Dear friends,

I am not one for New Year’s resolutions per se (although believe me, I want to lose weight, be more grateful, and make new friends, as much as the next person). But I do like to have a New Year’s Word – kind of like a guiding theme for the year. Last year, this was my word. And I think I did a pretty good job. But it’s time for me to move on and try a new word for 2017.

So my word this year is: Build.

To tell you the truth, I have gotten an early start on Build. Because in late-ish 2016, I began hatching plans to start a new social impact business. So I bought a domain name, registered a C Corp in the state of Delaware, and rolled up my sleeves and got to work.

If all goes to plan (and when do things ever go to plan?) my new business will launch in August 2017. My new business is in line with my personal and business mission statement, Be good. Make good. Do good. But it’s also unlike anything I have never done before. So I find myself on the steep part of the learning curve. Building this business is like living in the Wild West -- so much excitement, so many pitfalls, so much unknown on the horizon. Already, I have had a couple of disappointments – things that I thought would pan out but haven’t. But I have also had a few lucky breaks. So there’s that.

There’s a lot to do. And it all costs a bunch of $ (and I don’t have a lot of that). And in the end, it might fail. It might. But then again, it might succeed.

And so, I will continue to, well, build. With my own hands and with the tools at my disposal. I hope it turns out half as beautiful as this Moroccan wood door. Fingers crossed.

Love,

Maryam

PS What’s your word of the year or New Year’s resolution? I want to know.