Keep the voiceover...it is nice to hear your sharing literally from your voice.
The content is practical for learning. I am leading a session next week at the start of my Columbia Foundations of Knowledge-Driven Organizations course. I was in the process of designing a session on knowledge in action - learning strategies, and your work from Range (the value of different avocations and interests) is extended by this nicely. So much is written to us, very little is of personal connection.
Not sure how far you've gotten with constraints foster creativity research for your next book, but you should definitely reference the book "Inside the Box" by Drew Boyd and Jacob Goldenberg. Also, the team at sitsite.com (Tel Aviv company that consults on the topic). The SIT technique relies heavily on constraints for inventive thinking.
Melanie, this is fantastic! (I love this comments section so much...) I had not heard of the SIT technique, and I can see even from a quick look at the site that there is plenty in common with what I'm writing about. As for the Boyd and Goldenberg book, I did check it out and had a bit of interaction with the authors. More on that to come...
Wonderful! I participated in SIT training a few years ago and found their techniques to be useful for sparking ideation (especially applying the "closed world" constraint where you start with what you have). Looking forward to your book next May!
Loved the voiceover, I've done them in the past but stopped for no real specific reason. Maybe I just got bored with them, but this inspired me to start them back up again. Also, didn't know about that Dr. Seuss bet!
So glad to hear that! I don't think I'll do them every time, but I think I probably will frequently for shorter posts like this where it's easy to do. It was kind of fun, and actually in first reading aloud I ended up making some edits, so I think that was helpful. Regarding the bet, apparently Bennett Cerf of Random House never paid up, but Dr. Seuss and Cerf's wife ended up cofounding a wildly successful children's book imprint, so it worked out;)
Nick! Great to see you here, and thank you for your support. And thank you for a comment of encouragement that is almost too sane to exist on the internet;) Lastly, although I definitely admire some anime, I will refrain from piloting weird anime chatbot David. And anyway, weird anime chatbot David will probably be too busy breaking into all my accounts with voice verification.
Thank you for this one! Writing a newsletter can be hard work. In 2020, just as the pandemic hit, I decided to write a daily newsletter for friends and retirees from the pharma industry where I worked for almost 30 years. I tried to keep spirits up by covering research advances along with a daily musical selection. I did not monetize it (maybe a mistake😊) and by the time I retired it when the first vaccines became available I had almost 500 subscribers. I wrote what I knew about and received regular complements. My modest Substack is similar; I write what I want (no politics even though I'm very opinionated) and the only promotion is an occasional Substack Note and a link in the signature line in my emails. I am less successful than you in building an audience but that's OK too as this is just an avenue to write about interesting things.
Alan! Thank you for this, and apologies for my slow reply. First of all, I love this: "..research advances along with a daily musical selection." May we all have friends like you;) And as far as monetizing—it has never been my strong suit in general. Thus far, this newsletter has a small number of particularly generous subscribers (like you), and I tremendously appreciate that. And I try to use any contributions for the newsletter first if something is needed—transcription help, use of licensed images (like the one on this post), etc. In any case, much more than the size of the audience, it's really the quality of the audience that has been a treat. I might have abandoned it about two years ago if not for the quality of these comments. I'm glad I didn't!
Irregularity suggests something thoughtful, more genuine and against the algorithm grain.... Dr Seuss story illustrated the idea of writing what you want to read. Food for thought! Thanks David.
Thanks so much for reading, Daniel, and I like that frame on irregularity. I'm pretty much writing when something comes to mind and I want to think with my fingers!
Hi David - I am a big fan and never miss any Range Widely newsletter. It suits my magpie spirit to a T. I always feel understood and inspired by your wonderful mind and generous spirit. What's the expression? You're the real deal.
Catherine, this is just a downright wonderful thing to say, and made me smile. Especially gratifying coming from a fellow magpie spirit;) Thank you for this.
Yes. I loved hearing this whilst I made plum jam and my hands were too sticky to scroll. Thinking about what I want to read sounds indulgent but also a lot of fun. I’m taking a month off and paused subscriptions whilst I think about my newsletter. I felt I exhausted ideas. I realised I was tired and no longer writing what I want to read!
Ha! This really made me smile: "I loved hearing this whilst I made plum jam and my hands were too sticky to scroll." ...This was exactly my goal to serve the making-plum-jam-sticky-hands readership! I hope that your pause is restful, or fruitful in some way. Of all the life lessons I took from my time writing about sports science, possibly the most useful was that deliberate rest is as important as deliberate practice.
Yes, the voiceover is worth continuing. I followed along as you read and lending your voice to it made it seem more personal.
Thanks for listening Chris, and thank you for the feedback!
Keep the voiceover...it is nice to hear your sharing literally from your voice.
