“Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.”
Hello, My Name is Austen
I noticed it in the spring of 2020 when I started writing my book, "Gratitude: A Work In Progress." Endeavoring to complete new projects has become a constant motion in my life. Whether it is so my hands are not idle, to feel purpose, or because learning is fun, I've done projects all my life. Projects started simply - building a model airplane or cornhole set. They've grown to encompass my skills and thoughts.
My first "adult" freelance project started with a coffee chat. I spend 60 minutes grilling a local coffee shop owner about roasting, baristas, starting a business, and managing a team. Then I left, leaving nothing in return. Out of my passion for coffee, learning, and leaving something behind for the business owner, I started Drip: A DC Coffee Podcast in 2017. You can still find the episodes though I am no longer recording.
The next big project started with feelings of isolation and lacking drive. During 2020 - 2021, I wrote 365 thank you cards. One a day for a year to friends, family, and strangers. The goal was to reconnect with my community and me. Ultimately it compelled me to write a book about the experience, "Gratitude: A Work In Progress." I developed a simple framework for habitually exhibiting gratitude.
These projects bring clarity, provide vision, and foster new relationships. The next iteration of my project is this website, where I'll start a blog, offering small business/startup consulting, teach gratitude, and maybe start a few micro-ventures. Zorro The Drummer's episode on Entreleadership taught me that we are all given the same amount of time per day as everyone. It's up to us to figure out how to use it best.
Current Projects
Book & Speaking: Gratitude A Work In Progress
Blog: Coffee with myself.
Challenge: Micro-startups
Business: Operations & Process Improvement Consulting
Podcast: Drip A DC Coffee Podcast (Retired)