Category: Work

QUICK NYC TRIP

Spent a night in New York City. Did an eight mile run from my hotel, all the way around Central park, and back. Haven’t run that far in a minute, so that was quite a feat. Took no photos during the entire run (1.5 hours), just wanted to soak in the entire experience.

Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.
Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.

I read 4000 Weeks last year, which has made me think of the quickness of life. Is this maybe my last trip to NYC?

Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.
Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.

I went to Grand Central. I used to walk through that building a few times a week when I moved to NYC back in 2004. My god, what a simpler time, right? No streaming music. Two years before I joined Twitter.

Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.
Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.

Every moment is a gift. Grateful to be able to make this trip.

BETTER VS MORE

On a group call today we got talking about an influx of subscribers, and instead of trying to replicate that to get more more more, we talked about ways to get closer to those subscribers. One at a time if needed.

What brought them in? What resonated? How can you meet them?

Can you take 100 new subscribers and find people willing to dive in? Hop on Zoom call?

Maybe it’s “just” 20 people, but those 20 (or 10 or 5 or one) can change your life.

Making more content isn’t always the answer, like Scott says here. Seek more (and better) conversations, and see what happens.

THE JOY OF DEALING WITH PROBLEMS

This from Matthew Ferrara, in a post titled ‘The Joy of Problems.’

“I’m so glad we had lunch,” I said as we left the restaurant.

“I’m so glad you didn’t cancel,” she replied.

“Actually,” I said, “It was invigorating to talk to someone who doesn’t need to be talked off the ledge. It’s refreshing to see you excited about solving problems.”

“You’re right. I feel energized by these challenges; I’ve solved similar ones at other companies. I know I have the skills and experience to deal with them. I’m looking forward to figuring them out in my new role,” she said.

“The joy of dealing with problems,” I smiled.

My latest offering is Email Guidance. Basically you get one email to pick my brain, and if you like my reply, there’s a Stripe payment link and you can book me for 10 more days five more emails of back and forth. I’ve booked five clients so far since I started it last month.

If you’re a paid subscriber to Social Media Escape Club, you get two free emails like this. Someone recently upgraded and did just that, sending me their challenge and a link to their website.

I replied with a 1,000 word email, and they sent back this:

“BOOM! Super helpful feedback … and so generous. Do you really take the time personally to do this depth of research into us/our brand and personalize an email like this? That’s unheard of … I’m super grateful.”

Some people have recently asked me if doing this is “scalable.” As in, I should just do a Zoom call, and be done with it, or something similar.

Or maybe just write 200 words.

But the thing is, and I’m grateful for Matthew’s post for pointing this out, is I think I find it… I found the joy of dealing with problems. I… sort of love it.

I read someone’s email, look over their site a little bit, and whatever else they provide, and then… I go for a walk. I go about my day. I watch a movie. I sleep on it. I go for a run. Make some coffee.

A day later I sit down and bang out a 1,000 word email like it’s nothing, because for me… well, it comes easy for me. And it’s also less stress than hopping on a Zoom call with a total stranger, and having to come up with all the answers on the spot. And be at my computer at a certain time. Make sure the mic is working. All that.

But writing a 1,000 word email? I love doing it.

And there are guardrails. I make sure people know I’ll reply in 24 hours, usually. I’m not swapping emails with you into the night. And I don’t answer emails on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. There’s a lot of space built into this.

And honestly, if I’m giving you 1,000 words to read, it’s gonna take you a minute to digest it.

So yeah – the joy of solving problems. I love it. If you want to know more, check out my Email Guidance page and go ahead, pick my brain.

ENERGY IS MY STRATEGY

In our Zoom call today, we got talking about strategy. And in the breakout room we just fell into “the energy is the strategy.”

The light, the magic, the thing that only you can do, and the way it lights you up – that’s the strategy. I chase that every day.

Doing my invoices and updating spreadsheets, that ain’t the strategy. Heck, seeking out BIGGER CLIENTS ain’t the strategy. I wanna help people with their internet / marketing / social media / email questions right here, right now.

It’s why I push my Email Guidance offering more, because I can help people right where they’re at. One free “pick my brain” email, and if you like that, there’s a payment link to keep picking my brain.

That’s the joy. It is JOY solving problems and helping creative people do well.

WAITING AS A GOAL

What if the waiting is the goal.

This reminds me a passage in “Why We Gather,” by Priya Parker.

The part about waiting in line to get into some big political rally. People standing in line for hours. Then sitting. All the waiting. All the downtime.

Not saying every minute needs to be optimized, but like the story above – the artist served food. Made it an event.

What slowed down, made-to-wait experience can you incorporate into your work?

(link via Sari at Sublime)

DON’T CONFUSE YOUR CUSTOMERS

Today I got two packages in the mail.

One was from someone I spoke with recently, and they said they’d send me something. It came in a sturdy, colorful envelope, it had their name on it, and the shipping label said “delicious ideas inside.”

The other was an item I ordered from someone I’ve followed on Instagram years ago. I paid $40 for this item. It showed up in a plain box, with a USPS shipping label, with no mention of the senders name or brand. It was sent from MERCH COMPANY, basically.

I realize this person has probably outsourced their order fulfillment to a third party. I get that.

But when you pay for-real money for something, the first thought upon picking up the package shouldn’t be “who is this from?”

When I got the package from the person I spoke with recently, there was no confusion, only delight.

Don’t confuse your customers.

If you ever think self promotion is cheesy just listen to truck commercials. They’re the absolute worst.

So go on and talk about your cool prints and photo books and limited edition hand numbered cassettes, cuz those are a LOT cooler.

NEVER DONE

With being sick, as I have been for the past week, it just makes me realize how unenthused I am about rushing back to be in front of a computer. Instead, I wish I could just meet with amazing people in a nearby coffee shop, a cozy diner, a nice office and just… do the work.

The computer screen looks the same when there’s 100 things to do and when there’s just two things to do. When everything is done, it looks no different than having multiple fires to put out.

The computer is the same no matter what.

Back when I activated cell phones from faxed order forms (in the late 90s), when there was a stack of 25 phones to process, that looked different than when we were all caught up.

And it was a delight.

But today’s knowledge work is never done.

BENCH AND BUTTONDOWN

Well, Bench is back. Bought by another company, apparently.

I didn’t want to just download my data from them, because I heard it’s not a very “transportable” format, so I’m hooked back up with Bench at least until I can get my 2024 books settled and my taxes filed, then I’m out.

Also spoke with Buttondown today about moving Social Media Escape Club. I just wanna send emails, you know? Yes, I love the ability to embed video right to the site, and the audio functions, but Substack is very much social media these days, and it doesn’t make send to have Social Media Escape Club to exist on a social media platform.