😅 Deep Breaths . . . Delightful Distractions Inside 💜

Hi Friends! 

I hope this message finds you—who are we kidding—well? Anxious? On the edge of your seat? Unable to sleep through the night? Hitting refresh on your preferred news site 100x per hour? At least if you are state-side...if not, maybe you've just got popcorn in hand watching our democracy teeter on the balance. 

My husband Michael remarked that watching election night coverage (we never watch TV news) reminded him exactly of the sights and sounds of WWE when he grew up. Hah!

I often debate with myself whether to express how I *really* feel here about politics, etc. (friends of mine know I love a good ol' "cranky curmudgeon" rant!) Truth, authenticity, and integrity are important values of mine, and I love being as transparent as I can. 

At the same time, what this week has made clear is that there are 70 million people (give or take) on both sides of our political aisle. (I'll save my rants on the limits of our two-party system and polarized news media for another time.) Everyone has their reasons for voting how they do, and the fact that we had record turnout means that so many of us are passionate about important aspects of our future! I don't like blanket statements, assumptions, or disparagement surrounding those reasons any more than you do. 

For now, I'll just say this: My hope for the future is that we can build bridges across the aisle. That, together, we can transcend bullsh*t click-bait, algorithmic social media that siphons us further into partisan rabbit holes, and take our power back from talking heads on TV (or anywhere else). It starts at home, with our neighbors, and in our own cities. 

🎧 The Practice—On Generosity, Peculiarity, and Showing Up with Seth Godin 

Speaking of starting at home, I was *delighted* and honored to have Seth Godin on the podcast this week to reconnect us with our life-giving creative projects, through his new book The Practice. 

As he shared in our conversation, "The marketing-industrial complex has been on a tear for a hundred years to make almost everyone feel inadequate, because it's the single best way to sell you something. If that game isn't giving you joy, don't play that game.”

Seth Godin is an inventor, thought-leader, contrarian, mentor, mensch, and an ongoing inspiration to so many of us. Listen in as we celebrate our (almost) ten-year friendiversary and discuss a range of topics for those in the business of playing with ideas: shipping creative work even when tired, generosity and building with word-of-mouth in mind, choosing which information “rooms” to hang out in online, Tik Tok and social media tourism, and speaking to (and selecting for) the yearning of the people you seek to serve.

Although I’m at my awkward finest when interviewing my biggest heroes, Seth chief among them, I hope you enjoy this conversation on all things leadership and creativity :)

Now onto this week's round-up of resources . . . 

That's it for now . . . THANK YOU for reading and listening, for your support, and for being part of this adventure with me. I am grateful for you every day!

❤️  With Love, 
Jenny