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Written on November 12th, in my ergonomic computer chair that has my butt's imprint from so many hours working.

Hi Global Minds

I'm back in Antwerp, Belgium, in my office, and I'm slowly making it cozier.

I'm proud to say only one plant has died after three months... it's an orchid, though, and those always look dead... so I'm considering this new headquarters for JoClub ripe with great energy for the next chapter.

I've already worked some long 10 - 12 hour days here, and all signs point to me entering a high-focus, high-impact chapter.

It feels good to be back.

It's giving, "she's a boss lady about to turn her company around."

The early mornings and late nights behind my screens remind me of my first months as an entrepreneurship 12 years ago.

Back then, I had a crazy idea (and no money), yet I managed to pay off $70,000 in student loans within five years through consistent hard work, great partners, and a loyal audience.

Thank you if you’ve been with me from the start, and welcome if you’re just joining the journey. I sincerely couldn't have and continue to do it without your attention and belief in what we build together.

As I enter what feels like the second act of my entrepreneurial journey, I’m reflecting on lessons I wish I had known sooner.

Here's a cheat sheet that will hopefully save you many hours, money, and pain.

5 Entrepreneurial Lessons I Wish I Knew Sooner

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1: Get Your Booty in the Chair

Nothing will replace you waking up early and getting your booty in the chair to do the work. There are no shortcuts.

The sooner you get into work mode, the quicker your project will yield results. Whether good or bad.

The sooner you know the result, the sooner you can react to make it better. So, the feedback loop and progress continue.

Paralysis to post, share, and get your idea out into the world only hurts you in the long run.

Because every day you wait is one less day to gather feedback to make what you're growing greater. With that said, it is truly never too late to start.

I’m not a morning person, but it doesn’t matter. I’m waking up early again and getting my booty in the chair anyway.

2015 was the first and last time I had a routine that happened daily, like clockwork.

I remember thinking how dull this was at first.

9 am coffee and sitting at the cheap Ikea table crafting videos, sending emails, seemingly getting no response for months. Working until 6 pm. Gym. Home to journal, watch a series, and go to bed. Day after day on repeat. It was lonely.

"What kind of life is this?" I scribbled many notes in my journal of my lack of joy during this "put your head down and get the work done" chapter.

Within four months of this dull cycle of work, workout, and networking, my business, body, and financial situation had become unrecognizable. In the best way.

So much so that I got hired for opportunity after opportunity, which, ironically, took me out of the routine that created the visibility to secure the opportunities to begin with.

In other words, my boring routine created an exciting traveling life in which maintaining a routine was impossible.

Progress slowed as a result.

In my career, I’ve had the luxury of living many different configurations of a working week. I can tell you with confidence that nothing extraordinary gets created and nurtured without a disciplined routine.

As a rebellious spirit, I struggle with being told what to do. But I’m entering the “Routine Randy” chapter of my life, where I create the rules that I must then follow. Now, my team depends on me to do so.

This time around, I resisted, just like I did back in 2015. Two weeks into my new life in Antwerp, though, I’m shocked that I was able to get anything done at all these past few years with a “do it when I feel like it,” sorry excuse for a routine.

Call me Routine Randy; I'm running like clockwork. I have yet to see the fruits of these long days, but I know they're coming.

This is the invisible work chapter no one sees. Until they do.

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2: Choose Your Team Wisely

Who you work with, whether business partners, contractors, employees, or even brands, is the second most important decision that will determine the success of your business (and quality of life).

Second only to you choosing to show up daily in good and bad times.

If your collaborators share your passion and you LIKE working with them, you will probably accomplish three times more than your initial goals. And it'll be way more fun.

Humor is key. Laugh off those shotty-looking PNLs and get back to work.

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3: Replenish Your Inspiration Cup

Filling your inspiration cup through books, podcasts, mentors, observing life, strangers, and nature is how you’ll continue to better your products and services. Doing interesting things regularly is how you continue to refine your vision.

There is no success without going into the world and living.

It’s easy to obsess over numbers, whether they’re sky-high or in the red, but being a zombie to your metrics will only suck you into a vortex of reacting based on data from the past, as opposed to collecting new and inspiring information that will help you create your next big thing.

Speaking of which, here are the most impactful business books I've read lately to give you some new insights.

​This one. This one. Oh, and this one. Woo, almost forgot this one.​

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4: Reach Out to Reach Your Goals

Cold emailing people and pitching are just as important as the actual work you do because no one exists in a silo.

