Hello, fellow tinkerer 👋 - Happy Wednesday. If you're like me and live in a country where school-aged children have summers off, you're probably counting down the days until the school year starts (22 days to go...) I took some time off earlier this month, which was a lot of fun, but is also one more "routine disruption" that I need to recover from. I like the predictability of the school year and can't wait for it to return. Do you have a love-hate relationship with summer? Please reply and tell me about it so I know I'm not alone. 😁 1) Reflection:A few years ago, I wrote about doing a check-in with my family to figure out how they were feeling about summer. I asked them to rate their days, on a scale of 1 to 5. I didn't do this in subsequent years (I'm sure because I forgot), but it's an interesting idea. We assume that summer is a time of joy and being carefree. But, in reality, it can be really overwhelming. Constant activity takes its toll and kids are isolated from their school friends. My challenge to you for the week is to check in on someone in your life. Ask how they're doing this summer. 2) Product:I realized that I start a LOT of conversations with, "I was listening to a podcast..." I listen to podcasts every single day: it's how I consume information. Earlier this year, I was feeling guilty that my book reading had dwindled. I used to be such an avid reader. But I realized that I consume information differently: in small doses, through podcasts. I also take steps to remember what I hear, which is a different process than highlighting in a book. I have to rely on a podcast's transcript to capture things I find interesting. I use Readwise to highlight portions of a podcast transcript. Readwise syncs to an app called Reflect (but could also sync to Notion, Evernote, etc). That way, I'm saving ideas and can find them later. 3) Tip:While "running with a business" and "taking a vacation with the family" can often feel like chaos, one thing has stayed consistent for me: posting on LinkedIn. Scheduling posts in advance keeps my business running, even when I'm not around (though I can tell that LinkedIn's algorithm "punishes" me for posting and not engaging for a week... still, it's better than nothing.) If posting on LinkedIn feels hard — and I get it — you can check out my e-course Authentic Online Writing. Want more ideas?→ I've substantially ramped up my use of generative AI in a way that doesn't feel gross or like I'm "cheating" as a writer. Here's how. → I wrote an article for Zapier's blog about how I keep track of the podcast episodes I listen to. You can check it out here. That's it for this issue of Tinkering! See you again in two weeks. Cheers, PS: If you like this newsletter and want to support it, here's what you can do! 1) Forward this newsletter to a friend. Sharing is caring. This newsletter may contain affiliate links, which means if you sign up, subscribe, buy, whatever, I earn a small amount. |
Practical tips to make your day better & make your life easier.
Hello, fellow tinkerer 👋 - Happy Wednesday. I saw this Year Progress bar on Threads this week and thought, "That can't be right..." But it is. 1) Reflection: I've been thinking a lot about things that "grab my attention." I'm frequently the victim of Shiny Object Syndrome. I see something new, and I want to try it right that moment (hence, I never run out of ideas for this newsletter 😆). But I also recognize that distraction comes at a cost. I have bigger projects I want to work on. When I...
ICYMI! I hosted a webinar last week about using automation to repurpose content. The YouTube version is here. Hello, fellow tinkerer 👋 - Happy Wednesday. We're fully into the fall season in Chicagoland (colors, weather, pumpkins, everything). My husband has wanted a 12-foot skeleton for years. I keep wondering where we would store it... from Home Depot's website It's that time of year when buying a skeleton is A Discussion in our house. And ConverKit has a polls feature, so I ask you......
I'm hosting a webinar on September 12th! Join me to learn about using automation to repurpose your content. Sign up here. Hello, fellow tinkerer 👋 - Happy Wednesday. Today is my oldest daughter's birthday. She was stillborn back in 2015. So it's a somber day every year. We always get a cake to honor her. 1) Reflection: Talking about pregnancy loss makes some people uncomfortable. And yet, by not talking about it, parents who experience losing a baby feel isolated. I started writing about...