You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup: Why Wellness and Community Belong in Your Business Strategy (Even If it’s Your Business)
Rehoboth Beach, DE
If you’ve ever flown on a plane, you’ve heard the reminder: put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. As a communications consultant who has spent years supporting mission-driven organizations - nonprofits, social enterprises, and more - I know how easy it’s to forget that advice.
We give. We hustle. We serve.
But if we don’t replenish ourselves - personally and professionally – we also burn out.
That’s why I’ve started turning more intentionally toward wellness, both in my life and in the work 10F Communications takes on. Because when you run a small business or lead with purpose, taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury. It’s foundational.
Wellness Isn’t Just Self-Care - It’s Community Care
When we talk about wellness, we often default to solo practices: journaling, exercise, therapy. All valid. But the truth is, no one sustains themselves in isolation.
Just as we build networks to grow our businesses, we need circles that support our well-being. Communities where we can be more than our work. Where we feel seen, supported, and stretched in all the right ways.
Finding the Right Communities for the Right Needs
Lately, I’ve been leaning into different kinds of wellness spaces - some physical, some creative, some emotional. Each one fills a bit of my cup:
Movement – I’ve been frequenting women-owned Pilates and yoga studios not just for strength and reflection, but for connection. These spaces are built with intention, and that energy is contagious.
Creativity – Whether through art collectives like Frontline Arts, visiting new museums or participating in Baltimore art, I recharge through, and inspired by, creativity.
Support – From trusted friends to mentors, these are the people I can text when things feel like too much, or I just don’t know what move to make – and of course also to celebrate with when things go right.
Growth and Collaboration – I’ve built a professional network of fellow founders, freelancers, and do-gooders who understand the juggle. These are my, “let me run something by you” or “let’s collab” people.
Why This Matters for Your Business
There’s power in recognizing that you don’t have to be everything to everyone all the time. Finding your people - especially as a wellness practitioner, a maker, a founder - you create the kind of sustainability that fuels impact.
At 10F Communications, I bring that same mindset to client work. Whether it’s crafting your brand story, designing a launch strategy, or writing content that truly sounds like you, I approach it with intention and heart. I believe that when your message is clear and rooted in your why, it becomes an extension of your wellness - not a drain on it.
The work we do should nourish us, too.
