Well, here we are at the end of 2024...
FM (Friday Morning) Reflection #22
It's been quite a first year here at Do Good by Doing Better. 21 Friday Morning Reflections, podcasts on topics like Experience Debt and how to Connect Brand Experience to the Bottom Line, and most recently, adding “On Reflection” audio episodes based on select Friday Morning Reflections.
For something that started from eight words jotted down in a notebook — Think Big, Start Small, Act Now, Measure Results — it's been quite an adventure so far. I hope you've enjoyed this journey as much as I've enjoyed creating it with you.
I think with most creative expressions, it's hard to know where it's going to end up. You have to try a lot of things to see what works, get feedback from your audience, and know what's important.
Ideas and impact are more important to me than clicks. I invest my energy into work that is worth doing. It's about being additive and a contributor rather than a taker. And it's about bringing myself and yourself into conversation.
There are three things that have surprised me about this journey so far. The first is how the discipline of weekly writing has helped me develop new relationships both personally and professionally. Some of you have let me know you look forward to seeing this reflection every Friday, often sharing an anecdote on an inspiration it provided.
I've never sought the public spotlight in a performative way and so that feedback and dialogue keeps me motivated. And there’s something satisfying about leaning into a consistent practice that bears results, especially when it’s focused on service or building connections with others.
The second thing — I didn't expect my photography to even come into the picture. If you’re a regular reader, you’re familiar with the Photo Bonus I include in each Friday Morning Reflection. That started because there was a wonderful sunrise when I was first writing, and I wanted to share that moment, right then. And then it evolved into a way of talking about topics more deeply or even inspiring a post. And sometimes it’s just a fun way to share an image that I appreciate with you.
The third thing that's really surprised me is how much writing these reflections has helped me crystallize my own thinking on various topics. Writing requires us to structure our thinking — to sit down, take concepts, and make them coherent.
Earlier this week, I was weighing options for how to appropriately do a retrospective on the year. Top 10 lists are a big thing, but I wanted to try a different approach. Given the power of audio to tell stories and convey knowledge, and my professional work in AI, I decided to load all of the articles, publications, and podcasts from Do Good by Doing Better into Google's NotebookLM and asked it to do a recap just to see what it would pick out. I've included that recap here as an audio embed, and I hope you enjoy it!
There's a saying that leaders need to carefully calibrate their use of time between working on the business and in the business. As a solo practitioner here with this publication, I have to figure out how to do both. With the weekly commitment to writing, I spend most of my time “in” the business. I'm going to take next week to work on the business — on formats, content, and such, to sustain this work next year. So, the next Friday Morning Reflection will be shared on Friday, January 10th.
I hope you are enjoying a great holiday season with family and loved ones. Thank you for all your support this year, and let's have a great 2025!
Photo Bonus
There are many special places and spaces in the world, and some come especially alive during particular moments like the holidays. One of my favorite places to visit in December is Rockefeller Center in New York City with the ice rink and lit up Christmas tree. I hope the sparking light in this image inspires you for the year ahead!