Hi, this form is a starting point for all speaking requests.
Please don't hesitate to reach out about your event or request and let me know what you have in mind.
Email me directly at speaking@nancylyons.com with other requests like writing for your publication or joining you on your podcast.
Also, email me if you want to say hi. I like that, too.
This is a letter about life, work, fear, joy, failure, and all the stuff that really matters, but that we sometimes lose sight of. Read it, save it, share it, because everyone needs to hear these reminders every now and then.
Today, you’re launching. You finished high school, and that’s huge. But it’s not only an end, it’s also a beginning. And here’s what I want you to carry with you—not just today, but every day forward.
Life is wild and weird.
There is no map. No rulebook. No deadline.
Some people take the interstate, while others take the back roads. But we all arrive.
There’s no prize for rushing.
Failure is part of the deal.
You’re going to fall on your face.
Fall anyway, but fall forward: learn, then get up and go again.
You get to change your mind.
Nothing is static. You can change your major, your path, your job, and your mind.
Don’t stay stuck just because someone else thinks you should.
Your word matters.
If you say it, mean it. If you promise, show up.
Character isn’t what you post, it’s what you do.
Kindness always wins.
Say the thing. Help the person. Be the light.
It costs nothing and it changes everything.
Work hard.
Not because hustle is a badge, but because effort matters.
Things get built when people show up, try, and care.
Take risks.
Just because it’s uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
If it scares you, it might be the right next step. Try it and see.
Mistakes don’t define you.
What you do after them does.
Your people matter.
Surround yourself with people who both challenge you and cheer for you.
People who tell you the truth. People who help you grow.
Curiosity is your secret weapon.
Never stop asking questions. Stay open, wonder, and explore.
People who stop learning start shrinking.
Create your own luck.
Most "opportunities" start with someone doing something: knocking on a door, introducing themselves, raising their hand. You can always be that someone.
The reward isn’t always a paycheck.
Sometimes the reward is less tangible than money. It might be peace, or pride, or purpose.
Do what feels right, not just what pays well.
You don’t have to keep up.
The Joneses are exhausted, too.
You don’t have to hustle for someone else’s dream.
The hamster wheel doesn’t go anywhere.
There is beauty in a smaller, quieter life.
You define success, so make sure it feels like you.
Be someone others can count on.
This world has enough flaky people.
Be the solid and steady alternative.
Life is short.
No, seriously, it is. Don’t wait for someday.
Laugh hard, love deeply, make cool stuff, and take naps. Today.
Stay you.
Not the “you” the world expects.
The real you.
The funny, brilliant, growing you.
I’ll always be proud of you. Not because of your diploma, but because of who you are and who you’re still becoming. This letter is for you, Merrick. But I wrote it so anyone could see themselves in it.
Because we’re all figuring it out.
The sky isn’t the limit. There is no limit.
The world is huge. Your options are endless.
You won’t even know what’s possible until you get there: big things, small things, and wild things.
They're all out there, waiting for you.
You’ve got this. And your moms have always, always, ALWAYS got you.
Love, Mom
If this spoke to you, pass it on. To your kid. Your friend. Your coworker.
To anyone who's at a crossroads or chasing something new. We’re all still learning how to live, and reminders help us do that.
Speaking of graduating, I have some big news: I’ve stepped away from my role at Clockwork!
After 23 years of building, leading, and growing a company I loved, it was time. Clockwork deserves fresh energy, and I need new fuel. I’m proud of what we built in my time there. The team is strong, smart, and ready for what’s next. So am I.
What’s next for me?
More speaking. More writing. And more showing up for people in real ways.
I want to help people get through difficult times. Because life isn’t getting easier. Work isn’t getting simpler. Fear is everywhere. And we are all worn thin. Yet, I keep hearing people who read my work or sit in my talks say, “That felt like you were talking directly to me.”
That matters to me, and it’s why I’m doing this. I want to help more people kick fear in the face. I want to help them find their power, even when the world feels like a mess.
Here’s my plan:
But first, I have a hammock, some books, and the sweet call of summer to attend to. This isn’t a goodbye. It’s just a change of address, from CEO to full-time truth-teller and cheerleader for the people. I’m not done working. I’m just working in a way that feels like me again.
You can still find me, still hear from me, and still talk back. Please do.
Let’s keep going. Together.
P.S. Want to bring me to your event or workplace? Go to my website and tell everyone you’ve ever met that I'm available for hire!
Community feels more important than ever. Conversations about what's possible, stories about steps we can take to create the future we want, and like-minded people finding comfort and agency with each other is what I want for myself, and with others. Here at the Nan-Cave and on all my socials (see the long list below...and, yes, it's a part-time job).
You can help.
Wherever you are on social, share my posts. I want to talk to new people and I want to hear from new people. I want to talk about the power we have, but that feels buried under the weight of overwhelm. What I'm saying isn’t motivational, it’s a call to arms. I want to challenge everything, especially our own excuses, because our comfort zones are lying to us.
If you know someone who that might resonate with, share it. If you like what I'm saying, share it with your people. Forward this newsletter. Let's find each other. I'll be grateful and I won't let you down.
Where to find me:
TikTok: @nansplainer
Instagram: @nylons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancylyons/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NancyLyons
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancy.lyons/
Threads: @nylons
BlueSky: @nylons.bsky.social
My house: Just kidding.
There is a lot of “anti” happening right now: anti-LGBTQIA+ agendas, anti-DEI backlash, anti-women's bodily independence legislation. I know, I feel it. So I wrote about what I think we need to do to battle those efforts.Read "How We Counter the Anti" at Minnesota Women's Press.
Earlier in May, I was a power speaker (their words, not mine) at an event celebrating the 40th anniversary of the MN Women’s Press. They invited me, Emilia Gonzalez Avalos, and Nekima Levy Armstrong to speak about how we can change the future. I only had five minutes to speak, so I don’t know if I fully addressed all the possible paths to change, but I did my best.
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis
