"Hussein, practice patience when things get hard; practice gratitude when things get better!" - Pops.

You get to determine how the past year was and how the new year is going to be.

Perspective comes from seeing everything working for you and not against you.

It took me many years to understand that, and I constantly need that reminder in so many ways.

I made the absolute best of 2023. I showed up every day for my creative work.

After being laid off, I got passed up on over and over again. It was laughable, to be honest.

And the generous offers that did come didn't light me up in any way.

So, I did what I always do when my back hits the wall.

Create something out of the situation. Lean into my ability to make art.

I trusted my instinct and guts to the fullest, and I'm so glad I did.

I showed up through tears and smiled for hundreds of Zoom Calls, Meetups, and emails and scraped by to merely be of help and serve authors after a tough loss we all took.

This is where pain turns to fuel.

With the help of SO MANY AMAZING people, I built an online community that now serves over 240+ authors and experts.

Hannah was alongside me through the thickest and the thinest slices of opportunities, cheering me on and never doubting me.

And a Huge S/O to Chas Hoppe, Charlie Hoehn, Marie Kuipers, Ami Hendrickson, Rose Friel for seeing what I saw and supported every step of the way.

Today, I'm celebrating the year for everything it taught me and preparing me for the coming year!

Launching Rising Authors has helped me grow in more ways than I can count.

I got to speak at multiple events and venues, share my message, sell more books, grow my network, monetize my YouTube channel, and meet more remarkable people.

I'm celebrating over $180k worth of work exchanged within the community by simply connecting authors to whom they need to get the job done!

Helped many amazing authors finish and launch dozens of books that would have otherwise continued to sit in the vortex of Google documents.

I helped rebuild and launch amazing author websites and marketing strategies that continue to help them grow, with more on the way!

I made lifelong friends and feel even more confident to change the game in the years ahead.

Like every year before it, there were highs and lows, and I tried to make the best of both.

Whatever 2024 has in store for you, make the best of it, turn it on its head, and no matter what, stay patient during hard times and be grateful during good times!

Cheers to people who believe in us!

Happy New Year to you!