So, my personality hasn't changed much in a decade. Well maybe a bit.

Ten years ago, I took a personality test as a birthday treat. Now, on my latest birthday, I wanted to see if I had changed over the decade. At 37, I joined a six-week workshop called "Mumentreprenur" to explore business ideas. It felt like dipping my toe back into the world of creative business after a long break since finishing my commerce degree five years prior. I wanted to find out if I remained the same person after all these years.

The Gallup Strengths Test evaluated my 34 strengths and ranked them from best to least.

I knew from doing the course years ago, that I should focus on the top five, as they make up 70% of my life of what Im happy playing in , and that the bottom 10 strengths should either be outsourced, addressed, or at least acknowledged.

My top strength was still futuristic - and I know, I am happiest living in the future, while decision-making in the present comfortable for me. My top five strengths remained the same, but the bottom ones had significantly changed. Empathy, though still low, had improved slightly. It was good to know.

However note, none of my strengths advised me to demolish the kitchen with a knife, neglect insulation, or tolerate a house with numerous holes.  I look this place and see its a big project - theres currently there are several tasks that need attention in my life, none of which I can handle. I just dont have that skill set - theres a complete kitchen renovation to be done, an insulation replacement in the roof , weatherboarding on two sides of the house, and fixing the spot where I accidentally stuck my foot through the ceiling.

The bathroom is a whole other story and will take years to address. However, all these tasks contribute to a larger, long-term vision.

So….

Lately, I have been super busy with reels workshops in Perth, Melbourne, and Hobart. I did an online Q & A via Zoom in Canada with Heriloom Island - Modern Makers Workshop- and its reached so outside my comfort zone, but it was good. I have a reels workshop in Launceston this weekend at Marley & Lockyer studio Shes just refreshed! I cannot wait to see her and have a catch up. Also then after this winter settles in and I’ll play catch-up with life. I’ve found I liked teaching. I’m happy I’ve tested those waters…. Especially as there’s a of urgency now in realising there is roughly only 38 summers left in life.

When you plan for 25 years, you really see how time is limited. That's the essence of it—discovering that indeed that there's not much time. And that my days must have direction as not to whittle them away.

Things going on recently…

1. We the kids up with spriggy accounts so that they can now do jobs, gain a sense of achievement and watch their own money grow and be aware of what they spend of their own finances - and understand the value of compounding. The idea is that they get used to dealing with their own money now and hopefully they will be all good by the time they are in their teens so I don’t have to fork out as much. Or any. Well, that’s the plan. Not just simply ask me. One of my best mates 2 years ago signed her kids up and since then heap of mates have - and they have good feedback on what they have found so after watching roughly 30 YouTube videos, I too have as I think its going to be a good stepping stone into their extension. Will be using the The Barefoot Investor Kids principals with this, give spend save - coupled with their Superhero Accounts for the ‘invest’ part. . you find you want to do it do; you can use Spriggy Card link here. I didn’t realise you could get a kickback from this - so I wish I’d asked my friend about it before. Ill let you know how this all rolls out, but it seems so straight forward, and the cards arrived this week.

2. Maggie launched her book at Fullers bookstore and then did a whip around the state with signing books. Sarah did the illustrations in it and I did the map. Sarahs gone back into Monochrome drawing of birds at large scale and is loving it, l adore and read Maggies

   The Sit Spot
   . It slows down my ADHD thinking, or at least pauses it for a while. It’s a weekly sit down read with an escape into a cup of coffee. But through doing the book, it’s also ignited a desire to start making maps again. Which is long overdue.

3. Had a long table lunch with a workshop at @rosieinmymidnightdreams A cracking spot to spend an afternoons on the water in Hobart. At the same time we were hosting the lunch, these fellas from The Peoples Wine were doing a launch and Sarah and I bought bought a box of wine. I love their ethos of having a colelctivbe that collects all the ’wine scraps’ and makes affordable wines. We will be serving this at our wedding this summer. It was so good

4. Been collecting planks for the future shack. Its ticking the box about having ‘outside rooms’ around the property here. And an excellent way of collecting building materials that I can’t afford to collect. At the rate I’m going it will be built in 2029. I have a little lesson with a mate on how to use a drill & a drop saw - both of which I recently purchased from Gumtree but have no idea on what I’m doing with.

5. Went to my school reunion in the west coast. Lovely to see everyone there. Was also lovely to go after and eat at where the old ‘The Blue Duck’ was in Cottesloe for dinner with my best mate. Highly recommend getting a selection of dishes like we did. Putting that on my WA recommendation list. The burcca was incredible. No one’s really changed from school. but was delightful to see them all again!

I’m listening to all kind of podcasts at the moment trying to work out what’s going on in the markets - its volatile. So, I’m just monitoring the swings from day to day with interest.

And I’m so late on this - I should have done this last week and posted up, infact I’m a month out to be really true to myself…but that’s ok. Better late than never hey?

Till then xxx Jo