Ringing in 2026!
This year, as a founder, I had to set some resolutions specific to Duly Noted…
Being a solopreneur is CHALLENGING! Nonetheless, working on the company's foundations while completing my PhD. All this to say that my plate is pretty darn full, and I don’t want my passion for DN (or the company’s progress) to fall by the wayside this year as I transition from PhD coursework to completing my exams and beginning my dissertation. So, I thought it would be fun to share the sort of “resolutions” I’ve dedicated specifically to DN to help myself, and in turn my company and our clients, thrive in 2026. You may notice that my Ins are in essence designed to help “combat” my Outs, which were issues I noticed throughout 2025 that I felt may have hindered my progress in making DN as amazing as I believe it can be, thus I’ve decided to start my “Ins and Outs” with the Outs list...
Here are Duly Noted’s “Ins and Outs” for this year:
OUTs…
Trying to wear all the hats all at once, all the time!
Allowing myself to ride the “I’m the only one doing this; I’m all alone…” train!
Beating myself up for not sticking to the plan!
INs…
Prioritizing R&D over Social Media and Marketing!
Solopreneurs have limited time and resources — after all, I’m only ONE person! It’s really important to know which role I should focus on most to further the company's overall development. I’ve had so many exciting ideas and a lot of support from current clients that has encouraged me to spend more time wearing my R&D hat, so in this season of growth, I’m dedicating the majority of my DN time that isn’t with clients, directly to R&D.
Getting feedback from other successful PhDs turned industry professionals!
Leaving academia post-PhD to pursue an industry career is rare in the social sciences and even more unique with the field of Communication. So while I may be one of the few people in to do so who specializes in communication, I’m not the only PhD turned Industry Pro out there by any stretch of the imagination. My goal is to connect with and learn from these amazing people who’ve braved this transition before me.
Building (and following) a schedule that pares down all my responsibilities to reflect the things that matter most!
On top of my never-ending DN to-do list, some of my other responsibilities include my PhD work, my coaching duties for the Purdue Equestrian Team, care for my animals, relationship duties to my partner, etc., etc., etc. As you can see, I’m a really busy lady, and I’m so thankful that the things I wished and hoped for as a little girl are now my adult responsibilities. However, this life is a busy one, and to borrow an idea from one of my favorite Rom-communism actors Matthew McConaughey: I want to find myself making As in the few things I’m working on, rather than making Cs because I’m trying to work on wayyy too many things all at once.
The hope is that these “In/Out resolutions,” which I’m using more as goals and guiding concepts, will shape 2026 into a productive and deeply meaningful year of growth for the company and our clients. Speaking of our clients, those fabulous humans, a huge shoutout is overdue to all the incredible people who worked with us in 2025! Thank you for making it a special year and entrusting me to guide you on your journey to becoming the best communicator you can be. I deeply appreciate our DN family, and I’m so excited to spend another year serving our wonderful community, as well as welcoming new members to join us in building a world full of healthier communication and relationships! Cheers to 2026! 🎉
