A Look Back at 2015

2015 owes me nothing.

I am truly overwhelmed by all the blessings God showered upon me this year.

This is not to say that 2015 was an easy year. It was not.

This spring I suffered several health issues that required so many doctor visits the receptionist at my doctor’s office joked about giving me a key to the place.

This summer the smile I wore at the Bloganista Mini-Con was a mask, hiding indescribable pain because the day before the conference someone I love dearly committed suicide.

And this fall I prepared to completely shut down See Jane Write because I had decided that the work was just too much.

But I changed my mind. And I changed my mind because of you. I changed my mind because I am committed to helping you become the author of your own life.

I’m not sharing these things because I want pity. I’m sharing because I want you to see that even when your world is falling apart you can still succeed in the end.

And I believe that joy is a choice. So as I look back at 2015, I choose not to dwell on adversity and trials. I choose to focus on accomplishments and triumphs.

This year I launched two e-courses (one of which allowed me to make more than $2,000 in one week), the first See Jane Write Mastermind, and my long-term coaching program.

This year I met writer and MSNBC political commentator Melissa Harris-Perry — twice! She came to Birmingham to give a lecture ON MY BIRTHDAY and that incredible man I’m married to arranged for me to meet her in the VIP lounge before her talk. We even took a selfie. Then this summer while I was in New York, I got the chance to hang out on the set of her show.

This year the Birmingham Business Journal chose me as one of the Top 40 Under 40 for 2015. This is a HUGE honor and I was among some of the top executives in the city. This award was a pivotal moment for me because it really showed me that if I take myself seriously as a businesswoman other people will start to as well.

Part of taking myself seriously as a businesswoman meant getting educated. This year I took earnings from See Jane Write programs and invested them in things like Marie Forleo’s B-School — which is like getting an MBA in 8-weeks — and hiring a business coach.

This year hubs and I bought a house! And one of the best things about this upgrade from our two-bedroom apartment is that I have an office now in which to take care of my See Jane Write business. (A post about my office is coming soon!)

This year I had my first summer intern. Dakotah is one of my favorite people on the planet and honestly teaches me much more than I could ever teach her.

This year hubs and I went to New York. It was a business trip as we were attending Melanie Duncan’s workshop for entrepreneurs, but since all work and no play is not the way for a girl boss to live, we had plenty of fun, too.

This year See Jane Write events got bigger and better from the second annual Bloganista Mini-Con (which featured TV personality Eunice Elliott, awesome keynote speakers, and these super cute notebooks designed by Dionne Love of Laura Vincent) to our first Scandal Watch Party.

This year Girls on the Run Birmingham recognized me as one of four local Women Who Inspire, an honor that I shared with local celebrities like TV anchor Brenda Ladun and one that also afforded me the chance to meet Molly Barker, founder of Girls on the Run International.

This year I was featured in the University of Alabama Alumni Magazine for my work with See Jane Write. This was truly a dream come true and the perfect way to finish up the year.

None of these things would have happened had it not been for See Jane Write — yes, even the purchase of my first home.

No, I didn’t make so much money from See Jane Write that I was able to buy a house with the earnings, but there was a time when I never thought I could buy a house. When I was younger I saw homeownership as something reserved for folks from wealthy families. I come from a family that never had much money. Even though my parents worked very, very hard, they always struggled to make ends meet. They weren’t able to purchase a house and we were no stranger to eviction notices taped to the front door.

But on December 31, 2014 I declared that 2015 would be the year I would go after all those things I once believed were beyond my reach and I made that declaration because of YOU, because I want to set a great example for the women of See Jane Write.

So I want to thank you for being a part of my tribe and going on this journey with me.

A friend asked me on Facebook the other day, “Javacia, how can you top 2015?”

My reply: “Oh, I will. Don’t believe me? Just watch!”

So, let’s do this, ladies. Let’s make 2016 bigger and better than we could have ever imagined!