✨ the SPARK 228 ~ The Art of Creative Integration

When Everything You Love Becomes Strategy

There was a time when the idea of “strategy” made me want to take a nap.

It felt like this rigid thing I had to map out, with color-coded funnels, optimized everything, and a packed calendar left zero room for actual creativity.

Kill me now.
(Remember when people posted pics of insane funnels with a zillion branches and conditions? Yikes).

But here’s what I’ve realized lately (and what I want to shout from the rooftops):

Everything you love can be your strategy.

That means your joy, hobbies, weird rabbit holes, how your brain naturally connects dots, the content you love consuming, the conversations that light you up—they all count.

They’re not distractions.
They’re not “off-brand.”
They’re breadcrumbs.

And when you start following those breadcrumbs, you start getting clear.

You stop trying to fit your work into someone else’s container and start building a business and life that are truly sustainable and soul-nourishing.

This is Creative Integration

I’m calling this “Creative Integration,” because it’s the opposite of compartmentalization (which is how most of us were taught to operate).

It’s how we stop separating the “personal” from the “professional,” the “real life” from the “online business,” and instead let it all flow together.

Seamlessly. Naturally. Strategically (but without the eye twitch 👀).

You know what else this does?

It puts you back in the driver’s seat of your own story.

Here’s what that looks like in real life:

I have this newsletter, Women, Wisdom, & Wealth, relaunched my YouTube channel (all support is welcome!), am doing a Money Coaching Certification, and working on my next Visual Guide. But that’s just my business.

I’ve started researching and exploring where I want to move next (Spain or Portugal?), spending time with people I love, getting outside, reading, and… just did this:

My seedlings!

I just completed a live 3-week course hosted by Dr. Joe Dispenza too (it was on Abundance and based on all his work and research in neuroscience. SO good).

We’re not just our work.

Integration is not the same as doing everything.

Let’s be clear—this isn’t about running around like a content octopus with 17 tentacles posting on every platform.

This is about intentionally weaving what lights you up into how you show up. ✨

Instead of segmenting your life into silos, you bring your whole self to the table—messy middle and all.

For example:

• Share a YouTube video and then break that down in a newsletter

• Talk about how your favorite book, Netflix doc, or personal finance goal ties into the bigger message of your brand

• Use your study schedule or personal routines as inspiration for productivity tips, mindset shifts, or behind-the-scenes content.

This is strategy.
It’s just not the kind you learned in someone’s 97-step launch plan.

Think of this as the deeper version of #EverythingIsContent. 😉

A Few Ways to Start Integrating:

Here’s how to start seeing your life through the lens of Creative Integration:

1. Audit your joy.
   List everything you genuinely love doing, reading, creating, or talking about. That’s your foundation.

2. Map the intersections.
   How do those things overlap with what you’re already creating or selling? Where do they spark new ideas?

3. Document the process.
   Stop trying to create perfectly polished content from scratch. Share what you’re learning, trying, building, or questioning. Let your process be the content.

4. Start with one thread.
   Pick a theme for the week and let it weave through your content: an idea you’re exploring, a tool you love, a quote that hit deep. Then riff on it across your channels.

When You Let It All Count...

You stop trying to “market” yourself and start simply being yourself—out loud, consistently, and with intention.

The result?

✔️ People feel that.
✔️ They resonate.
✔️ They trust you.
✔️ And you attract the people who are aligned with you, not some cookie-cutter version of you.

One Last Thing...

If you’ve ever felt scattered or like you’re “doing too many things,” I invite you to try on this lens:

“What if I’m not doing too much… I’m just not seeing how it all connects yet?”

Because it does connect.
And once you start creating from that integrated space, everything flows.

Business becomes more easeful.
Content becomes more meaningful.
And you start loving what you’re building again.

Here’s to letting everything you love… become the strategy. 💥

SPARK Spotlight 🔥

HOLY MOLY.

I decided to revisit descript for video when I got an email from Justin Brown of Primal Video. He did a course in Skillshare with a free 31-day trial via his link (ie, you don’t have to pay for Skillshare) and thought I’d jump in.

So many people have raved about Descript, I’ve used it before, but it’s been at least a year. It is PHENOMENAL.

I’ve canceled four tools because of what I can do with descript (I may be able to cancel another tool if I can figure out how to do one more thing - I’m pretty sure I can).

I edited this video with descript in a fraction of the time it would have taken me with something like Camtasia. Bonus? You can edit like you edit a text doc!!! 🤯
(Give me a couple of weeks, and I’ll record a video.)

A Little Brainpower 🧠

Is social media necessary to grow? “Why I Came Back to Social Media After Years of Backing Off From the “Influencer Life.”

Finding my “voice” in my writing took me a while. Here are “10 Ways to Write Like YOU, Without the Fear, the Filter, or the Factory Programming,” from

Dre Beltrami

.

Are you using Notes on Substack? “I Analyzed 50+ Viral Substack Notes: Here's the 3 Types of Notes that Drive the Most Growth,” from

Wes Pearce

.

Tool Time 🛠️

• Get Paid: An alternative to a handful of tools for selling, donations, and even “buy me a coffee.” Try Kofi free here.

• LinkedIn: This almost makes me want to put some time back into LinkedIn. Thoughtful commenting without leaving LinkedIn. Get the Draftly Chrome Extension here.

• AI Headshots: Instantly generate studio-quality headshots, from professional pictures to casual shots. Check out SnapStudio.me here.

• AI Video: Transform your videos into searchable knowledge. Transcribe, analyze, and collaborate on video content (could be great for coaching calls!). Try Neuravid free here.

My Lego self on my deck 😂

Made with love & ChatGPT

I’m about at my word limit on Substack, so I’ll keep this short & sweet.

Have a fabulous day.

With coffee & kindness,
Kim