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Hey there,
Happy 2026!
I’m sure you already got a ton of year-end wrap-up content back in December, but I always have a hard time doing that until the year is actually over. (The reading app I use provided my wrap-up at the beginning of December 31st, but I finished a book that day… so, too early.)
I’ve found that with family life, the end of the year is very hectic and doesn’t inspire reflection for me. In past work lives, January was also always busy, so the years blurred together without much opportunity to slow down and reflect.
Now that I have more control over my schedule and commitments, I’ve decided to take the first couple of weeks of the year to look back at my accomplishments and plan for the year ahead.
Instead of focusing this blog post on a specific book, I’ve decided to bestow awards on the ones that really stuck with me, and to highlight a few things I’m proud of from 2025.
Let’s get into it.
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🧪Alchemy Notes
There’s no shortage of advice about how to close one year and kick off the next… but January has never felt like the right moment for that kind of energy for me. This year, I’m doing it differently.
In the blog, I’m reflecting on 2025, through a mix of numbers, firsts, and book awards, and giving myself permission to let winter be a slower, more intentional season before moving forward.
Read the Blog: Letting Winter be Winter
📚The Alchemist’s Bookshelf
Why these books made the cut:
I don’t recommend just anything. These are titles I’ve read, loved, and still think about. Some links are affiliate, which helps support this newsletter, at no extra cost to you.
📖Picks for whatever phase you are in:
For when you need to re-evaluate self-care:
🧘♀️Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness by Pooja Lakshmin, MD
A grounded, no-nonsense reframe of self-care that moves beyond bubble baths and into boundaries, values, and agency.For a novel escape:
📖 A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
A charming, comforting read that delivers exactly what it promises: a love letter to stories, bookstores, and the joy of getting lost for a while.For remembering that we all have to start somewhere:
✨Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem
Part memoir, part reflection on movement-building and purpose, this one reminds you how change happens: slowly, relationally, and with persistence.
📚 P.S. I read a lot… across strategy, memoir, psychology, and the occasional fantasy/romance/thriller/witchy novel. The book recs in this newsletter aren’t filler. They’re part of how I think, lead, and help clients navigate complexity. Want to see what else is on my shelf? Take a peek at my bookstore (affiliate link, updated regularly).
👋🏻Let’s Not Make It Weird
Hi, I’m Tara, Founder and Chief Alchemist of Alchemy Advising. I help growing businesses untangle their finances, rethink pricing, and build smarter systems so they can scale without burning out.
With nearly 20 years in operations and finance, including FP&A leadership at brands like HOKA and UGG, I now work with founders and execs who need clarity, not just spreadsheets.
Think: budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and big-picture planning that actually connects to how your business runs day-to-day.
If this newsletter made you nod, pause, breathe a little easier, or curse less at your P&L, here’s what’s next:
📬 Forward this to a founder or leader who’s buried in numbers but hungry for insight.
💬 Hit reply if something sparked (or you just want to say “Hi!”).
📅 Want to talk shop? Visit www.alchemyadvising.co and learn about working together or book a chat.
“… small things can make a change in the world. Tiny little things, but the world is made up of tiny matters, isn’t it?”