For educators, the holidays are such an important time of year to unplug, recharge and hit reset on the direction you are heading. I will be reducing my publishing schedule over the next two weeks, but be on the lookout for a special year-end gift I am preparing, which will hit your inbox before the end of the year.

This week:

💫 In Motion - Why you can stop worrying about climbing ladders and design a multi-dimensional career instead
🔎 In Focus - Building your dimensions
🎵 In Flow - Book recommendation for developing an entrepreneurial mindset no matter what path you are on, and theme music to remind you of your essence

IN MOTION

Most of us were taught to think of careers the same way we think of academic progress: step by step, level by level, one “right” direction forward. But if you’re an educator with evolving interests, creative ideas, or the early spark of a side project or venture, that ladder model can feel… limiting.

In reality, the most fulfilling paths in education, whether inside systems or beyond them, look far less like a straight climb and far more like a series of intentional chapters, each one expanding your skills, perspective, and impact.

This week, I’m breaking down a mindset I wish every educator knew earlier: your career (and your creative work) isn’t meant to be linear, it’s meant to be designed. If you’ve been feeling pulled toward something new — a role, a project, or an idea that won’t leave you alone — this one will help you see your next chapter with fresh clarity.

IN FOCUS

1️⃣ Name Your Current Chapter
Not your job title, your tour of duty. What are you learning or becoming right now?
→ Write one sentence that starts with: “This chapter is about…”

2️⃣ Choose One Skill You Want to Grow Next
Pick a skill that has energy, not the “right” one.
Then ask: “What project would let me practice this within 30 days?”

3️⃣ Create a Micro-Move
Make it tiny, fast, and low-friction.
Examples: host a mini workshop, draft a one-page concept, offer a test session, reach out to someone doing what you want to do.

IN FLOW

🎵 The Giver by Chappell Roan
This LP (listen here) can serve as a reminder that your instinct to create, contribute, and care is not something you leave behind, but the very essence that guides you into what’s next.
MORE PICKS: Discover more vinyl gems 

📘 The Startup of You by Redi Hoffman and Ben Casnocha
No matter what path you are on, this book reframes your career as an evolving startup. It validates your transferrable skills while nudging you to think bigger about your network.
MORE PICKS: Browse my Pivot to Flow bookshelf

_{Disclosure: I earn a small commission from Bookshop.org purchases, at no extra cost to you. Every purchase also supports independent bookstores. Additionally, my family owns and operates Val’s halla Records, a female-founded independent record store that opened in 1972. Support indie shops, authors, artists, and your own mental wellbeing by making a habit of enjoying physical books and vinyl records!}

Remember, you can reach out any time to schedule a 30-minute Catalyst Conversation. No sales pitch, just a chance to explore how I can support you on your journey.

Let’s get flowing,

Margot

P.S. Know other creative educators itching to expand the path they are on? Please consider recommending my newsletter to them!