Regarding the question about possibly splitting TBM into two newsletters: I would prefer it as it is. I don't want even more subscriptions... and I like the mix of topics, and that it's sometimes messy. If there's something that I'm not really interested in, or is too heavy/advanced/light/whatever, I just skip it.
I agree - so maybe some signposting at the start might help so people can lean in or skip according to their preference. I value the variety and find it thought provoking on different topics in different ways but always with good quality content
Completely agree with Helene. I would add that while I would prefer one place for all your posts, splitting them up would be an inconvenience, but not a deal-breaker for me.
Don’t split it, please. We don’t have to compartmentalise everything out there to accommodate people who are too lazy to think and decide whether a piece of writing/thinking is right for them or not. As I already told you I love the principle of working with the garage door open, and your writing exemplifies that a lot of.
If someone needs a pre-digesting nanny for their brain, well, there are enough LLMs out there to help with that job.
I’d much rather you succeed (or fail) by staying true to yourself because the alternative seems like such a bummer of a life (both for you in this context, but also myself if I ever wanted to go down that route)
There was a time in the past where I would start disliking creators after I’ve grown saturated with their content and meta themes, but I’ve learned since it has less to do with them and more with me and where I am in my life
While I respect your concern for "what do the readers really want?", I also think a newsletter or blog should primarily reflect the current train of thought of the author, and be a balanced diet rather than just serve the cravings of the audience like junk food. To me, your more philosophical musings show the depth of your thinking on the subject, and make the "actionable tips" all the more valuable because I can better judge them in nuanced situations that I also wrestle with, knowing that not every fix is going to be applicable to every context. Other blogs make good use of tags and similar categorisation devices to help the reader sort or filter the content along the lines you mention -- I don't know if Substack gives you that option.
Please don’t split it. There’s too many newsletters in the world now.
Honestly what I’d love to see is this evolve into a reference source somewhere - - that’s where I think you’ll get some meaningful traction on paid subscriptions.
Having a reference source with simple searchable tags would be great :)
The current mix feels good to me. I subscribed to the beautiful mess to read about the beautiful mess; "it depends" all the way down. If you split it up I'd keep the more pondering/messy posts here and move the actionable advice to something else, as "the beautiful mess" is a great name for the nuanced takes.
My two cents, please don't split it. The newsletter's title says it all, it's a beautiful mess, and that exploratory aspect is one of the things that makes it stand out so much.
Don't split it. This mix is perfect. The world of work and tech innovations are changing faster than the simple how to guides. Leave the simple how to guides to the AI to write. We need the context and nuance that make it work or not.
At this point I find the actionable inextricable from the more existential / exploratory. The craft / industry of Product has gotten to the point where the "mess" is where the action is. I have a hard time reading about frameworks and processes and The One Way, without it being steeped deeply in context. I can't learn from a static framework - there's too many questions. And my day to day always looks much closer to the way your write than to the another post about how you can be successful by doing this process that Company X has pioneered.
On a personal level, I'm on team keep-it-together. I'm curious about the relative "quality" of customers complaining about one side or the other. Are they casual drop ins, unfamiliar with the newsletter? The number of early comments suggesting not to split it up has me wondering if the more committed base of readers--your "true" audience, if you will--are the ones who like the beautiful messiness of it all 😉
I also recognise that pressure to always tie in something actionable, and the enormous amount of work that takes. I think it’s an undesirable and unreasonable expectation. Who really needs yet another “actionable tip or trick” to add to the 400 they see every day? Sometimes the action is “sit with this and think for 5 minutes”
I enjoy that your newsletter covers a wide range of topics! There are installments that I don't feel interested in, and others I'll bookmark to a reading list by topics that I want to come back to later. I appreciate being invited into your space with everything it encompasses.
I’m one of those combo people as well. Two thoughts: The fact that you show up as your full self is part of the beauty of the mess. Fissuring the meta from the tactic leaves too much out — I’m hopeful that you’re exposing some to thinking deeply about why they believe what they believe.
I could see a compromise where you tag the philosophical as [meta] or something to set the expectation if you’d like to prime the reader.
Regarding the question about possibly splitting TBM into two newsletters: I would prefer it as it is. I don't want even more subscriptions... and I like the mix of topics, and that it's sometimes messy. If there's something that I'm not really interested in, or is too heavy/advanced/light/whatever, I just skip it.
Very helpful. Thank you Helene!
Plus one!
John, TBM is a healthy mix of variety and depth. That'a what I like about it.
