Passion is the driving element of purpose. When one is possessed with it, labor is not perceived as toil – it is revealed as love.
T.F. Hodge
Hello, Lovelies!
All year my team and I have been working on major projects. The kinds of projects that have kept me at my desk for days on ends, for nights on end. The kinds of projects where I have been up in the middle of the night texting with people half-way around the world.
So much work.
Months and months of work.
And now, we are almost at the end of all of that.
The photo below is of me the morning our new 2020 Planner went to press. I’d been up ALL NIGHT and the orange glasses I am wearing were to block blue light from my screen so that when we were done I could go to bed and actually fall asleep. I took the selfie because I needed to document this big milestone.
The Planner has been printed in China, and is now on its way to Amazon. It was a massive undertaking – if I’d known what was involved I NEVER WOULD HAVE DONE IT!!! Nah, I probably still would have…
It’s beautiful, and upgraded in every way. Here’s a sneak peek for you. Next year’s version is 368 pages, hardcover, on gorgeous thick paper with spiral binding, a ribbon bookmark, a pocket, stickers (stickers!), and a golden band to keep it all snug and secure. So lush! It’s a spiritual toolkit disguised as a planner, and I’m quietly proud of how it has turned out.
And we also have a new crystal mala in production, which feels like a hug and is the most nurturing thing I’ve ever worn.
On top of that, a new website and membership area is being created, and lots of new content for the Journeymaker Academy we’ll be launching soon.
Oh, and one more thing.
We have just successfully incorporated a not-for-profit organisation – the Ten Trees Movement. Because we couldn’t stand by and not do our bit for the environment and our collective futures. But that’s a whole other blog post…
So, now you’re up-to-date with our latest news.
As soon as we have more details on these projects and their firm completion or launch dates you’ll be the first to know.
Thanks again for your ongoing support and friendship. Your company makes all this effort worthwhile.
Biggest love and hugs, Nicole xx
Hi Nicole and others. I get that the whole quality printing thing is hard in Australia. Vogue always printed overseas when I was working in the industry. Probably still does. I wondered if Singapore had anything to offer. We do our best with what is available and your efforts are to be lauded. I don’t think I could manage the online version. I didn’t manage to do anything beyond about April this year. It is on the bucket list for the first year of retirement tho.
The planner looks beautiful, Nic! I feel chuffed I was part of the early versions but also super-glad to see how it has grown into something much more in line with your style and vision. Good on ya, luv!!! And thanks for clarifying your choices re’ printing and environmental offsets etc, above. Did you look at recycled paper options, I’m curious? xx
Hey Sally! I am so glad you were part of this journey. As to trying recycled paper? Yes, we did and could not get the printing result we needed so opted for a more expensive sustainably harvested chlorine free paper option. Will try again for next year and hopefully have an even better outcome. Much love 😘 xx
Nicole, the. Ok is gorgeous but I will not be buying as it is printed in China and all things from China have been banned fro my home (new stuff) as I really do not approve of their policies re Hong Kong, repressive government and the Uighur people, to to mention their activities in the South China Sea and support of North Korea. So sorry.
Hi Carey, I applaud your one-woman protest. Good for you for standing up for what you believe in! You’ll be able to buy a digital copy of the Planner when we launch, so that you can enjoy working with it still.
Let me tell you a little bit about why I decided to have my Planners printed in China. For over a year I searched for a printing company who I could partner with to produce this Planner in greater volume and at better quality, and to work with me on future projects. I looked at nearly 400 companies in several countries, and I used a list of criteria of which price was not the main consideration. Quality mattered to me, and so did staff welfare, wages and conditions, no child labour, safety of staff in the workplace, equipment and printing services and techniques, ethics, professionalism, attitude and reputation. I paid agents to work on my behalf to investigate factories I couldn’t visit myself, videoing the conditions for me and interviewing staff and workers, and finally the business I chose was one in mainland China. My experience with them has been fantastic, and I am looking forward to future projects with them. I long ago discovered that a government does not necessarily stand for and act on behalf of all its people. In fact, Australia, my own country, has behaved reprehensibly in relation to refugees and illegal immigrants, going against so many things that I stand for and believe in. And yet there are good things about my country too.
I’ve also set up a not-for-profit environmental foundation this year, using seed capital from my business. A lot of research went into that too, and I investigated nearly 200 companies in choosing who we would partner with for tree planting, reforestation, habitat protection and education. The Ten Trees Movement will plant ten trees for every Planner sold and will also purchase rainforest and other habitat to offset my other commercial projects and our carbon footprint. It was very important to me that I take action to look after our planet, rather than waiting for someone else to do something. I have to be the change. If we don’t take action, who will?
Thanks for your thoughtful post. Much love, Nicole x
Wow!!!! How fantastic is that. Go you 😄👍❤️
Aw, thanks Anita! xxx
Wow this is so exciting!! Can’t wait ! And well done to you and the team how lucky we are to have you.. the Planner and Mala look awesome..xo
Thanks so much, Brookie! We’re really happy with how they’ve turned out – and this was hundreds and hundreds of hours of late nights and working weekends and learning as we go – but it’s worth it to get this great result! xx
Congratulations to you and all your helpers! The cover looks gorgeous!
Jan, thank you! We think so too!!! Nx
I’m teary…don’t really know why…so over the moon happy dance of all happy dances for your mammoth effort to get this launched…your ‘Team’…bravo to them too…but to you my dear friend, Love you bigtime…tears are flowing…XOXO
Thank you, darling Satisha. Love you too xx
Awesome. Good on you!
Thanks Heidi! We think it’s awesome too xx
Wow Nicole & team, that is so exciting!! Looking forward to seeing it all appear in the webshop♥️💫
Yep, we’re still building that bit! Stay tuned xx
The planner looks amazing!! Well done Nicole and team.
Wait til you see the inside pages, Kylie! SOOOOOO amazing. Nx
Looks beautiful Nicole. Thank you🙏
Thank you, Simone! We’re pretty chuffed about it all xxx
Awesome journal and mala – and I can’t wait to hold either of them. Awesome work! Thank you so much for having vision and follow through. Your work is important, Nicole and I’m thrilled you have such a wonderful team to help you in your work. Love what you do. Grateful as all get out. Thank you! xoxoxo
Thanks so much, Jo-Anne. You know how crazy busy we’ve been to get this done, and I’m so grateful too, for my team, my community, and my never-failing husband who supports me through my endless schemes and dreams. Biggest hugs and love to you xx
Talk about interesting