You Made This Year Shine
A Heartfelt Thank You and a Look Ahead
Happiest of Mondays to you!
As we have learned from being creative entrepreneurs ourselves, rest is extremely important. Taking a break from work is so hard when how often you work is directly tied to your livelihood, and your profession of using your imagination is directly tied to a state of consciousness you are constantly in. But if you don’t prioritize rest for your mind and body, they will force you to take a break at the most inconvenient time (again, speaking from experience). Led by our amazing founder, we are practicing what we preach and going into a short hiatus from publishing our weekly newsletter during this holiday season so we can:
Give our team members less to do amidst all the craziness of the holidays so they can focus on time with their family and friends, and
Focus on growing our media company. We’re setting up some extremely exciting services that we are stoked to roll out for you in the new year (
drops some details on this in his letter to you below)!
From one creative to another, I encourage all of you to also prioritize peace and quiet for your minds this next month. Let’s go into 2025 in the best shape possible, ready to grow and succeed against any challenge! Regardless of how bleak the world seems, I’m truly thrilled for what the next year of our story will bring. I hope you continue to follow along the journey with us!
Cheers,
Editor-in-chief, [New Name Coming Soon]
Making a living as a creative is hard. We all experience how tight money can get during the holidays. But you still want to give meaningful gifts to people you love! Here’s a solution: gift a free subscription to our newsletter! Anyone who loves pop culture media, creativity, life-changing stories, personal growth, or inspiration and encouragement in their business pursuits can gain something from our weekly emails. And it’s a gift that keeps on giving—52 emails filled with stories of thoughtful encouragement spread out over this whole next year!
A Heartfelt Thank You and a Look Ahead
Dear Substack Family,
I hope you had a beautiful holiday surrounded by family, friends, or the things that bring you joy. As this season invites us to reflect on gratitude, I couldn’t let the year end without expressing how deeply thankful I am for you.
Your trust—whether by simply subscribing, reading, or engaging with us—has been a cornerstone of everything we’ve built at OBA this year. You’ve helped us grow, learn, and discover our true mission. So today, I want to share a little of what this year has meant for us, what we’ve learned, and where we’re headed—all with you at the heart of it.
The Journey So Far
This year was a learning curve, filled with triumphs, challenges, and self-discovery. Here are some highlights we owe to you:
We launched this newsletter, aiming to inspire freelancers to take charge of their stories and build brands with confidence.
Our community grew—on Substack, Medium, and beyond. Your engagement showed us that something we’re creating resonates.
We built a passionate team, forming bonds that fuel our mission to serve you better.
But like any good story, the path wasn’t without obstacles:
We faced growing pains, losing team members as we struggled with direction and stability.
Our initial podcast didn’t align with our vision.
A legal hiccup with our name made us question our identity.
Above all, the hardest challenge was clarity. What exactly is OBA? What are we here to do for you? That question lingered longer than it should have, leaving both us—and you—wondering.
The Turning Point
Then, something clicked.
One of our team members created content around pop culture and storytelling—a passion I secretly envied. Storytelling has been my obsession since childhood, not just as entertainment but as a tool for growth and connection. I wanted to lean into that, but I didn’t think it fit the direction we’d chosen.
But here’s the thing: You responded. You found value in it. And you showed us the way forward.
That’s when we realized: Why aren’t we fully leaning into what we love most? We’re storytellers. Our passion is helping you tell better, stronger stories because your stories deserve to be told.
What’s Next for 2025
With this clarity, we’re stepping into the new year with renewed focus and purpose, all centered around helping you become the storyteller—and creative force—you were meant to be. Here’s what you can expect:
Deeper dives into storytelling: Through pop culture—TV, movies, books, and music—we’ll break down the mechanics of great stories and help you use them to level up your craft and personal growth.
Writer to Author Program: Opening up our waitlist for our program that guides you from writer to published, branded author, complete with a roadmap to turn your work into a profitable venture.
Storytelling for social good: We’re doubling down on projects and content that make the world better through powerful, impactful narratives.
A new name: As we roll into 2025, OBA will have a fresh identity that better reflects our mission. Stay tuned for the big reveal.
A reimagined podcast: Let’s Talk Stories will launch bi-weekly, exploring pop culture stories and how they can make you a better writer—and maybe even a better person.
Expanded services: Coaching, collaborative writing, editing, and publishing support tailored to help you achieve your creative goals.
Thank YOU!
This year, you helped us find our footing. You reminded us why we started: to empower creatives like you. Your engagement, trust, and belief in us made all the difference.
So as we take the next few weeks to rest, recharge, and prepare for what’s ahead, know this: We’re here for you. To guide, support, and champion your stories.
We’ll be back on January 6th with fresh content and the debut of our revamped podcast. Until then, have the happiest of holidays, and thank you again for being part of this journey.
Here’s to telling better stories together in 2025.
Gratefully,
Founder, [New Name Coming Soon]
Enjoy the holiday break! Keen to see what 2025 brings for "OBA."