There’s a version of working in marketing that looks very polished from the outside. It’s very much like marketing itself; the glitzy, best aspects of the role, the fun events and perks. Fast-moving, creative, always something happening. And while that’s true, what makes it actually work day to day tends to be much simpler and much less sexy than people expect. It’s not a long list of tools or a perfectly optimized routine. It’s a handful of things that I come back to consistently because they make everything else easier to manage.

Not necessarily more productive in the traditional sense, but more clear, more focused, and a little more balanced in a role that isn’t always predictable. Below is a peek into a pretty crazy week in the life working in hopsitality marketing.

A Few Things I Actually Rely On

I don’t look at my phone for the first hour of my day

This has been a challenge for me, as a lot of my day-to-day responsibilities in work sit in the digital world. However, waking up and immediately being hit in the face with venue schedules, questions for the day, follow-ups from yesterday, or the to-do list ahead sets the tone for chaos - for me personally. Y’all know I’m a big proponent of the morning routine, and it has been essential for me to start each day level-headed, calm, and focused.

A notebook I use every day
I’ve tried to digitize this more than once, but I always come back to writing things down. Not everything needs to be captured, just what matters. Priorities for the day, notes from meetings, ideas that would otherwise get lost. Being organized in my thoughts, to do list, quick notes, and schedule is something that has, for me, usually had a tie to paper and physically writing them down. My calendar lives digitally as I gave up on physical planners years ago, but there is another lesson there. Know how you work and lean into what feels right.

Uniform dressing
This has made more of a difference than I expected it to. Getting dressed without having to figure it out every morning removes a layer of decision-making that I didn’t realize was adding up. It’s not about repetition; it’s about starting from something that already works. (I shared more on this in a previous post.) I also have been using Rent the Runway for years and love how it helps me plan outfits, provide staples that inform uniform dressing and helps me keep a strong edit on my my own closet.

Project Management Tools
I was introduced to project management tools early in my career in Chicago, and it was one of the first things that meaningfully changed how I worked day to day. I’m an advocate for Asana, which is what my team utilizes. In a field that can be open-ended, fast-paced, and highly creative, having a system creates structure where there otherwise wouldn’t be any.

It’s less about organization for the sake of it, and more about creating clarity. Process-oriented thinking allows us to move quickly without losing direction, and gives balance to work that can easily become reactive.

Using AI as a thinking partner
Not to replace the work, but to support it. Whether it’s organizing ideas, pressure-testing a concept, or getting out of a creative block, it’s become something I use daily. The value isn’t in having it think for you, it’s in helping you think more clearly.

Refinement has been a consistent theme for me lately, and AI has played a large role in that. From early-stage brainstorming to tightening copy, analyzing data, researching audiences, and building out campaign directions, it’s become a tool that allows me to move faster without sacrificing depth.

It’s still somewhat controversial, but there’s a lot of value in expanding your own thinking while allowing something else to handle the legwork. I’ve saved hours of time researching, become more informed within minutes, and challenged my own perspective in ways I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Books I actually reference
Not just reading for the sake of it, but returning to ideas that shape how I approach my work. The kind of books that influence taste, decision-making, and how you see things, not just tactics. In this post, I outline my favorite marketing books and highly recommend any of them. They’re the books that contain concepts I keep returning to, share with my team, and consistently use in the office.

What I Pay Attention To & CONSUME

One thing that’s made a bigger difference than I expected is how much I’m actually consuming the space I work in.

Not in an overwhelming way, but consistently enough that I’m aware of what’s happening, what’s working, and where things are going. That means paying attention across different channels, not just the ones I naturally gravitate toward. Social, brand campaigns, hospitality trends, music, culture, and even how people are interacting with spaces and experiences in real time. It’s less about keeping up and more about building context.

The more you see, the easier it is to recognize patterns. What feels fresh, what feels overdone, what actually resonates with people versus what just looks good on the surface. Over time, that starts to shape your instincts in a way that makes decisions feel more immediate and less forced. Especially in a role where things move quickly, that kind of awareness matters more than having the perfect answer.

Just as important as what I consume is what I don’t. Editing out content, noise, and inputs that don’t serve me has made a noticeable difference. I’m selective about what I follow, what I spend time on, and what I allow into my space. Protecting that, especially mentally, allows me to stay focused and operate at a level that feels consistent.

