Changing Seasons and Sharing My Work

Editor's note: This was originally sent out in the newsletter on 8/16/19

Changing Seasons

It seems weird that summer is already nearing its end. Although it always seems to fly by, it still hits you unexpectedly when find your self in the back to school aisle getting supplies and planning for the start of the school year. Summer has seemed unusually packed for us. We have had way more going on than usual, plus at work, we were short a person, so I have been working a lot as well. Last week was my first slow week at work, and instead of using it productively I sort of let it be a nothing time. I have been reading more, but nothing else really productive has come out of it other than a lot of YouTube catch up. It was kind of nice, though. I feel a little better now, things sort of feel like they are becoming more consistent again. I find my self looking ahead to the fall and what I want to do with it, especially since fall is my favorite season. I find it easier to plan things in seasons instead of more rigid quarters; it feels more like it is a more natural break.

I recently read Show Your Work by Austin Kleon, I have been thinking about sharing more of what I am doing, just in general, on Instagram and Twitter. I have never been huge on social media, especially when it comes to sharing. I probably still wouldn’t get too crazy with stuff, but maybe letting a little more get out there. As I consider more of what I am doing with this newsletter, I think it makes sense to show a bit more. The main point of Show Your Work is that it is more about the process than the product. I know I love seeing stuff like that from others. It’s about just getting stuff out there and seeing what happens.

One hurdle I see with this is that I have been off Twitter for almost three months now. I don’t feel a super-strong urge to go back, and I know there are plenty of ways I could share without going into the app or checking my timeline, but at the same time, I feel like taking small steps back in might be alright too. We will see what I decide on that.

One other thing I am going to work on, and share from while I am doing it, is a Core Book. This is something I have been telling myself I am going to do for quite some time. I will get into much more detail on what I think a Core Book will look like for me later, but in general, it is both a repository of useful information, as well as a guide to live by. While I am building this out, both the material and the process will naturally lend itself to sharing.

I really am looking forward to the fall. I have some stuff I want to try out, so be ready to have that tested on you. This issue was a little smaller than usual, but I need to rebuild my habit, and getting something out is the first step into being regular again.

Thanks for reading,
Mike