Tag: newsletter

Why I Cheated On My Writing Platform Of Ten Years.

For the past decade, I have been writing a lot. Like a lot, a lot.

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I have been sharing a wide range of experiences, reflections, insights, accumulated life lessons and random pop culture references in my writings at The Adam Albrecht Blog on WordPress.

In fact, I have now published 1,116 blog posts on the platform.

In 2021, I built on those blog posts and published my first book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say?

I have been totally committed to my WordPress blog. And I have believed in the sanctity of a monogamous writing relationship.

But then, one vulnerable evening, I started developing feelings for another writing platform.

Before long, I realized I was lusting in my heart for it. Like Jimmy Carter.

I tried to ignore it. After all, I had been a true and committed partner to WordPress, in good times (like that old JJ Walker show), and bad (like that Michael Jackson song). I wrote on WordPress in sickness and in health. And I thought I would write exclusively on the WP as long as we both shall live.

But over the past two months, I have been cheating on WordPress. Cheating like that couple on the Kiss Cam at the Coldplay concert. And unlike a crying Jimmy Swaggart begging for forgiveness, I don’t even feel bad.

So today, I’m revealing that my Camilla Parker Bowles-style side piece is the baddie content creation platform, Substack.

The platform makes it ridonculously easy to write and share. It’s crammed full of bells, whistles, chimes, horns, kazoos, and a space-age xylophone that I didn’t realize I wanted. But I freaking love it!

Substack allows me to write a blog post, then turn it into a newsletter, podcast, video, social post, or an origami critter. It does what I used to need 5 different resources to do. Like a content creation Ginsu knife.

What I am trying to say, in a pseudo-salacious way, is that if you have enjoyed reading the things I have written over the past 10+ years, I encourage you to check out what I have been sharing on Substack. (Although I think the name Substack sounds less like a writing platform and more like a tall pile of hoagies and grinders.)

You can sign up to follow my writings and even have them delivered hot and fresh to your inbox, like some linguistic Krispy Kreme donuts. (Mmmm, donuts…)

So consider subscribing, and you will never miss a bite.

But if you still need one more good reason to check out my writings on Substack, I have been working on another massive writing project for more than a decade. (Who does that?) And I will be sharing fun news about it soon, on Substack.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media. And consider subscribing to Adam’s Good Newsletter.

I have started Adam’s Good Newsletter to share more positivity.

Hey Readers! I have started a newsletter called Adam’s Good Newsletter. You can cheat code to the newsletter right here, right now, like that arena hype song says. But if you want the backstory first, and who doesn’t like a good backstory, you can find it below.

The Backstory

The spring of 2020 was a dark time in America. COVID-19 was creeping across the country like a lung-infecting fog. Race-related issues were boiling over. And our presidential election was unfolding as one of the ugliest in American history.

The events of that spring scared the crap out of Americans. Which helped turn toilet paper into gold. During that dark and stormy time I recognized that we could all use more good news. So I committed to sharing only good, positive, uplifting stories, ideas and perspectives here in my blog.

As a result, I saw a surge in readership. People called, emailed and texted me telling me how much they appreciated the positive outlook I was sharing here. They told me they looked forward to my posts as a bright spot in their day. And they asked if I knew where they could find toilet paper.

Then, without telling anyone what I was doing, I started writing my book What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? I was committed to writing a book that would help readers learn a little, laugh a little, and lift a little.

18 months later the book was published and my life changed for the better. Suddenly I had speaking opportunities, TV and podcast interviews, and more interesting things to talk about at career day at my kids’ school. Readers sent me pictures of my book all over the world. Well not in North Korea. Or Antarctica. Or the Gulag. #BookGoals

Now, I had a blog and a book. But I became obsessed with a third vehicle for sharing positivity. Because somewhere between the simplicity of a blog post and the intensity of a book lies the newsletter. For years I wanted to create a fun newsletter to spread good news, ideas, recommendations, motivational quotes, photos, and a little more humor.

But I couldn’t find the time in my schedule to start the newsletter until June of this year, when I finally started publishing Adam’s Good Newsletter.

I just published the 4th edition. And If you have read this far you will like the newsletter. You can check it out by giving this link the old click-a-roo. You can also sign up to receive it fresh in your inbox, and check out past issues.

Please message me at adam@theweaponry if you would like to be added to the mailing list. (Also message me if you have found The Fountain of Youth or a Wonka Bar with the golden ticket.)

Additional Note:

I just created the literary equivalent of a Turducken. Because I stuffed both my book and my newsletter inside my blog. Boom!

4 things I have done wrong in my first 4 years as an entrepreneur.

After 19 years of working for other advertising agencies I started my own business 4 years ago this week. As the Founder & CEO of The Weaponry, I have made some good decisions over the past 4 years. But I have also made mistakes. As I look back at the past 48 months here are 4 things I did wrong that I will try to get right in the years ahead.

4 Things I Did Wrong Over The Past 4 Years.

1. I didn’t think big enough

My goals are big. And hairy. And audacious. To achieve them I need to push myself more. I recently read Grant Cardone’s book The 10X Rule. And I know my next challenge is to think and act bigger on a daily basis to accumulate the progress it takes to get to Goalville. I also know that if we don’t stop sheltering at home soon I will be 10X-ing my body fat.

2. I didn’t start a newsletter.

We launched The Weaponry’s first real website in the fall of 2019. (Yes we waited 3 years to launch a real website. You can read about that here.) I knew the next thing we should do is launch a newsletter. It would offer us a chance to regularly share additional value with our clients and friends of The Weaponry. We planned it all out. In fact, we have had our first edition 90% created for 6 months. We bought our Mailchimp subscription in the fall. And we have paid for it every month since, without sending a single email. Booo. We have been extremely busy over that same time period and haven’t made it a priority. But we will. (If you send your email address to info@theweaponry.com I will create a special first newsletter for you.)

3. I didn’t take enough chances.

Entrepreneurship requires you to take a fairly significant leap of faith. I had no problem Carl Lewis-ing into this adventure. And right or wrong, I am comfortable betting on myself. But I I have been conservative with our investments.

Specifically, I have been slow to invest in additional team members who would allow us to expand our offering, our impact and our t-shirt wearing population. It has helped put us in a confident position during the Corona-cootie crisis. But when I turned 40 I realized I didn’t want to lie on my deathbed and regret not starting my own business. Now I don’t want to lie on my deathbed and feel like I wasn’t brave enough either. Fortune favors the bold. So do barbecue sauce sales. And I want to be much bolder between now and next February 29th.

4. I didn’t offload enough responsibility 

When you first start a new business every box on the org chart has your name in it. Eventually you erase your name and put someone else’s name in that box. Over the past 4 years I certainly have moved many of my responsibilities to others. But I am still handling more than I should. Which means that I should be transferring more of my load to others, and hiring additional people power. This would allow me to focus more time and energy on the things that would have the most positive impact on our clients and on our own business. Plus, I am pretty sure there are lots of other people who can buy stamps and bottled water as well as I can.

Key Takeaway

I am thrilled to have started my entrepreneurial journey. I know that The Weaponry has become a valuable resource for many. But there is so much more opportunity ahead. It is important to recognize the positive things we are doing first. To give ourselves credit for the attempts and the accomplishments already in the books. But if we want to be great we have to push ourselves. We have to give ourselves a regular performance review from our deathbed to see where we should focus our time and energy while we still have the chance. It turns out I still have a lot of work to do.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.