What Matters More Than Any Tool

All of this helps, but none of it replaces how you show up. If anything, it just supports it. There are a few things that have made a bigger difference than anything I’ve added.

Knowing what deserves your full attention
Not everything does. The faster you can recognize what actually matters in a given moment, the easier it is to move through everything else without feeling pulled in too many directions.

Being clear in your decisions
Indecision tends to create more work than the wrong decision does. The more you trust your judgment, the less time you spend reworking things that were already close.

Letting consistency do more of the work
You don’t need to approach everything as if it’s new. The more you can rely on what already works, whether that’s how you get dressed, how you structure your day, or how you approach your work, the easier everything becomes.

There isn’t one thing that makes a role like this work. It’s a combination of small decisions, repeated often enough that they start to feel automatic. The tools help, but they’re not the point. They just make it easier to show up the way you need to.

Some outfits come together almost immediately, while others take a little more convincing. It’s rarely about the individual pieces themselves, but rather how they interact. You adjust something before leaving, add a layer, swap a shoe, reconsider the entire direction. Not because anything is inherently wrong, but because the outcome doesn’t quite feel resolved.

That’s usually where effort shows up.

Not in an obvious or excessive way, but in the subtle moments where something needs to be made to work instead of already doing so. It’s easy to assume that more thought, more styling, or more options will lead to a better result, but more often than not, it has the opposite effect. Too many decisions begin happening in real time, and with that comes a certain level of friction. Pieces start to compete for attention, and the overall look begins to feel slightly off, even if you can’t immediately articulate why.

Effort, in this sense, isn’t about doing more. It’s about overworking something that hasn’t been simplified yet.

When people talk about being effortless, it usually coincides with “oh, it just works for them” or “they’re just naturally effortless.” But It actually tends to be the result of decisions that have already been made, whether consciously or not. A base that doesn’t need to be reconsidered, pieces that fit without adjustment, combinations that feel familiar in a way that doesn’t require negotiation. When those elements are in place, everything else becomes easier, not because less care is applied, but because the work has already been done ahead of time. Sometimes it is even just the essence of a person. How does that translate, and how is it attainable?

WHERE EFFORT CAN TAKE A TURN IN OUTFITS

Effort isn’t always visible, but it’s almost always felt. It tends to appear in the moments where something is being forced into place or a goal that is measurable is being worked toward. Trying to make pieces work together that don’t naturally align, adding more in an attempt to resolve something that would be better served by editing, or choosing something because it feels new rather than because it fits within the broader context of what already works.

It also shows up in the habit of starting from scratch every time you get dressed. Without a consistent base to return to, every outfit becomes a new decision, which can quickly turn something simple into something unnecessarily complex. When decisions, outfits, schedules, plans, and even how you approach things are too templated or forced, it typically is noticeable off the bat.

None of these tendencies is inherently wrong. They’re just signs that something hasn’t been fully resolved yet. And when something isn’t resolved, it tends to require more attention than it should. Here are 5 ways I’ve seen effort result in overworked outfits:

Trying to make something work
When a piece almost fits but needs adjusting, reworking, or is constantly making you fidget while wearing it, you’ve lost the plot already. The need to force something into place is often the clearest sign that it doesn’t belong there to begin with. People who appear effortless are because of what they are wearing, how they hold themselves, and what they bring into their lives, which fits within the foundation and structure they spent the effort on.

Adding more instead of editing
Layers, accessories, and extra elements are often introduced to elevate a look, but they often create more noise. What would have worked on its own becomes harder to resolve. I’ve found that the chicest, most effortless looks and people are when there isn’t too much going on, and they are comfortable. If they aren’t comfortable, they aren’t fully themselves, and the same happens in outfits.

Choosing novelty over alignment
A piece might feel interesting on its own, but if it doesn’t connect back to the rest of your wardrobe, it creates friction. The result looks slightly disconnected, even though each element works individually. If the look is strictly trend-based or combines multiple wow pieces, each choice pulls further from the foundation. That doesn’t always mean boring or simple, just secure and impactful rather than overwhelming.

Starting from scratch every time
Without a consistent base, every outfit becomes a new set of decisions. What feels like creativity often turns into overthinking, where too many choices are being made at once without a clear direction. There are, of course, times when adding and being a bit extra is fun and makes sense, but for the outfits you’re wearing daily and building a personal brand around, lean on that foundation.

Not having a clear foundation
When there isn’t a defined sense of what works consistently, everything requires more attention than it should. Getting dressed starts to feel like something to solve rather than something that already makes sense.

