I believe this is officially the 26th week in a row that I’ve sent out a Personal Email Newsletter (PEN) to a little over 100 people. Here’s this week’s: pen.zachphillips.blog/p/2021-we…

And here are 10 things this insignificant little weekly ritual has done for me.

  1. The PEN has kept me connected to people I care about in a way that I can control.
  2. The PEN has reconnected me with many people I haven’t spoken with in years.
  3. The PEN has gotten me into a regular publishing habit that feels more and more effortless. I’m now publishing an average of 500+ words a day and even adding some videos/more to come.
  4. The PEN has given me a low-pressure way to reconnect with the simple creative act of making something and sharing it. I cannot express just how valuable this is, not just for my personal artistic aspirations, but for my professional aspirations too.
  5. The PEN has allowed me to live more in line with my values. I tell people (customers and others) all the time about the importance of putting their thoughts, ideas, and expertise out there. Now I can begin to actually stand behind those recommendations with personal experience.
  6. The PEN has seeded the beginning of a library of my thoughts, ideas, and expertise that every third day I am now pulling from to add to conversations, help someone out, or start something new.
  7. The PEN has made me trust myself, that I can actually do the things I’ve committed TO MYSELF to do, not just those things I’ve committed to others to do.
  8. The PEN has made pretty much everything else in my life easier. I’m no longer feeling frustrated or mentally absent from this magical period of my life with little kids and everything nascent/growing. I’m even working out every day and doing my jobby-jobs better.
  9. The PEN has turned the Dread knob at least 5 clicks to the left and the Hope knob at least 5 clicks to the right.
  10. The PEN has made me regularly happier than I have felt in some time.

Thanks to @fortelabs, @david_perell, and all the Second-Brainers and WOPpers who gave me the kick to get started.

If you want to come along for the journey and sometimes see cute pictures of my kids, you can sign up at pen.zachphillips.blog.