Splitting it into actionables-only or abstractacts-only will make it lose its charm
The actionables without deeper context will be another listicles
The abstracts without quick fix will slowly lose it's connection to reality
Keep this up!
I agree - so maybe some signposting at the start might help so people can lean in or skip according to their preference. I value the variety and find it thought provoking on different topics in different ways but always with good quality content
+1 !!
Completely agree with Helene. I would add that while I would prefer one place for all your posts, splitting them up would be an inconvenience, but not a deal-breaker for me.
agreed.
Don’t split it, please. We don’t have to compartmentalise everything out there to accommodate people who are too lazy to think and decide whether a piece of writing/thinking is right for them or not. As I already told you I love the principle of working with the garage door open, and your writing exemplifies that a lot of.
If someone needs a pre-digesting nanny for their brain, well, there are enough LLMs out there to help with that job.
I’d much rather you succeed (or fail) by staying true to yourself because the alternative seems like such a bummer of a life (both for you in this context, but also myself if I ever wanted to go down that route)
There was a time in the past where I would start disliking creators after I’ve grown saturated with their content and meta themes, but I’ve learned since it has less to do with them and more with me and where I am in my life
We came here for the mess 💛
I love seeing you using Miro, John!
Thanks for sharing 🙌
While I respect your concern for "what do the readers really want?", I also think a newsletter or blog should primarily reflect the current train of thought of the author, and be a balanced diet rather than just serve the cravings of the audience like junk food. To me, your more philosophical musings show the depth of your thinking on the subject, and make the "actionable tips" all the more valuable because I can better judge them in nuanced situations that I also wrestle with, knowing that not every fix is going to be applicable to every context. Other blogs make good use of tags and similar categorisation devices to help the reader sort or filter the content along the lines you mention -- I don't know if Substack gives you that option.
Will explore. They might have new nav capabilities, etc. Thanks David.
Please don’t split it. There’s too many newsletters in the world now.
Honestly what I’d love to see is this evolve into a reference source somewhere - - that’s where I think you’ll get some meaningful traction on paid subscriptions.
Having a reference source with simple searchable tags would be great :)
The current mix feels good to me. I subscribed to the beautiful mess to read about the beautiful mess; "it depends" all the way down. If you split it up I'd keep the more pondering/messy posts here and move the actionable advice to something else, as "the beautiful mess" is a great name for the nuanced takes.
My two cents, please don't split it. The newsletter's title says it all, it's a beautiful mess, and that exploratory aspect is one of the things that makes it stand out so much.
The things you write about can't (or at least shouldn't) be separated.
This whole business is becoming more and more of a mental health issue anyway ;-)
Don't split it. This mix is perfect. The world of work and tech innovations are changing faster than the simple how to guides. Leave the simple how to guides to the AI to write. We need the context and nuance that make it work or not.
At this point I find the actionable inextricable from the more existential / exploratory. The craft / industry of Product has gotten to the point where the "mess" is where the action is. I have a hard time reading about frameworks and processes and The One Way, without it being steeped deeply in context. I can't learn from a static framework - there's too many questions. And my day to day always looks much closer to the way your write than to the another post about how you can be successful by doing this process that Company X has pioneered.
On a personal level, I'm on team keep-it-together. I'm curious about the relative "quality" of customers complaining about one side or the other. Are they casual drop ins, unfamiliar with the newsletter? The number of early comments suggesting not to split it up has me wondering if the more committed base of readers--your "true" audience, if you will--are the ones who like the beautiful messiness of it all 😉
Personally I prefer it all together
I also recognise that pressure to always tie in something actionable, and the enormous amount of work that takes. I think it’s an undesirable and unreasonable expectation. Who really needs yet another “actionable tip or trick” to add to the 400 they see every day? Sometimes the action is “sit with this and think for 5 minutes”
+1 Fuck shortcut mentality.
I enjoy that your newsletter covers a wide range of topics! There are installments that I don't feel interested in, and others I'll bookmark to a reading list by topics that I want to come back to later. I appreciate being invited into your space with everything it encompasses.
I like it as is also. Maybe one mixed (keep this one), and the other Actionable Focused for those only interested in action type posts.
I’m one of those combo people as well. Two thoughts: The fact that you show up as your full self is part of the beauty of the mess. Fissuring the meta from the tactic leaves too much out — I’m hopeful that you’re exposing some to thinking deeply about why they believe what they believe.
I could see a compromise where you tag the philosophical as [meta] or something to set the expectation if you’d like to prime the reader.