None of these is a mistake. They’re simply indicators that something hasn’t been simplified yet. And once that simplification happens, everything else tends to follow.

WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS

What works tends to be quieter and more consistent. It often begins with a foundation that is repeatable each day. Silhouettes that feel familiar, pieces that consistently fit the way they should, and combinations that already make sense together without requiring adjustment. There’s a level of clarity in that, one that removes the need to overthink or second-guess in the moment.

Denim that fits the way it should
A pair or two in silhouettes that consistently work for your body and your style. Not trend-driven, but reliable enough that you don’t have to question them each time you reach for them.

Tops in your best colors and cuts
Pieces that sit well, layer easily, and complement what you already have. These are the items you return to without thinking, not because they stand out, but because they consistently work.

Shoes that are both functional and cohesive
Options that you can move through your day in comfortably, while still aligning with the rest of your wardrobe. Ideally, they live within the same palette so they don’t disrupt the overall look.

Accessories that don’t require overthinking
A small rotation that works across different settings, whether it’s everyday or something slightly more elevated. Nothing that needs to be styled each time differently, but pieces that integrate naturally.

Silhouettes that suit your body and your lifestyle
This is less about specific items and more about shape. Knowing what proportions feel right on you makes everything else easier, because you’re not constantly trying to adjust or compensate. When you’re wearing pieces that fit your body and not the look, you become the look.

From there, variation becomes much easier. Not because you’re constantly creating something new, but because you’re building from something that already works. The result doesn’t feel repetitive, even if it technically is. Instead, it feels cohesive. That sense of cohesion is what ultimately reads as effortless.

The goal isn’t to eliminate effort, but to shift where it’s applied. Rather than trying to resolve everything in the moment, it becomes about making decisions ahead of time and returning to what already works. The difference is subtle, but it changes the experience entirely. What once felt like something that needed to be figured out becomes something that simply falls into place. And more often than not, that’s where the best outcomes come from.

It’s never one thing. It’s everything working together.

There’s a difference between something that works and something that feels right. Most of the time, it isn’t one defining feature that creates that feeling. It’s a series of smaller decisions. Ones that don’t necessarily stand out on their own, but together, create something cohesive.

You don’t always notice them immediately. But you feel them.

The lighting is softer than expected. The music fits the room without competing with it. A space feels intentional, even if you can’t explain why. An outfit comes together without needing adjustment. Nothing is pulling too hard for attention. It’s subtle, but it changes everything.

We tend to look for the one thing that will make the difference. The right piece, the right plan, the right moment. But more often than not, it’s the accumulation of smaller details that creates the result we’re actually after. And when those details are considered consistently, things start to feel easier. Not effortless in the sense that nothing went into it, but effortless in the sense that everything has already been decided.

That’s where clarity comes from. It shows up in how you get dressed. Pieces that work together without needing to be rethought. Nothing competing, nothing slightly off. You’re comfortable and feel confident. It shows up in your environment. Spaces that feel aligned with how you want to live, not just how they look.

And it shows up in your time. Days that aren’t just full, but intentional. None of these things requires more. If anything, they require less. Less noise. Less overthinking. Less trying to force something into place.

The difference is in the details that remain. The ones that have been chosen carefully, repeated consistently, and refined just enough that everything else can fall into place around them.

What This Looks Like in Practice

It’s easy to talk about details in theory, but they matter most in the moments where things aren’t controlled. Especially in work that doesn’t follow the same rhythm every day. I shared a little day in the life video on my Instagram last night that showcases a view into what a day can look like working in hospitality.

Some days are structured. Others aren’t. Priorities shift, timelines move, and what you planned for the day isn’t always what it becomes. That’s where the smaller things start to matter more. Not as a way to control the day, but as a way to move through it.

Routines that don’t change. Decisions that have already been made. Boundaries around what gets your time and attention. They’re not rigid, but they’re consistent. And that consistency is what creates a sense of stability, even when everything else is moving. It’s not about having a perfect system, but about having something to return to.

I’ve learned I can’t control the day, but I know what works and what doesn’t for me.

A consistent start to the day; my morning routine is what anchors the entire day. Starting with consistency and clarity makes everything easier for me. How I approach things, my outlook on the day, the mood I’m in and the accountability to myself each morning.

