A new face for Messy Humans
For real people who want to thrive at work
Hullo, beloved subscribers. I’m thrilled you’re here. Thanks for all your support over the last year.
Now, I have exciting news! Driven by some big life changes, I have been doing a lot of soul-searching about why I write and what I want to share with you. I’ve come to some basic conclusions:
I want my 15+ years in software to mean something. Something bigger than “I worked with a team that made this cool thing” or “I worked with these brilliant names you would recognize.” This career has exposed me to ideas, experiences, and epiphanies that I doubt I could have found elsewhere. I want to share.
I want to help you stop masking, doubting, and hurting at work. One of my greatest lessons is that the more I am myself at work, the more we can get done. Recently, I had someone pull me aside and thank me for making the last meeting more real and human. It was a small thing that meant a lot. You can have that too.
I write so my creative self can be seen. I’m someone who wants to be on stage, playing the game, dancing, singing, speaking, teaching, and sharing stories. And I’m somewhat isolated because I work remotely. So look at me, please! Share your thoughts in chat. I’ll do my best to make it interesting.
I’m too neurospicy to stay focused on a book-writing project, which was the original intent of Messy Humans. The past year has been a grand experiment in different styles of writing and topics, long posts, short posts, true stories, mental flights of fancy. It’s not going to come together as a book without more structure.
That said, I want Messy Humans to feel like coherent and connected ecosystem. I know, I’m supposed to focus on a micro-niche. But my brain doesn’t work that way — in my experience, the exciting stuff is between niches.
New shape and topics
Some of the top questions I hear in my practice and from colleagues:
How do I thrive at work?
How do I learn to lead without losing my soul?
How do I deal with all the overwhelm and constant change?
I’m smart / weird / divergent / insecure / too direct. Sometimes people don’t like me. What can I do?
To refocus on these and related questions, I’m writing in these general categories:
MESS: You are not alone. This will showcase the ways that *everyone* is messy. Stories about real humans who stumble, learn, get frustrated, are in denial, and sometimes thrive.
STRETCH: Explorations about how we grow stronger and wiser at work. I’ll write about adult development, authentic influence, idiosyncratic leadership, growth mindset (for real, not lip service).
PATTERN: As we develop our careers, ideas from systems thinking and social psychology become more relevant. I’ll share some of my favorite ways of tackling and visualizing complexity.
JINKS (paid only): Short challenges you can use today to jiggle your thinking, shift conversations, and learn new human tricks. (Inspired by “Thinkies.” Thanks,
.)
New benefits
As a free subscriber, you get occasional posts. I’m aiming for one a month.
As a paid subscriber, you have:
Weekly subscriber-only posts and full archive
Jinks (short thoughts to help you thrive)
30% discount for online and in-person events (a few a year)
You’re welcome to sit back and absorb, or to engage with me and the Messy Humans community. We are small, but mighty. And we love dogs in fezes.
Referral program
To encourage you to bring more people into the fold, I’m spinning up a standard Substack referral program. When you use the referral link below, or the “Share” button on any post, you’ll get credit for any new subscribers. Simply send the link in a text, email, or share it on social media with friends.
When more friends use your referral link to subscribe (free or paid), you’ll receive special benefits.
Get a 1 month comp for 3 referrals
Get a 3 month comp for 5 referrals
Get a 6 month comp for 25 referrals
The first new posts come out next week — at least one Jinks and a new post on How To Work With Mediocracy, my new favorite word. Stay tuned!
I’m glad you’re working toward writing a book. Have thought that maybe you write about big things and maybe I write about small things, but the part you said about how we want to sing and dance on stage is super true. Best of everything.
What is that illustration on the wall behind you and your dog? I've seen it before but can't place it. I love that post-modern style!