I’m just discovering your publication and I find it really refreshing to find this type of advice on a topic that normally recommends to be as concrete as possible. I appreciate the ease and joy of refocusing on the value (or outcome) and not so much on the number (the metric).
On a professional context, I’ve been using a mental model with my teams with great results: Goals and Objectives. Goals follows your advice, whereas Objectives, almost by definition must be concrete. I use them according to each case, and i’m happy to say that goals work good for Product and Business development too.
P.S.: Not entirely related but reminded me of “calm technology”. May be of your interest too.
Thank you so much for getting in touch. Like you, I have manoeuvred through the two approaches with teams in the 'world of work'. Effects-based thinking is plucked straight from that time, but overlaid with the learning I have gathered in creative environments. Finding shared goals is such a great way of guiding teams through transformation (the constant, of course) while objectives really allow people to see how their contribution matters.
I'll be sure to find out more about calm technology.
"Over the next 3 years, I am going to work with my employers to change the balance. It would be good to keep the stability of regular paid work, but I am going to increase the amount of time I commit to my creative practice."
Thanks for this. When I began writing my newsletter, I was so hellbent on finding a quick way out of the 9-5 life, that the pressure involved actually took a lot of enjoyment out of enjoying the process itself... and when you find yourself in that position, what's the point?
I love this "big handful" approach. It's a gentle reminder that the journey can (and should) be so much more gratifying than the endgame itself.
Thanks for commenting, Dan, and the kind words. Yes, I'm a big fan of 'side projects' that we find ways to ramp up as we draw down the day job. It's a constant search for the right amount of income, the hard cash, to allow us to deliver the personal 'value' that comes from the creative part of ourselves. Hoping you find the sweet spot.
I’m going to grow my subscriptions by 1000 by the end of December 2024
perhaps we could try this for size
I am going to build a loyal audience of readers, who celebrate what I do, and tell other people about it.
Sounds advice I'll try to apply it, I really hoped to continue to grow after quite a bit of initial growth, but have since slammed straight into a wall and begun to bleed subs. But I'll try to bear this in mind, this was an essay I very much needed to read.
It's all about attitude and positivity thanks F&F!
Sometimes it just takes time for our thing to catch on ... there are always the unsubscribes (usually nothing to do with you and your words - often it's a realisation that they've taken on too much as readers ... I don't know if there are any stats about people subscribing - unsubscribing - resubscribing). Our growth over here was very gentle, 'steady' I think we'd call it, but it spiked when someone was kind enough to share what we are up to. We also try to spend a significant amount of time celebrating other folk, commenting and sharing their stuff ... the ripple often come back. Community builds. Positivity rocks!
Good point and I'm glad you had someone who was kind enough to help you out like that, but yeah it takes time and there are the resubbers and such.
With me it was quick and recently it slowed, and then I bled people and now it has I hope stabilised. I'm going to try to prod it forward if gently so in the upcoming days.
It can be really hard at the job hunting stage - of course. Much easier to imagine a negotiation after some months/years under the belt. I guess having the broad goal of balance in mind as you weigh up the next stage. Finding ways to not see things as either/or ... or in terms of failing. I so hope you find the balance you are looking for, Patricia. Sometimes, finding ways to still have the creative energy to write after a day or week of work is the way to measure 'success'.
Having creative energy after a day of work is a big hurdle for me. Most of my past jobs were in restaurants and that is a stressful and draining job. It's why I don't ever want to be a line cook again.
Ah, such demanding work ... and nonstop. Trying to weave some leisure time around whatever role you find sounds like the secret. Fingers crossed for you. Your creative work deserves the time.
Well, I applied to be a cake decorator last night and got a call today to interview tomorrow. If I get that, then I'll have a nice creative job! I've done baking before and I really enjoy it. Much more laid back than line cook. And nothing is cooler than saying, "I get paid to make cookies."
Thank you so much, especially for this reframe: “I am going to build a loyal audience of readers, who celebrate what I do, and tell other people about it.”♥️🙏🕊
I appreciate this process of reframing, particularly the move away from "I'll grow my audience by x number" to "this is the kind of audience I want" ... All business/marketing/etc classes I've ever taken rely on the SMART goal model and say that you need to make specific goals that are based on measurable numbers and timelines but there are other ways to value work.
‘Value’ .. that’s such a good theme to pick out of it, Kathryn. And you are so right, I lived my ‘world of work’ goals with the oppressive overlay of ‘hard targets’, ‘stretch targets’, ‘transformation goals’ (do more with less). They’re a massive pressure for everyone.
Absolutely. I think they have a place in terms of providing a target towards which we can aim some arrows but our creative worlds are so much bigger than that little target!
Yes, that exactly ... I love to encourage folk within their creative practices and that requires a broader view, from encourager and practitioner alike.
I have found this zoning out helpful too because when I shift from I’d like to have x number of subscribers to I’m excited to have conversations with my readers about the topics we care about, I start enjoying the process today. This was great, Barrie!
I’m just discovering your publication and I find it really refreshing to find this type of advice on a topic that normally recommends to be as concrete as possible. I appreciate the ease and joy of refocusing on the value (or outcome) and not so much on the number (the metric).
On a professional context, I’ve been using a mental model with my teams with great results: Goals and Objectives. Goals follows your advice, whereas Objectives, almost by definition must be concrete. I use them according to each case, and i’m happy to say that goals work good for Product and Business development too.
