Looking back to move forward

Did you see the trend last week where everyone was sharing photos from 2016? Along with a mix of other emotions, it had me feeling nostalgic. 

2016 was a big year for me. It was the year I started working for myself. I curated the JA New York New Designer Gallery for the first time, took on my first client, and made the move from Denver to Asheville. It was a year of mistakes, growth, and so much change.

As I was reflecting on that year, I was also in conversation with the Stay Gold Collective about marketing in 2026, and we kept coming back to how many of the strategies that feel relevant now are the same ones that felt meaningful then.

Marketing today isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters. It’s about being intentional, values-driven, and authentic. It’s about creating real connections and meaningful experiences, and showing up consistently, even if things aren’t perfectly polished.

And more than ever, it’s about taking care of the people who are already here. Prioritizing retention, loyalty, and transparent communication builds the kind of trust that lasts.

Sometimes the best way forward is to look back and then move ahead with intention.