November 23, 2020

Why I Ended My Passion Project

November 23, 2020/ Emily Hessney Lynch

This month, I did something that I could not have envisioned doing at this time last year. After investing four and a half years into it, I finally decided to end my passion project, I Heart ROC. I will always value the relationships I built by interviewing my fellow Rochesterians and sharing their stories on the site. It was an incredible experience and I am so grateful for it.

So, why did I end it? That’s exactly what I want to share on the blog today. In our society, people are always launching side hustles or passion projects. There’s tons of pressure to monetize your hobby. Do you enjoy baking? Start a bakery! Like making candles at home? Sell them on Etsy! It seems like you can’t do something just for the sake of enjoying it anymore. When I googled “passion project,” I got 470 million results; “side hustle” got 67 million results. Articles like “50 ideas for a lucrative side hustle” and “14 reasons to start a passion project” are everywhere.

There’s an abundance of advice about why you should start a passion project, but no one talks about when to end a passion project. When I googled “end a passion project” the results were mostly things like “how to stop procrastinating on your passion project.” That’s why I thought it would be valuable to share why I ended my passion project. Maybe you’re in the same place I was and need some help deciding. I hope this is useful for you.

Here’s why I ended my passion project.

October 28, 2020

How to Apologize When Your Brand Messes Up

October 28, 2020/ Emily Hessney Lynch

2020 has been a hell of a year. Between the ongoing pandemic and the fight for racial justice, there is a lot to be outraged about. For many consumers, that outrage comes out readily when a brand or business they love behaves badly. It creates disappointment, anger, disillusionment, and distrust. This holds especially true for small businesses that find themselves in the throws of being called out for toxic, harmful, and racist behavior. As businesses grapple with balancing how to hold itself accountable it is important to be mindful of what actions help and what actions hurt in the wake of a public call out. No matter what, no brand or business is above being held accountable for their actions and the first step should always be a sincere apology.

As a business owner, how can you apologize to your customers in an authentic and impactful way? What actions do you need to take to ensure things change and you make it right? Let’s explore that together.

September 29, 2020

Thoughts on Therapy: Year Two

September 29, 2020/ Emily Hessney Lynch

It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been going to therapy for two years now. Last year I wrote about what I learned in my first year of therapy, and I thought it would be worth reflecting on what I learned in year two. Continuing on in therapy for a second year has allowed me to continue to build a relationship with my therapist and to go deeper on several topics, diving into things I don’t often think about unless given a push. This helps me keep learning, realizing things about myself, and growing. Thanks to therapy, I’m not stagnating and getting stuck in behaviors or thought patterns that don’t serve me.

Back in January, I never would have guessed how necessary therapy would become. With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping through the world and shutting the U.S. down back in March, we rocketed off the course of normalcy. Zoom therapy became just another one of the many changes in my daily life. The switch to Zoom therapy hasn’t slowed us down or impeded our connection. I’ve been grateful to be able to continue my therapy throughout the pandemic, when stress and overwhelm is higher than ever.

So without further ado, here are a few things I’ve learned in year two of therapy.

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How to Apologize When Your Brand Messes Up

Thoughts on Therapy: Year Two

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