Decisions made before I need them: uniform dressing helps eliminate the extra decisions and time. Having that figured out provides a structure I can fall back on. I don’t have to wonder if I’ll feel good in the outfit, if it fits properly or if I feel my best.

Time that isn’t already spoken for: Creating time for the things that make me feel creative, or time to think, time to not be in meetings, it’s all scheduled and thoughtful. It’s easy to jump straight to the next thing, but I’ve found the magic is in between when there is no pressure and we aren’t reacting.

Space that feels like I can think clearly: whether it is in my living room during my morning routine, my office space, or just a moment to reset, having a space that informs what you need your environment to be is something I can’t recommend enough.

Something to look forward to at the end of it: some non-negotiables happen nightly and provide that foundation, like dinner with my husband and time without our phones, but it can also be a glass of wine on the back deck, a concert or fun industry event.

None of it guarantees a perfect day. There are still moments that feel rushed, off, or completely out of sync. Soemtimes we take the L and pour another glass of wine, but having something consistent to come back to changes how everything else feels. It’s less about controlling the day and more about moving through it with clarity. Not everything works every time, but it works more often than it doesn’t. And most days, that’s enough.

There’s a point where getting dressed stops being about options and starts being about clarity. Not in a restrictive way, but in a way that removes the need to reconsider everything, every time. Uniform dressing, at least the way I’ve come to understand it, isn’t about wearing the exact same thing every day. It’s about creating a framework that’s consistent enough to rely on, but flexible enough to still feel like you. It’s an edit. And like most edits, it’s less about what you add and more about what you decide not to.

One of my favorite styling tips comes from Coco Chanel herself: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” This thoughtfulness and one last glance in the mirror to edit doesn’t dull anything or remove a special moment; it actually helps accentuate the outfit and keep things focused.

Over time, I started to notice that the outfits I felt best in weren’t the ones that required the most thought. They were the ones that felt familiar, balanced, and already resolved in a way that didn’t need to be questioned before leaving the house. There’s a quiet confidence in that because if you’re doubting something, you’ve usually already got your answer.

When certain decisions are already made, silhouettes you return to, colors that always work, pieces that consistently hold their place, everything else becomes easier. Doing the work upfront to understand what fits you properly, what lines and cuts work best on your body type, and your needs, creates a more effortless process of getting ready each day.

Removing the friction is where uniform dressing starts to feel less like a style choice and more like a system. That system doesn’t have to be rigid, but it does give more efficiency and confidence. As a wife, woman in business, dog mom, friend, daughter, and everything else in between, I’m making hundreds of decisions daily. While the decision of what to wear that day isn’t always a hard one, putting a system in place where the outfits help me always feel my best and give me more time and energy is a win.

The Uniform

For me, that’s often meant a foundation of black. Not because it’s safe, but because it’s clear. It simplifies combinations, sharpens everything around it, and creates consistency without requiring attention. Not to mention, it is one of my favorite colors to wear.

Another aspect of my system is finding out what I’m most comfortable in for running around the office, to and from Broadway, and for sitting in a lot of meetings, while still being appropriate for work. For me, this translates to staple denim, interchangeable tops, some form of jacket because I’m always cold, but want the flexibility to remove it, and comfortable boots. From there, it’s small shifts. A different jacket. A change in texture or color, or adding something slightly unexpected, but still within the same language. Nothing that disrupts the whole.

That’s the difference; it isn’t about reinvention in each outfit, it’s about refinement. And over time, that refinement becomes recognizable. Not because it’s repetitive, but because it’s cohesive. There’s less second-guessing, less overthinking, and less pressure to make something work, because I know it already does. But not only does it work, but I am also comfortable in it and feel most like me.

In a way, uniform dressing is just an extension of the same idea that being put together has very little to do with trying harder. It’s the result of decisions that have already been made and repeated enough times to feel natural. Not more options. Just better ones, chosen consistently.

How you build your own uniform

If uniform dressing works, it’s not because it looks a certain way. It’s because it reflects a version of you that’s already been decided. And that’s usually where figuring out your uniform starts. Not with what you think you should wear, but with what you already return to without thinking about it. The pieces you reach for when you need something to work. The outfits that make you feel the best version of yourself. There’s usually a pattern there, even if you haven’t defined it yet.

It’s less about creating something new and more about paying attention to what’s already consistent. You can start by asking yourself a few questions.

• What do I wear most often when I feel like myself?

• What pieces do I never have to adjust or second-guess?

• What colors or silhouettes do I keep coming back to?

