The 3 Elements That Shape Our Most Meaningful Work
You’ll notice that my Substack is called BLOOD, SWEAT + FEAR. This is more than a catchy tagline, promise. 😉
It’s the backbone of every meaningful project I make or help others make:
🩸BLOOD: This represents the internal well you draw from when developing your body of work. It’s the intuitive energy flow, the cyclical living practices, the noticing of what comes easily to you and not.
💪 SWEAT: This is the work you put into developing and sharing your ideas. It’s the workflow structure, the platform nuts ‘n’ bolts, the outward shape of what you believe that other people can actually see and receive.
🎤 FEAR: This is, for many people I work with, the hard part — publicly, openly, honestly sharing your story to become the leader of your own movement. It’s moving away from self-censorship, sharing more boldly than ever before, creating something the world has never quite seen. Scary. But impactful AF.
Where BLOOD, SWEAT, and FEAR overlap is where I see people able to use their “Outside Voice.”
Since I was a kid, I’ve hated being told to use my “inside voice.” (I’m not shouting, I’m passionate, dammit!) And I absolutely freaking hate it when I see that sentiment rebranded into messaging towards women: Soften your language. Don’t ask for what you want. Be quieter, gentler, more agreeable.
Nah. I love working with women who use their Outside Voice, loud and proud. (Not to mention, 95% of the people I work with are outdoorsy, so it just has the perfect ring to it, no?)
I come back to this framework with clients, since it can help visualize what feels off when they’re building a movement or launching a platform:
Embracing SWEAT and FEAR, but pushing aside BLOOD? Ignoring your inner cycles might make you burn out faster or ditch projects only partway through. 😩 Ex: The Gorge Dating Show that Jeni and I founded and host doesn’t yet have the BLOOD element. We’re hurrying and scurrying between shows, crunching in bursts of work in the weeks leading up to the event. In the future, we’ll need more sustainable processes to keep it going smoothly.
Got BLOOD and FEAR, but not putting in the SWEAT? You might feel like you have nowhere to share all your ideas, pulled in a million directions. ✏️ Ex: I think that this Substack itself lacked the SWEAT element for much of 2025! I still put out a weekly post (every damn week, that’s right!) and had great conversations and work spur from it, but I didn’t have much of a structure or format or strategy to follow. It’s still in development!
Leaning into BLOOD and SWEAT, but ignoring FEAR? You might not have a long-term impact on what you care about most. ✨ Ex: I actually think my book about periods lacks the FEAR element. When I wrote it, I kept it simple and palatable. Though I believe it’s full of helpful information, it’s not ground-breaking. I held back my own voice at times, and because of that, I sacrificed the chance of building something revolutionary.
How I practice all three elements:
I pay attention to my menstrual cycle, creative cycle, Signature Season, and energy patterns over the days, weeks, and months. (I can regularly predict how I’ll feel, think, act, and perform at certain tasks over a cycle, which helps both in work and self-care!)
I expand my comfort zone through outdoor adventure and apply what I learn to structure my work and decision-making. (Nature’s taught me a ton about sustainable business! Biomimicry is mind-blowingly helpful.)
I commit to a regular practice of sharing my ideas, both serious and silly and sometimes counter-culture, even if the algorithm doesn’t like them or I don’t get “hearts” on a Substack post. (It’s amazing how many people prefer to reach out privately instead.)
People ask to work with me because they want to make more money from a business. They want an outreach strategy for building a new platform. They want to share a story that’s been on their mind for years. They want to quiet their imposter syndrome. They want to use their Outside Voice, finally!
We can and will do all those things — but the surprise for many is that it always comes back to holding those core elements of BLOOD, SWEAT + FEAR. We work together to name ‘em, claim ‘em, and evolve ‘em. (And we will in Q1 if you’re interested in this group program!)
Okay, so this wasn’t short ‘n’ sweet as promised 😉 , but I hope it was grounding in a weird holiday week. Want some reflection prompts?:
Think about the project you most want to see progress on in 2026. Which element do you think is missing from it?
What unfinished project needs you to show up more boldly in order to move forward?
What idea scares you because it feels like the beginning of your next chapter?
What would your Outside Voice say if you let her lead your next decision?
Wondering how you got here? Hi, I’m Angie! 👋 I’m a creative director and not-elite-just-enthusiastic athlete living in the mountains and rivers of Washington. I talk about the tough stuff — Blood, Sweat, and Fear — with the goal of building a happier, healthier world for women. You can check out all the ways to work with me here, or follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn.
For Winter 2025-2026, I currently have some space available for 1:1 women’s creative consulting as well as sports and outdoor brand support. And don’t miss my group program, the Feral Women’s Creative Lab.