Thinking, Noticing, & Focaccia

Dear Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Dreamers, and Creators of Great Things: I write these Love Letters each month with the hope of bringing you a little encouragement, some marketing help, and a few minutes of joy. Whether we are already friends or have yet to meet, I hope you’ll enjoy my stories from the road and some awesomely random takeaways, tools, tips, and updates.

Offline

I stood on top of a mountain in Peru last week – 5,200 meters (17,100 feet) above sea level – gasping for breath. I was at roughly the equivalent of Everest base camp, nearly three and a half miles into the atmosphere. And my phone still had 4 bars and LTE service.

Years ago, I started booking an annual trip to somewhere off the grid. No wifi, no news, no cell service. These days, it’s getting harder and harder to find. Now, my phone switches automatically to an international plan, every hotel, train, and even most buses have wifi, and it feels like every restaurant has a TV playing in the background. Going offline is becoming nearly impossible.

Ann Handley wrote a thought-provoking piece this week on the power of Analog Intelligence (the other AI). I know there is a lot of talk about artificial intelligence these days. It’s getting easier every day to “just ask ChatGPT,” but there is power in allowing our brains to do the work.

As Ann says, “Analog Intelligence isn’t a throwback. It’s not nostalgia. Analog is rooted in the physical: It’s how we experience something directly, without a screen or algorithm butting in and mediating the moment. It’s a *choice*, as the kids say.
• To train your patience
• To think slower
• To trust your own signal before seeking someone else’s
• To create space for flow
• To stop multitasking and start paying attention.”

I won’t lie – being able to Google something at any time is a lifesaver. But on my trip last week, I found myself thinking about how travel used to be, before we all had a computer in our pocket. I remember talking to strangers in hostels about where to eat, the best places to sleep, and which trains to take next. I had to rely on others, think a little more critically, and ask more questions. And I made a lot more mistakes. Some of those mistakes ended up leading to the most wonderful surprises. But every mistake taught me something.

I returned from this trip a little more determined to find ways to go offline each day, instead of only for a week or two each year. I am more resolved to have conversations, ask questions, and take the long way to find answers, instead of shortcutting my way out of deep thinking.

I encourage you to join me in this, friends. Let’s all make an effort to get a little more analog. Take time to sit without scrolling. To think before searching. And to create without using digital tools. I think all of our brains will be better off for it.

Outlook

My friend Diane Terry writes a newsletter each month about noticing. It’s been inspiring me to take note of the small things more often. Those little glimmers of things that we usually overlook. I wanted to share with you a few of the things I have noticed in the past month.

First, I went to the bank, and on my way, I saw a gorgeous, tall woman in African clothing, carrying her groceries home. On her head, she was balancing a 10lb bag of potatoes. Just walking like a queen down the sidewalk of my little town. She was stunning. It made me smile because she was being so totally authentic, even if it made her stand out.

When I went to the doctor’s office, one of the elevators was down, so it was a longer wait. When I got in, there were a few folks already there. One elderly woman was asking the others if they knew what a charge might be on her credit card statement. No one knew. I leaned over, looked, and said, “You must have had a birthday! That’s the fee to renew your car registration.” She grinned at me and said, “Bless you! That is right! Thank you, it was bothering me so much.” I realized that she was brave enough to ask strangers for help.

I gave up my seat for someone less mobile a few times in the past few weeks…and each time, it started a chain reaction of others scooching over, making room, or giving up their seats. I realized that sometimes we just need that little nudge.

Lastly, I asked a woman in the grocery store if she had tried a certain brand of yogurt, and she got really excited to tell me about another brand and how she used it to make smoothies and even showed me the specific frozen fruit she adds in. I realized that people are really excited to tell you about things that excite them, and I was reminded to ask more often.

We all come into contact with humans every day. Most of the time we are rushing to the next appointment or trying to get the things checked off our list. But if we take the time to notice the little things, we have so many opportunities to show up for ourselves and others.

What have you noticed lately?

 

This is where I share the good stuff.

… the latest websites, books, & tools that are inspiring me, the people who are making me smile, and the stuff I have been writing on sticky notes.

• This made me smile so big. Art bringing people together. I am obsessed.
•  A recipe I have been working on perfecting.
• A book I think everyone should read.
• This thread about how there isn’t a “right way,” and how the quest for it might be holding you back from doing some amazing things.
• One of my favorite people to follow online.
• A fun article on living small. Could you live like this?

 

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