• What feels easy, even on days when nothing else does?

• Are there any requirements for my workspace or environment?

• What do most of my days look like, and what do I need to consider?

The answers are usually more obvious than expected. From there, it becomes an edit that you work from and buy toward. Keeping what aligns, letting go of what doesn’t, and building around the pieces that already make sense. Not to limit your options, but to make them clearer. Of course, there are outliers in your closets for special occasions, fun nights out, and truly unique environments, but the exercise of knowing what works best for you is tranferable to all those categories and really unlocks your closet.

There’s a certain kind of presence that feels put together before you can even pinpoint why. It’s not loud. It’s not overly styled. And it’s rarely the result of trying harder. If anything, it feels like the opposite.

We tend to associate being “put together” with effort — more time, more options, more thought. But the people, places, and environments that actually feel this way are usually operating from a different place entirely. One that’s quieter, more consistent, and far more edited.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing less, better.

The difference is often in the details — the ones that don’t immediately stand out on their own, but work together to create a feeling. Clothes that fit without needing adjustment. Pieces that show up again and again without feeling repetitive. Nothing is pulling too hard for attention.

And that’s what creates the ease.

Because when everything doesn’t need to be reconsidered every time, there’s a natural confidence that comes through. Not performative, not overworked — just aligned. This is also why “put together” doesn’t necessarily mean dressed up.

It’s entirely possible to be wearing something simple, even expected, and still feel polished. In many cases, that’s exactly what allows it to work. Simplicity leaves room for consistency, and consistency is what builds identity. The same can be said for environments, brands, and even the way a night unfolds. The ones that feel the most effortless are rarely accidental. They’ve just been refined to the point where nothing feels out of place. There’s restraint in that. And clarity.

Trying harder often introduces noise — more options, more decisions, more room for things to feel slightly off. But being put together has less to do with adding and more to do with knowing what doesn’t need to be there at all. It’s an edit. And over time, that edit becomes recognizable. Not because it’s different every time, but because it isn’t. That’s what gives it presence. Not effort, but intention, applied consistently enough that it no longer feels like effort at all.

I’ve found that this technique of editing has shifted most areas in my life for the positive. Whether it was editing down my closet rather than filling it, focusing on the friendships that felt easy rather than finding new ones to invest in, scheduling less on my calendar to be intentional about the things that were left, or minimizing my morning routine from 6 steps to 3 non-negotiables. Editing has given me a lot of focus on the things that matter to me and helped me find the version of myself that feels put together in most aspects. Of course, I’m not perfect and still have days that have too much, emotions that overflow or even outfits I look back on and question who I thought I was wearing that. The goal isn’t to be so structured that we mitigate change, but to feel aligned in who we are and the goals we’re after. And believe it or not, what we’re wearing impacts that.

Editing Your Life, Not Adding to It

1. Your Closet

Getting dressed is often where this shows up first. Not because it’s the most important, but because it’s the most visible.

A closet that works isn’t built on options — it’s built on clarity. Pieces that fit, repeat easily, and exist within the same language. Nothing is competing for attention, nothing that needs to be convinced into working. It’s less about variety, more about consistency. And over time, that consistency becomes its own kind of identity. With that, consistency is a visual representation of your identity. And this doesn’t have to be boring. Your consistency could be focused on wearing color, pattern, dresses, or even unique shoes and bags. No matter the identity you want to portray, find the consistency factors that make your closet you, and focus on those.

Where the put together aspect comes is within a few aspects of best practice - impeccable fit, ease, and quality. With these three aspects in mind, you’ll have a great foundation for editing that closet.

2. Your Calendar

A full calendar can look productive, but it doesn’t always feel that way. There’s a difference between a schedule that’s packed and one that’s intentional. The latter tends to have more space than expected — not because there’s less to do, but because what’s there has been chosen more carefully. Not everything needs to be included to be effective. In many cases, the clarity comes from what’s been left out. Removing more from your schedule allows the time and energy to be shifted onto thinking about your time rather than being so busy that you blindly follow your calendar. Is that hour-long meeting really necessary? Do we need the full hour? Refocus your schedule on the intentions and goals you have rather than external expectations and commitments. We, of course, still have those and are accountable to them, but when your schedule is full of invites from others, is it really even your schedule?

I’ll be sharing a blog post soon about how AI helped me rebuild my schedule with an intention that has been a game-changer.

