SIGNIFY was more than my word for 2025; it was both a business name and a compass, reminding me to “make known” what matters most and to live like my life and work are truly important.

Why “Signify” Mattered

Signify has always meant “to make known,” “to be important,” and “to be a symbol of,” which is exactly why I chose it for my business in the first place.

This year, it also became a filter, asking me: Does this choice signify what I value, and is it pointing me toward the life I really want to build?

Work That Signified

My biggest goal for 2025 was returning to full-time self-employment, while shifting my role with Vector Global Logistics to a non-salaried relationship that lent itself to more boundaries.

That change freed up energy to focus on growing Signify again, especially supporting the people and causes that have always been at the heart of my work. I brought on several new clients—including a long-time friend—and it felt incredibly fulfilling to help them succeed in fresh, meaningful ways.

Stepping Into Impact

For the past 18 months or so, I have worked closely with a business coach who helped me prepare mentally and practically for this transition. That preparation made it possible to pivot my services from marketing (a skill I’m grateful for, but not my deepest passion) into Fractional Chief Impact Officer work.

“Fractional” is essentially the newest term for a dedicated contractor who is part of the team but outside the company, bringing specialized expertise to multiple clients. A Chief Impact Officer focuses on the social and environmental impact of an organization, paying attention to both internal and external stakeholders, which is a role I explain more on my company site and now fully inhabit with Vector as well.

Stepping out of Chief Marketing Officer into Fractional Chief Impact Officer at Vector has allowed me to concentrate on the things that light me up—our B Corp Certification, Logistics With Purpose®, charitable giving, emergency response, and other impact-driven projects.

Travel That Meant Something

Travel looked different under the banner of SIGNIFY. After two years of criss-crossing the country, I knew my body—and my chronic health—needed a gentler pace, so I prioritized pet sits of at least three weeks, ideally four or more. That slower rhythm worked beautifully.

I spent over three months in Eastern Canada, where my best friend Heather joined me on Prince Edward Island so we could live out our Anne of Green Gables dreams, and Newfoundland quickly became a new favorite, especially seeing the icebergs up close.

Another large chunk of the year was spent in New England, which continues to charm me with its quaint towns, colonial names, and chilly weather that I truly don’t mind.

There is already exciting travel on the books for 2026, but that story will have to wait. (Follow me on Instagram to see where I go!)

Learning, Community, and Faith

Learning-wise, 2025 was a year of money, finance, and investing—three words that once felt far outside my comfort zone. Near the end of 2024, I read Rich Dad Poor Dad at my coach’s suggestion, and one idea hit hard: I needed to learn how to steward money myself rather than depending entirely on others for financial security.

That insight nudged me into a Dow Janes course, drawn in by their emphasis on values-driven investing, and from there I kept following a trail of resources that helped me feel more informed and empowered. I still have a long road ahead, especially when it comes to long-term planning, but it was a significant step forward.

On the community side, my girlfriends in the Nashville area started a book club. Even though I couldn’t be there in person, I read along from afar and joined the conversation by text. I didn’t always love their picks, but the shared experience helped us stay connected across the miles.

And, spiritually, SIGNIFY called me to my faith in small but meaningful ways. One was that I was able to visit The Ark Encounter on my travels north. That helped me set a great tone for the year. It is an incredible place, and super helpful to visualize things I’ve read in the Bible. Another simple shift was investing in the Abide app, listening to scripture and stories as I fell asleep.

Over time, I’ve learned that simple, consistent practices often carry the most weight, and I tried to let that truth signify my priorities across different parts of my life.

Five Resources to Find Your Word

Read for your own Word of the Year? Here are five resources to help you find it:

• My One Word: Change Your Life With Just One Word by Mike Ashcraft – Swap the long list of resolutions for a single word that represents what you most hope God will do in you.
• One Little Word by Ali Edwards – A year-long creative practice that invites you to choose a word and intentionally document how it shows up in your life.
• Christian Planner Word Generator – An online tool that offers a faith-centered word to guide your next season, especially if you want a scriptural tie-in.
• Camille Styles’ “How to Choose a Word of the Year You’ll Actually Live By” – A practical article with questions that help you pick a word you can realistically embody, not just admire.
• Morgan Harper Nichols’ “Word of the Year Ideas” – A thoughtful list of word prompts paired with reflective language, perfect if you need inspiration or a starting point.