re seeing in real life.
I’ve seen too much. And I’ve been around too many situations where you idolize these people and like, like, like they’re just miserable at home or like that life isn’t what it really seems right? So like, let’s water our own grass. Let’s keep our own plants alive, right and not worry about other people. Now, I would love to know what you’re thinking for what’s in and out for yourself this year.
This year, I’m feeling softer vibes. I’m prioritizing my time evaluating my energy around certain people and certain events. And I’m looking to simplify to amplify, I have really, really big dreams, but ultimately, I’m already living them. I frickin love my life, and I’m grateful for everyone in it. It’s just a matter of time before I can sign the deed to our next home, build my dream retreat space and start our own little family. Until then I’m living intentionally and prioritizing my time.
Let’s breathe in grace with the main character energy and breathe out self doubt with a negativity or any distractions. I’m here to hear what you have to say too. Did you enjoy this episode, make sure to take some time to write out your own ins and outs. I’ll have a graphic to share on my stories and I would love to see what your ins and outs are too. Thank you so much for listening and supporting the podcast it would mean the world to me if you shared a screenshot of this episode, or tag @quiannamarie and a post to share what you’re doing while you’re listening.
I love to see you in your own element. Doing what you love while we connect and dream big together. Wishing you a powerful, productive and profitable year ahead. You have something to share. You are incredible. People are watching you and are praying to work with you. Let’s show up for ourselves like we show up for the ones we love.
Keep on dancing baby. Love you. That’s a wrap on another episode of Kiana Murray weekly. Thank you so much for your listenership and support. You can find the resources and show notes for this episode and more at Kiana murray.com/podcast I’d be honored if you’d show your support by leaving a review and rating on your favorite podcast app. Until next time, keep on dancing.
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