3. Your Environment

The same is true for the spaces you move through. The places that feel the most considered are rarely overdone. The lighting is right. The music makes sense. Nothing feels out of place, and nothing feels like it’s trying too hard. It’s not one defining feature; it’s everything working together, without friction. If you’re in environments that feel like constant friction or they don’t complement the intentions your after, it’s time for an environment change. Shift and adapt our environments to guide the schedule, lifestyle, and habits you want to be making. I shared more about this in my morning routine blog post if you want more tangible examples, but your environment shapes your life so why not focus on making it everything you need feel put together?

If you’ve ever asked someone in marketing, “How did you learn this?” the answer is almost never just school or a job title. It’s usually a mix of experience, mistakes, curiosity — and a handful of books that quietly shape how you think. I’m a big believer that marketing should be a group activity, and while I haven’t had the longest career, I’ve learned a lot from the network I’m grateful to be a part of and the books that taught those people a lot of what they know and have shared with me.

I’ve always believed that the best marketing isn’t really about marketing at all. It’s about people. About decision-making. About creativity under pressure. About how ideas land, spread, or fall flat. I’ve found the same to be true in the majority of the marketing books that sit on my bookshelf. Sure, they’re filled with best practices and marketing principles, but the true artform of marketing lies within the people that shape them, the systems that propel them, and the creativity we nurture.

Whether you work in marketing, want to work in marketing, or are simply looking for a more well-rounded understanding of how marketing principles show up in business and life, these are books I consistently recommend when someone asks me where to start. Think of this list as a bookshelf I’d happily point you toward if we were grabbing coffee together and you asked for a read that will reshape your perspective.

Creativity, Discipline & Doing the Work

One of my favorite conversations to have with people is about how creativity and artistic ability are not mutually exclusive. Some of the most creative people I know couldn’t draw a convincing stick figure, and some of the most artistic people I know have a hard time looking at problem-solving creatively. These books break the mold on the idea of creativity and how everyone has a level of creativity they can unlock and sharpen, no matter their profession or how well they can visualize something on paper.

These are for anyone who creates for a living, or is expected to show up with ideas even when inspiration is nowhere to be found.

The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice by Todd Henry
This book reframes creativity as a responsibility, not a mood. It’s about building habits, systems, and clarity so you can deliver strong work consistently — especially when the pressure is on.

Creative Confidence by Tom Kelley and David Kelley
A reminder that creativity isn’t reserved for designers or artists. It focuses on confidence, experimentation, and empathy as skills anyone can build — and benefit from.

Brand, Strategy & Positioning

If you’ve ever wondered why some brands just make sense, and why others feel forgettable, these are essential reads. Being creative is an aspect of marketing, but without the formulas and systems that make it all work together, that big idea may never come to life or last the test of time to build brand loyalty.

The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier
A foundational book that connects strategy and creativity in a simple, visual, and incredibly practical way. It’s one of those reads that permanently changes how you look at brands. Apologies in advance for how you will never be able to look at a marketing campaign without the Brand Gap lens again.

Juicing the Orange by Pat Fallon
This book challenges you to unapologetically think bigger, push against category norms, and create brand ideas that actually move people emotionally. And then it breaks that down and asks you to do it on a bigger scale. The best marketing ideas and brands are built from tension, sitting in the uncomfortable to find the comfortable, and breaking what already exists to find the true value. Marketing dies in complacency, and this book pushed me more than most to operate in that mindset regularly.

Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind by Al Ries and Jack Trout
An older classic that still holds up. It explains how brands win or lose in the mind — and why perception often matters more than product itself. The true win in marketing is convincing millions of people that a product that hundreds of other companies have is better than another, not because it is, but because the consumer perceives it to be. Ideally, you’re in a unicorn situation and marketing a one-of-a-kind, ca n’t-be-beaten product, but more often than not, the strategy is positioning rather than product.

Obviously Awesome by April Dunford
This modern take on positioning is instrumental in crowded markets. Clear, practical, and helpful for articulating what truly makes a brand different. This book takes positioning to the next level and breaks down why context, a specific target audience, and differentiation set brands apart from the crowded markets they are in.

Messaging, Storytelling & Making Ideas Stick

Messaging, Storytelling & Making Ideas Stick

These books focus on communication, how to say the right thing at the right time, clearly, without overcomplicating it, and even when silence is a stronger tool than the perfectly worded pitch. Every marketing campaign should include a story, but where the best campaigns set apart from others is when the team behind them gets granular about how it’s said, the visuals that accompany it, the voice sharing it, and the level of detail in every single one of those categories.

Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
A breakdown of why some ideas are memorable while others disappear. It introduces simple frameworks for clarity, relevance, and emotional impact. There’s a reason certain commercials, brands, and visuals stick with you, and this book gives you the cheat code to unlocking why they do. Spoiler, it’s usually the most clear, focused, and stripped down messaging that is remembered most.

Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
A straightforward framework for simplifying brand messaging using storytelling principles. Especially helpful when you’re trying to clarify what you actually do. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in marketing? The customer is the main character, not the brand. You’ve already lost the plot if your main message is talking about you.

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
A reminder that writing is a core business skill. Practical and approachable, especially for anyone creating content, emails, or digital communication. You don’t have to be a copywriter to nail the skillset of writing with clarity, tone, and connection.

Psychology, Behavior & Why People Say Yes

Understanding people is essential in marketing and in life. Why they do what they do, what they care about, and how to unlock that in marketing strategy to meet them where they are is a foundation for the best campaigns. While understanding your audience is a great tool for marketing, these books taught me a lot about people in general and how to work with them, build off ideas, and, even more importantly, they taught me a lot about myself.

Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
A classic for a reason. It breaks down the psychology behind persuasion and decision-making, and once you read it, you’ll start seeing these principles everywhere. Most people already have an answer in their minds before they even ask the question. They are influenced by what they consume, social proof, and invisible context clues around them, so most of the time, their mind has already decided for them.

Alchemy by Rory Sutherland
One of the most interesting books on this list. It challenges purely logical thinking and shows how emotion, culture, and perception drive behavior. We wouldn’t be human if we operated solely on logic, and the factors of how campaigns and products make us feel usually matter more than price, features, or efficiency.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
More dense, but incredibly impactful. It reshapes how you think about decisions, bias, and judgment well beyond marketing. A key takeaway from this book for me was about the notion that people are more motivated to avoid loss than to achieve gain, which has major implications for pricing, messaging, and how value is framed.

Growth, Modern Marketing & Competitive Advantage

For thinking beyond tactics, trends, and short-term wins. In today’s world, virality seems to be the goal. While growth, competitive advantage, and trends are aspects of that, brands that make the biggest impact are those that create longevity. The books below focus on driving attention, creating demand, and how to stand out in markets.

Contagious by Jonah Berger
Explores why certain ideas spread organically. Especially useful for understanding word-of-mouth, cultural relevance, and shareability. If you’re interested in social media marketing, influencer marketing, and content, this book touches on the aspects of identity, connectivity, perception, and the emotion that is needed to drive action rather than just bringing attention to something.

Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
A strategic lens on creating demand instead of fighting for attention in crowded markets. More business-focused, but incredibly valuable for marketing leaders. Many marketers are focused on beating their competitors, but the real marketers are focused on making them irrelevant because they’re creating new demand in a redefined space altogether.

2025 didn’t ease in or let go softly. It was sharp in places. It shifted the ground under my feet in ways I didn’t ask for and couldn’t fully prepare for. It was a year that demanded growth before I felt ready, growth that wasn’t always graceful, but real.

There were days that felt heavy before they even began. Days where showing up looked less like ambition and more like endurance. But there were also moments of real momentum. Milestones reached. Work I’m proud of. Wins that, on paper and to those looking in were the highest achievements, and yet even in those high points, I found myself quietly wondering what more I could do. If I could sustain what I had built. If strength was supposed to feel like more of an arrival than this.

Somewhere in between achievement and uncertainty were the small moments that kept me human. A little too much champagne. A girls weekend screaming Jonas Brothers lyrics at the top of my lungs with best friends. Laughing at myself for thinking I could white knuckle my way through everything without ever needing a pause. Growth, it turns out, is rarely linear and often requires questioning everything, filtering the noise, and bringing yourself back to the people who remind you who you are.

Not every year gets to be labeled great. Some years are simply formative. Some years don’t sparkle in hindsight, they teach through friction. 2025 was that kind of year, one that held accomplishment and self doubt at the same time. One that has glittery chapters, and one that had me questioning what the next page was going to start with.

It asked me to let go of versions of myself that no longer fit, even when I wasn’t done loving them. It fractured assumptions and routines, forcing me to look at what was real versus what was familiar. But it also clarified what matters. It showed me that I can’t carry it all and setting some things down or that needing support doesn’t make strength any less valid. You can be capable and still need help. You can lead and still lean.

