Your To-Do List is Not the Boss of You.

💌 Teri says hi.

Hey there, friend!

Welcome back to teri says hi—your go-to dose of confidence, mindset shifts, and the occasional spicy take to kick your week into gear. Whether you’re here for the inspo, the sarcasm, or the snacks—I’m thrilled you’re here.

Here’s what we’re diving into this week:

• My TEDx talk
• Podcast recap
• Upcoming events
• Teri's top 5
• Your to-do list is not your worth

Let’s do this.

🔴 My TEDx Talk is on YouTube!

I am so happy to finally get to share this with the world. This talk is by far the most challenging talk I have ever given, and certainly the most vulnerable. 

And the reception of it has been so overwhelmingly positive– it's mind-blowing!

I would be honoured if you would take 10 minutes of your day to watch it and then share it with someone you think needs to hear this message. 

Thank you for coming to my TEDx talk. 

I don't think I'll ever get tired of saying that. 

🎙 Podcast Recap: Success in Mind
In the latest episode of Success in Mind, I sat down once again with Andrei Mincov, Trademark Attorney and Founder/CEO of Trademark Factory, and this time, we're talking all about trademakes and copyrights for creators. 

If you are a podcaster, YouTuber, or content creator, this is for you!

Take me to the episode 

We’re talking about:

• The difference between copyright and trademark (hint: one protects the how, the other protects the who)
• What aspects of your podcast or YouTube channel are automatically protected—and which aren’t
• Whether or not episode titles are protected
• How to know when it’s worth trademarking your brand or logo
• What to do if someone uses your content—or if you accidentally use someone else’s

Plus, Andrei shares a personal answer to our ongoing "question for the next guest" tradition and leaves us with a powerful one to pass along.

🎧 Whether you’re a beginner podcaster or a seasoned content creator, this episode is packed with essential insights that can protect your brand and save you from future headaches.

📅 Upcoming Events
Mark your calendar—here’s what’s coming up:

🌄 5 Peaks Summit – May 16 (In-person)

5 Experts. 5 Topics. 1 Powerful Day of Business and Personal Growth.
Come network, learn, and level up.
Grab your seat

Want me to speak at your event? Let’s chat: www.teriholland.ca/public-speaking

⭐ Teri’s Top 5 ⭐
This week, I’m loving:

1️⃣ Self-Care Practice I Swear By: Turning my phone to black and white to make it less interesting to look at. Try it and watch your screentime plummet. Tip: on iPhone, set the accessibility button the side to do this automatically whenever you want it to.
2️⃣ Thing I’ve Stopped Apologizing For: Not replying instantly. I’m a human, not a chatbot.
3️⃣ Best Compliment I Heard This Week: "You're arms are really smooth". It was so random and one I haven't heard before. 
4️⃣ TV: 1923. The series finale was this week and it's one of the best finales I've ever seen. 
5️⃣ Random obsession: I love watching paint mixing videos. The ones where they have different coloured blobs of paint and they mix them together. Love them. Watching them is like a form of meditation for me. They calm my mind. 

📸 Binge-worthy...

Your To-Do List is NOT Your Worth.

Let’s have a moment of truth, shall we?

How many times have you gone to bed thinking, “Ugh, I didn’t get enough done,” even though you spent the entire day running around doing everything?

Yeah. Same.

Or maybe you took a much-needed day of rest and then felt guilty for not being productive? Truth time–REST IS PRODUCTIVE.

Somewhere along the way, we started confusing being busy with being valuable. We made productivity the currency of our self-worth. And if the list didn’t get finished? Cue the guilt spiral.

But here’s the thing: Your value is not tied to how many boxes you checked.

Not every important thing fits on a to-do list.
⭐️ You don’t get a gold star for regulating your nervous system.
✔️ There’s no checkbox for the conversation that made you feel seen.
🔔 You can’t measure momentum by a calendar alert.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good to-list and the satisfying feeling of checking off the boxes. But sometimes, we get so caught up in the act of creating lists and checking boxes that we lose sight of the bigger picture. 

If you need a reset from the busy club, try this week: instead of asking, “What did I accomplish today?”

Ask yourself: 

✅ “What did I do today that mattered to me?”

✅ “Did I move one step closer to the future I want?” 

✅ “Did I show up with integrity—even if I didn’t get it all done?”

You are not a productivity robot. You’re a human being building a life that matters. One decision, one conversation, one imperfect step at a time.

And then try this:
👉 At the start of your day, choose one thing that supports your bigger vision. Just one.
👉 Make space for that thing first.
👉 Let the rest be extra.

You’ll be amazed at how much lighter confidence feels when it’s not chained to how busy you are.

Next week: How to actually rest without guilt, and why burnout isn’t a badge of honor (hot take incoming).

That’s it for now, friend.

Remember: you don’t have to have it all figured out—just take the next brave step.

And if all else fails? Take a deep breath, grab a snack, and pretend it was all part of the plan. 

Cheering you on always,

Teri. 

P.S. If this hit home (or made you laugh-snort), forward it to a friend. If it mildly offended you… well, that sounds like a “you” problem. 😉