P.S.: Not entirely related but reminded me of “calm technology”. May be of your interest too.
Thank you so much for getting in touch. Like you, I have manoeuvred through the two approaches with teams in the 'world of work'. Effects-based thinking is plucked straight from that time, but overlaid with the learning I have gathered in creative environments. Finding shared goals is such a great way of guiding teams through transformation (the constant, of course) while objectives really allow people to see how their contribution matters.
I'll be sure to find out more about calm technology.
"Over the next 3 years, I am going to work with my employers to change the balance. It would be good to keep the stability of regular paid work, but I am going to increase the amount of time I commit to my creative practice."
Thanks for this. When I began writing my newsletter, I was so hellbent on finding a quick way out of the 9-5 life, that the pressure involved actually took a lot of enjoyment out of enjoying the process itself... and when you find yourself in that position, what's the point?
I love this "big handful" approach. It's a gentle reminder that the journey can (and should) be so much more gratifying than the endgame itself.
Thanks for commenting, Dan, and the kind words. Yes, I'm a big fan of 'side projects' that we find ways to ramp up as we draw down the day job. It's a constant search for the right amount of income, the hard cash, to allow us to deliver the personal 'value' that comes from the creative part of ourselves. Hoping you find the sweet spot.
I’m going to grow my subscriptions by 1000 by the end of December 2024
perhaps we could try this for size
I am going to build a loyal audience of readers, who celebrate what I do, and tell other people about it.
Sounds advice I'll try to apply it, I really hoped to continue to grow after quite a bit of initial growth, but have since slammed straight into a wall and begun to bleed subs. But I'll try to bear this in mind, this was an essay I very much needed to read.
It's all about attitude and positivity thanks F&F!
Sometimes it just takes time for our thing to catch on ... there are always the unsubscribes (usually nothing to do with you and your words - often it's a realisation that they've taken on too much as readers ... I don't know if there are any stats about people subscribing - unsubscribing - resubscribing). Our growth over here was very gentle, 'steady' I think we'd call it, but it spiked when someone was kind enough to share what we are up to. We also try to spend a significant amount of time celebrating other folk, commenting and sharing their stuff ... the ripple often come back. Community builds. Positivity rocks!
Good point and I'm glad you had someone who was kind enough to help you out like that, but yeah it takes time and there are the resubbers and such.
With me it was quick and recently it slowed, and then I bled people and now it has I hope stabilised. I'm going to try to prod it forward if gently so in the upcoming days.
Ah I absolutely love this. Everyone needs this particular encouragement.
Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️
Ah, thank you, Louise. Just gently spreading the ripples. Hope Noah is doing well. B
This is so lush. ✨🫙✨
'Lush' is one of my favourite words, Claire ... thank you so much
Finding time to write can be tricky, but I do want a regularly engaged audience. And yes, this is more important than the numbers.
We all need a mezzanine level in life ... glad the ideas hit the spot, Sarah. Thanks so much for reading
Given I am job hunting, the work life/writing balance is something I want to focus on and am most afraid of failing at.
It can be really hard at the job hunting stage - of course. Much easier to imagine a negotiation after some months/years under the belt. I guess having the broad goal of balance in mind as you weigh up the next stage. Finding ways to not see things as either/or ... or in terms of failing. I so hope you find the balance you are looking for, Patricia. Sometimes, finding ways to still have the creative energy to write after a day or week of work is the way to measure 'success'.
Having creative energy after a day of work is a big hurdle for me. Most of my past jobs were in restaurants and that is a stressful and draining job. It's why I don't ever want to be a line cook again.
Ah, such demanding work ... and nonstop. Trying to weave some leisure time around whatever role you find sounds like the secret. Fingers crossed for you. Your creative work deserves the time.
Well, I applied to be a cake decorator last night and got a call today to interview tomorrow. If I get that, then I'll have a nice creative job! I've done baking before and I really enjoy it. Much more laid back than line cook. And nothing is cooler than saying, "I get paid to make cookies."
Get your bonuses paid in marzipan. It would be the icing on the cake!!
Good luck with the interview.
Thank you so much, especially for this reframe: “I am going to build a loyal audience of readers, who celebrate what I do, and tell other people about it.”♥️🙏🕊
Thank you so much for reading, Camilla. So glad it hit the spot.
I appreciate this process of reframing, particularly the move away from "I'll grow my audience by x number" to "this is the kind of audience I want" ... All business/marketing/etc classes I've ever taken rely on the SMART goal model and say that you need to make specific goals that are based on measurable numbers and timelines but there are other ways to value work.
‘Value’ .. that’s such a good theme to pick out of it, Kathryn. And you are so right, I lived my ‘world of work’ goals with the oppressive overlay of ‘hard targets’, ‘stretch targets’, ‘transformation goals’ (do more with less). They’re a massive pressure for everyone.
Absolutely. I think they have a place in terms of providing a target towards which we can aim some arrows but our creative worlds are so much bigger than that little target!
Yes, that exactly ... I love to encourage folk within their creative practices and that requires a broader view, from encourager and practitioner alike.
I have found this zoning out helpful too because when I shift from I’d like to have x number of subscribers to I’m excited to have conversations with my readers about the topics we care about, I start enjoying the process today. This was great, Barrie!
Aw, thank you so much for peeking in, Priya. So glad it has worked for you ... 'enjoying the process' seems to be the key!
That's such a lovely thing to say, Julie
Aw, thank you so much for reading, Chapin. Love your sourdough-inspired community!