And still, there was laughter. There was love that stayed and grew. There were people who showed up in quiet, necessary ways. There was strength I didn’t know I had until I felt myself reaching for it, and allowing others to meet me there. There were moments where the most productive thing I did was laugh, reset, and try again the next day.

I found pieces of myself in the hard parts. The grounded ones. The scary and honest ones. The ones that don’t perform well on social media, or let alone even get posted. Pain has a way of refining you if you let it, of stripping things down to what’s essential. 2025 did that. It reminded me that resilience doesn’t mean facing it alone, and that sometimes survival looks suspiciously like joy in disguise.

As 2025 closed, there’s a temptation to wrap it up neatly. To declare a reset. To brand a new beginning. But the truth is, a new year is a manufactured milestone. A calendar flip doesn’t absolve the past or guarantee the future. Every day, ordinary and unnamed, is the real gift.

So instead of resolutions or declarations, I’m carrying forward what this year taught me. I’m going to find my creativity again and to write even when it’s imperfect. I’m choosing to sit comfortably in silence instead of chasing noise. I’m prioritizing friendships and time outdoors and travel that inspires me rather than exhausts. I’m going to continue to give as much as I can to others but know that doesn’t mean I’m losing myself to do so. I’m reading more books, drinking more champagne because, obviously, and keeping authenticity close, even when it’s inconvenient. Not because a new year demands it, but because the learning did.

Hope doesn’t come from a date. It comes from staying. From choosing to keep going with a little more softness, a little more humor, and a deeper trust in myself than I had before.

And that feels like enough. Happy New Year, y’all xx

My Favorite Thing to Make for Dinner? Reservations.

There’s a time and place for home-cooked meals… and my husband, Kollin, loves to cook so it works out well, but some nights, you just need to get out of the house and dress up. Whether it's a spontaneous Tuesday night or a carefully planned date, nothing beats being seated, handed a menu, and sipping a glass of wine feeling.

Nashville has no shortage of restaurants, but these are the ones we keep coming back to. The vibes? Immaculate. The food? Even better. Here’s a running list of go-to spots around town—and our favorites from the meals.

@presenttensenashville
Great atmosphere and cocktails. Their menu changes often, but get the burger. It’s a staple menu item for a reason.

@postinowinecafe
Such a great vibe and perfect lunch spot to grab a glass of wine and chat all afternoon.

@mimonashville
Our go-to Italian spot downtown in the Four Seasons. It’s the perfect balance of bougie and approachable. Great wine selection and impeccable service.

@sauced.nash
There’s no drink menu—you tell the bartenders what type of wine you like and talk it out as you try some to decide on. Great food and would be a great first date spot! They have a DJ on Friday nights too.

@sinatrabartn
It’s like you stepped back into 1950s New York and Frank himself is playing the piano. Order a martini and splurge a little on dinner. It’s worth every penny.

@limoeatery
If you’re looking for a casual spot but exceptional food, you have to try this place in East Nashville. Order some mojitos, the lomo saltado, and the ceviche.

@the_catbirdseat
You’ll definitely need to plan ahead for a reservation, but this has been our favorite meal in Nashville. Experience a chef’s tasting menu in an open kitchen, and have an intimate meal you’ll never forget.

@luogorestaurant
Another Italian spot we love, whose sister restaurant, Pelato, you may have heard more about—but we prefer Luogo for the atmosphere, more Mediterranean menu, and of course, the wine.

@biteabit.nashville
Another East Nashville favorite of ours and the best Thai food we’ve found here. We haven’t had one bad thing: our favorites being the Panang Curry, Gyoza, and Pad See Eiw.

@sundanewasian
Our “we don’t feel like cooking” date night that is consistently so good. Their cocktail, Peared Sake, is one of my favorites in Nashville, and you can’t go wrong with the oxtail pot stickers, wagyu crispy rice, crispy Brussels sprouts, and pad thai.

@carnemare
We aren’t huge steakhouse people, but this Italian steakhouse perfectly blends traditional steak favorites with Italian touches. Order a glass of champagne, the caviar mozzarella sticks, and your favorite pasta.

There are so many more places we would recommend, but we love these for an intimate, dreamy, and romantic date night. Now that we’re through the spots to try, how about what to wear? Linking some of my favorite date night pieces below!