I still remember the moment I realized things had to change. We were on our usual walk—me and my dog, leash in hand, hoping for a calm, quiet stroll. Instead, it turned into the usual tug-of-war: barking at every dog we passed, lunging at squirrels, spinning in circles when a bike rolled by. I loved my dog more than anything, but honestly… I dreaded our walks. At home, it wasn’t much better. The barking at the window, the pacing during thunderstorms, the constant hyper-alert energy—it wore both of us out. I knew he wasn’t being “bad.” He was just overwhelmed, anxious, unsure how to cope with the world around him. That’s what inspired me to create Calm Canine Academy. It’s not about strict obedience or “fixing” dogs. It’s about helping them feel safe, secure, and calm—so they can actually enjoy the world, not just react to it. And helping their humans understand how to guide them there, step by step, in a kind and science-backed way. Now our walks feel completely different. He checks in with me, stays grounded, and we can finally enjoy being outside together. The barking has lessened, the restlessness is fading—and most importantly, he seems happier. And so am I. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, frustrated, or just wished your dog could relax and feel more at ease… I totally get it. That’s exactly what Calm Canine Academy is for. If you're curious, feel free to message me or check it out. No pressure at all—just wanted to share what’s been working for us in case it helps someone else too. https://www.skool.com/calm-canine-academy-3658/about?ref=de5185e55f884cfbbe00b2f8973b333b

Major Milestones Five days ago, our group AI Storytellers reached a combo milestone: 100/100 club! 100 Members /#100 rank Today, we hit our Third! We’ve climbed to #75! Getting a STAR rank was never even in my vocabulary—until now. So what changed? My members did. They showed up. They rallied. They built energy. They’re posting boldly, welcoming newcomers, dropping encouragement, and working as hard as I am. And here’s the magic— It doesn’t take a crowd to start a movement… just one. But we’re not one. We’re MANY. We’re a community. A team. A family of doers. We don’t just dream—we Publish. Produce. Distribute. Film. We set goals, we stretch beyond our limits, and we cross finish lines most people never start. If you want to stop watching from the sidelines… If you want to make things instead of only talking about them… Join us. Step in. Become one of us. The next STAR could be you. 🌟 Https://www.intensemedia.com/lab Nick Nebelsky

1. Welcome + Check-InQuick hello, set the tone, and remind everyone this is band practice — not a performance. 2. Rise Up Rockstar App (Sneak Peek)Intro to the upcoming Rise Up Rockstar app: - Why it’s being built - What problem it’s meant to solve - How it supports community, rhythm, and rising together 3. Finding the Right BandmatesHow to genuinely meet and connect with people who help you rise: - Being real instead of pitching yourself - Letting connections grow naturally - Not forcing people who hold you down to come with you 4. Open DiscussionGroup conversation: What kind of people help you stay in rhythm — and what kind of energy pulls you off track?

(N’ those Unexpected patterns I didn’t see coming) Over the past week, I offered a handful of Christmas community audits to the epic members in THE BACKROOM. I went in thinking I’d mostly be supporting other community owners, helping them spot gaps, tweaks, missed opportunities. What I didn’t expect was how much it would teach me too.(this bit surprised me more than I thought it would, if I’m honest) Seeing different communities from the inside, back to back, gave me an outside perspective I didn’t have before. When you’re inside your own space every day, you often stop seeing certain things. You assume things are obvious, and forget what it feels like to arrive like a newbie, slightly awkward-ish, not wanting to get it wrong. (that slightly hover-y feeling… we’ve all been that person, right?) [did-you see my POSTAPHOBIA post?] We cannot make assumptions, all the answers are often there for us, through the comments, the data, the analytics etc… (and yet we STILL assume… iykyk) Basically none of what I’m sharing here is right or wrong. This defo ain’t judgement. It’s just PATTERNS I noticed repeating and looping, and a few things that made me have those little LIGHTBULB moments where I stopped and went… huh… ok then… and rethink how I build and lead community too.(also yes, I saw myself in some of these, not exempt here) ➖➖➖➖➖ THE BIGGEST SURPRISE GOING IN… I kinda expected to see lots of content problems. Weak posts. Not enough value, conversations etc etc. Messy structure all that jazz.(you know, the usual suspects) But what I actually saw, over and over again, was this: almost nobody has a content problem. What most people have is a MOVEMENT problem…. Beautiful spaces. Gorg solid branding. Thoughtful heart-led badass leaders. But many members sitting quietly, watching, unsure what to do next. (lurking, saving posts, thinking “I’ll come back later”… and later never comes pfffttt) ➖➖➖➖➖ PEOPLE DON’T ENGAGE BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT (often)