If you’re ruthlessly independent, you’ll struggle with this. I definitely did. I am and have always been a solo-self-starter. I like to work alone and don’t like to bother others with requests.

As a teenager, I didn’t even want to play team sports because I didn’t want to let the team down… I ran cross country instead lol.

But early on in my career as a tiny entrepreneur, I had to ask for help if I wanted to learn. Wikipedia and the library were my first mentors.

Eventually, I needed to speak to humans, though.

My first internship only happened because I had to do something that scared the bejeezus out of me.

As a 16-year-old, I asked the CEO of a marketing agency if I could intern all summer at the company. He was my mom’s boss. She raised is four kids' as a nanny and housekeeper for 18 years.

I was, therefore, the daughter of the cleaning lady asking the sleek-looking bald-headed CEO for a shot in the grown-up world. It was the scariest thing I had ever done.

The CEO praised me for my courage to ask him in the first place, and gave me a role as an intern when there wasn’t a formal program.

So there I was, all summer long, pacing up and down the carpet floors with my cheap kitten heels, lurking around the office.

Asking for things then not only became less scary, it became the only way to make sure I was useful. I wanted to make the shot count.

“Can I shadow you, do you need help? Can I learn anything with you?” These were actual questions I had to ask day after day until someone said yes.

At the end of the summer, the CEO gave me a big check to thank me for my professionalism and told me if I needed a job, there would be one with the company.

A cold request turned into the biggest lumpsum of money I had ever earned, a summer full of learning, and my first full-time job offer.

I was 16.

When you remove the fear of asking for help, you realize it’s actually the secret weapon we all have access to.

So ask for an opportunity. And when you get it, make it count.

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5: Don’t Be A D*ck

Being likable, helpful, and competent conveys trust.

And trust is everything.

Over the last decade, I’ve met thousands of people, but only a few stood out for their trustworthy and cool attitudes.

This “je ne sais quoi” isn’t about being extroverted; it’s about being agreeable, competent, and having a light-hearted attitude that makes you a joy to be around.

As an entrepreneur, mastering this can make you the go-to person for life-changing opportunities. It starts with genuine curiosity for others, being a keen listener, and following up long after the chat to water those seedlings. Who knows the wild flowers that can bloom from a little effort and good intentions.

If you’re an entrepreneur or aspiring to bring your ideas to life, reply to this email and let me know what you’re building. I read everything.

Thank you for your attention 🙏🏾 I’m cheering you on!

XO,

Jo Franco
​The JoClub Team

Other goodies to make this week above average:

If you want your employer to gift you more than a Starbucks giftcard, JoClub group memberships are now available! If you work for a company that loves to invest in its teams' mental wellness and create a wholesome community feeling, we're excited to extend our membership to B2B!

Imagine having a full year of JoClub live journaling sponsored by your boss to keep you sane and inspired?!

While we love getting $25 worth of Frappuccinos... journaling with the world for self-development just hits differently.

Reply to this email (jo@joannafranco.com) with your company's contact information, and we'll reach out directly.

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If you want to get creative and artsy this weekend, we're hosting an Art Journaling session this weekend to celebrate all the goodness you've created in your year. This is open to all levels of journalers and artists. As our resident art teacher and facilitator says, "Everyone is an artist." Bring your colorful writing tools, and we'll see you there for 90 minutes of a creative jam session.

​Join the session (this session is included in the JoClub membership, but you can pop in with a ticket if you're not a member).

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​ If you need a good ol' reframe to feel gratitude, Elizabeth, our healing facilitator, will be hosting a live journaling session all about reframing your challenges to find the gratitude hidden in plain sight. This is a 90-minute live journaling session that will have you writing thank you letters to the thoughts currently living in your head rent-free. You don't want to miss it! Join the session here (this session is included in the JoClub membership, but you can pop in with a ticket if you're not a member).

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​ If you want to meet me at the next Transformative JoClub retreat, I'm so ready for the next retreat that I've even started a new waitlist for it! All I can tell you is that it may or may not be in a ridiculous European castle in a stunning landscape with delicious food, deep conversations, and life-changing experiences in a wholesome group. Those on the waitlist will get first access, the Early Bird bonus, and get a sneak peek of the property! Join the waitlist here.​

As a disclaimer, some of the links listed above may contain affiliate codes that allow us to earn a small commission to bring you this free weekly newsletter.

Explore more:

Need more time to align with your goals and strategize how to grow your big ideas? Learn more about JoClub.​

Catch you on socials 🏄🏾‍♀️ ​​​​​​

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