Hi!

It’s always intimidating starting with a blank slate. Sure, it’s creatively liberating (I’m never short on ideas), but actually sitting down and putting pen to paper? That’s the hard part. So, here goes nothing. :)

I’m Riley.

I spent 10+ years in Marketing (advertising and communications strategy, if we’re getting specific). I always felt there might be another path for me outside of corporate life—one where I could explore, experiment, and build something of my own. But, like many people, I had a laundry list of doubts:

• I don’t have a genius idea. What would I even do?

• I don’t know where or how to begin.

• Why would anyone want what I offer without the backing of a big company or team?

• [Insert countless other excuses for not starting here.]

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to try. So, I took a leap… but not exactly in the direction you might think.

Head Space & Universal Nudges

I quit my job of 5 years… to travel. Honestly, I was burnt out. I needed space to think and—if I was lucky—maybe even land on that “aha” idea that would change everything.

Spoiler: no genius ideas came. No unicorn business concept popped into my head while I sipped tea in a scenic spot. In fact, I didn’t think much about what I’d do for money at all. And weirdly, that was exactly what I needed—time to clear my head.

When I got back home, the universe nudged me forward anyway (doubts fully intact, for the record). Thanks to my work in Web3 and digital innovation at my old job, I landed a contract leading similar projects. That opportunity was a huge relief—especially since I’d reluctantly started scrolling through job postings again.

What Happened Next:

I could’ve just freelanced under my own name, kept things simple, and avoided the whole “starting a business” thing. But no—I decided to go all in. I set up an LLC, sorted my finances, and planned to run things as professionally as possible.

Enter Moonswell Marketing, my business where I lead digital innovation projects on a contract basis. I also launched a newsletter called Brands on the Block to track marketing activations in tech—blockchain, AI, AR/VR, gaming, you name it.

Two years later, it still feels like I’m in the early days. I’m figuring out how to sustain and grow the business, learning new tools, setting up things like a solo 401(k), and tackling the stream of admin tasks that come with being a one-person operation. Most of what I’ve learned? Trial, error, and an embarrassing number of conversations with ChatGPT.

Why “Chasing Next”?

When I started this journey, I leaned on the countless resources already out there—tools, advice, and success stories from people who’ve built their own paths. But I kept running into gaps: specific topics no one seemed to cover, honest accounts of the messy middle, or insights that weren’t aimed at people already immersed in tech or entrepreneurship.

Along the way, I’ve stumbled across ideas, tools, and lessons that feel worth sharing—especially for people who might be figuring things out like I am, without constant exposure to Twitter threads or tech circles.

At its core, Chasing Next is for me. It’s a way to make sense of my thoughts, track progress, and document what I’m learning. Maybe it’ll grow into something bigger, or maybe it won’t. Either way, it’s my outlet to share tools, lessons, and moments of discovery as I figure things out.

This isn’t a polished “personal brand.” Just the thought of that makes me want to hide under a rock. This is messy, imperfect, and very much a work in progress.

There’s no schedule—just thoughts as they come, distractions I’m chasing, or inspiration that strikes. If any of that sounds interesting to you, welcome to Chasing Next.

DISCLAIMER: This content does not contain business, investment, tax, legal, financial or other advice & is not intended to be used in this way. It includes the opinions of the author & is strictly for informational purposes. Please do your own research.