Hi, Reader,

It’s the first day of August, and if you’ve been in my ecosystem for any length of time, you know what that means: time away.

Here in Portugal, August is a month of rest—at least for those of us who don’t work seasonal businesses. During the summer, many Europeans take an entire month or two off, often driving a camper van across countries, many times staying here in my beach town in the Algarve.

As an American, it took me years to adjust my mindset to embrace a culture of rest. In the US, many take a week or two off a year, three or so if we’re really senior and established, and spend the rest of the year recouping by turning to devices and libations.

But if you work hard, you should rest hard.

This summer break, here’s what I’m doing:

1. Staying the heck off my phone.
2. Spending quality time with my family, including trips to Parque Natural da Arrábida, the local waterpark, an adventure park, the beach, and more.
3. Reading. Yessssss!
4. Running, hiking, biking, and having outdoor adventures.
5. Eating good food, both at home and out.
6. Chilling as a family with nothing to do and nowhere to go.

And most of all, I’m refreshing and restoring so I can be the best Stacy I can be for my family, friends, team, clients, and you.

While I’m away, you’ll be getting both some content I already prepared, including a new blog post, and some reshared content I know you’ll love.

What about you? How are you resting and restoring this summer? Hit reply and share—I love hearing from you!

Fireside chat with New York Times best-selling ghostwriter and author Tim Vandehey

I’m returning from vacation for this very special event in our Author Influence Circle community.

Join our fireside chat with multiple New York Times best-selling ghostwriter and author Tim Vandehey to learn how to level up your writing skills, with a focus on voice, sequencing, concise writing, and show-not-tell writing.

Tim has written more than seventy books, twenty of which have been published by imprints like Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Wiley & Sons, Hay House, and MIT Press. Bring your questions—and leave a better writer.

When: August 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET

​Join us in the community to attend this event!​

From the writer’s room

Rethinking marketing and redesigning life ​Listen now →​

The reason you’re struggling with writer’s block ​Read more →​

Flipping the mic, an interview with Stacy Ennis ​​Listen now →​

How long does it take to write and publish a nonfiction book ​​Read more →​

What does money mean to you? Financial planning with purpose ​​Listen now →​

Writing a nonfiction book? Read this first. ​​Read more →​

Solo: Slowing down to level up ​Listen now →​

3 secrets to writing a book when you’re busy ​Read more →​

Watch the full episodes on YouTube! ​Tune in here →​

​Farnoosh Torabi Behind-the-Scenes (BTS)​

My friend Farnoosh Torabi, host of the Webby-winning So Money podcast and one of the most respected financial experts in the industry, is reopening her intimate mentorship experience, Farnoosh Behind-the-Scenes (BTS), this September.

I had the opportunity to go through the program myself, and I have to say—it was so worth the investment.

Over the course of four months, Farnoosh pulls back the curtain on how she:

• Built a podcast that’s been downloaded over 35 million times
• Landed brand deals with JPMorgan Chase, Charles Schwab, Zelle, and others
• Launched best-selling books and booked stages like SXSW, Google, and more
• Created six-figure workshops and consistently appears in top-tier media like The Today Show, GMA, Oprah Magazine, and CNBC
• And through it all, she models what it looks like to build a business around what matters most—your voice, your story, and your impact.

Farnoosh is keeping this group small, and spots are already filling up. You can learn more and apply here.​

Feautured author: Kristen Luke

How the book has impacted me

Writing my book has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my career. Taking the time to put my thoughts down in a way that helps financial advisors grow their businesses has been incredibly fulfilling. It also became the starting point for OnNiche®, the first program I’ve been able to scale inside my marketing agency. People who read the book are already a great fit for the program, which makes selling it so much easier. I give the book away for free to anyone who wants it, and it’s brought in a steady stream of leads. On top of that, I still earn a few thousand dollars each quarter from book sales.

How my book coach helped

There’s no way I could have written something this good without a book coach. Learning how to outline and structure the book properly saved me so much time and helped me avoid a lot of mistakes. It was also great to have clear steps to follow so I always knew what to do next. And having referrals to editors and publishers meant I didn’t have to spend hours researching—everything I needed was already there.

​

​Kristen Luke is the president of Kaleido Creative Studio, a marketing agency specializing in helping financial advisors develop niche-based marketing strategies and initiatives. She is also the author of the Amazon best-selling book Uncomparable: The Financial Advisor’s Guide to Standing Out Through Niche Marketing, which introduces a practical framework for advisors to rise above industry sameness and attract clients by becoming truly uncomparable. The book has become a roadmap for firms seeking focused, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience, Kristen’s thought leadership continues to shape how advisors market themselves in an increasingly competitive environment, offering clarity, strategy, and practical guidance to help them stand out and succeed. ​

💫 Your writing inspiration

💡 Writing tip: Lower the bar for success!
​
​One of the best ways to make progress—especially when life feels busy or writing feels hard—is to lower the bar.

Instead of sitting down with the pressure to write a full chapter or crank out a thousand words, give yourself a micro goal: Write for just ten minutes or aim for a hundred words. That’s it.

This approach removes pressure and helps you build consistency. And often, once you start, you’ll find your momentum kicks in and you write more than you planned. But even if you don’t, you’ve still made progress—and that matters.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s forward motion.

💭 Writing quote by Stacy Ennis

"Space, rest, and a break from one’s routines are creativity’s best friends."

Let's connect!

That’s it for this month! Have suggestions? Want to say hey?

Hit reply—I love hearing from you!

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