The content is practical for learning. I am leading a session next week at the start of my Columbia Foundations of Knowledge-Driven Organizations course. I was in the process of designing a session on knowledge in action - learning strategies, and your work from Range (the value of different avocations and interests) is extended by this nicely. So much is written to us, very little is of personal connection.
Not sure how far you've gotten with constraints foster creativity research for your next book, but you should definitely reference the book "Inside the Box" by Drew Boyd and Jacob Goldenberg. Also, the team at sitsite.com (Tel Aviv company that consults on the topic). The SIT technique relies heavily on constraints for inventive thinking.
Melanie, this is fantastic! (I love this comments section so much...) I had not heard of the SIT technique, and I can see even from a quick look at the site that there is plenty in common with what I'm writing about. As for the Boyd and Goldenberg book, I did check it out and had a bit of interaction with the authors. More on that to come...
Wonderful! I participated in SIT training a few years ago and found their techniques to be useful for sparking ideation (especially applying the "closed world" constraint where you start with what you have). Looking forward to your book next May!
Loved the voiceover, I've done them in the past but stopped for no real specific reason. Maybe I just got bored with them, but this inspired me to start them back up again. Also, didn't know about that Dr. Seuss bet!
So glad to hear that! I don't think I'll do them every time, but I think I probably will frequently for shorter posts like this where it's easy to do. It was kind of fun, and actually in first reading aloud I ended up making some edits, so I think that was helpful. Regarding the bet, apparently Bennett Cerf of Random House never paid up, but Dr. Seuss and Cerf's wife ended up cofounding a wildly successful children's book imprint, so it worked out;)
Wow.. of course the guy who loses never pays 😂
David, every post is terrific. I'm sure we'd all welcome more, but not at the expense of your other work and, most importantly, your life.
And, yes, the VO seems worth continuing. Especially as it's your voice and not some weird anime chatbot entity conceived by xAI.
Nick! Great to see you here, and thank you for your support. And thank you for a comment of encouragement that is almost too sane to exist on the internet;) Lastly, although I definitely admire some anime, I will refrain from piloting weird anime chatbot David. And anyway, weird anime chatbot David will probably be too busy breaking into all my accounts with voice verification.
50k is cool! And your irregularity is fun and appreciated! Your comments are always thoughtful and welcome.
Ha, I have a special place in my heart for people who appreciate my irregularity;) Thanks so much for the kind words, Angela.
Thank you for this one! Writing a newsletter can be hard work. In 2020, just as the pandemic hit, I decided to write a daily newsletter for friends and retirees from the pharma industry where I worked for almost 30 years. I tried to keep spirits up by covering research advances along with a daily musical selection. I did not monetize it (maybe a mistake😊) and by the time I retired it when the first vaccines became available I had almost 500 subscribers. I wrote what I knew about and received regular complements. My modest Substack is similar; I write what I want (no politics even though I'm very opinionated) and the only promotion is an occasional Substack Note and a link in the signature line in my emails. I am less successful than you in building an audience but that's OK too as this is just an avenue to write about interesting things.
Alan! Thank you for this, and apologies for my slow reply. First of all, I love this: "..research advances along with a daily musical selection." May we all have friends like you;) And as far as monetizing—it has never been my strong suit in general. Thus far, this newsletter has a small number of particularly generous subscribers (like you), and I tremendously appreciate that. And I try to use any contributions for the newsletter first if something is needed—transcription help, use of licensed images (like the one on this post), etc. In any case, much more than the size of the audience, it's really the quality of the audience that has been a treat. I might have abandoned it about two years ago if not for the quality of these comments. I'm glad I didn't!
Irregularity suggests something thoughtful, more genuine and against the algorithm grain.... Dr Seuss story illustrated the idea of writing what you want to read. Food for thought! Thanks David.
Thanks so much for reading, Daniel, and I like that frame on irregularity. I'm pretty much writing when something comes to mind and I want to think with my fingers!
I enjoyed the voice over! Read it with you as you spoke and that was fun.
Ha, I hadn't even thought of that! Thanks so much for reading, and listening Molly.
Hi David - I am a big fan and never miss any Range Widely newsletter. It suits my magpie spirit to a T. I always feel understood and inspired by your wonderful mind and generous spirit. What's the expression? You're the real deal.
Catherine, this is just a downright wonderful thing to say, and made me smile. Especially gratifying coming from a fellow magpie spirit;) Thank you for this.
Really enjoyed this. And thankyou for validating my irregularity and structure in my newsletter. I am trying but yet to crack the consistency code.
We're in it together;) And I love that phrase, "validating my irregularity."
Here’s to you being you and being regularly irregular. Please don’t be predictable.
This....is an amazing comment, and I take this encouragement seriously. Thanks so much for this.
Thanks for bringing lots of light and knowledge to our world
Just again: I tremendously appreciate your kind (and eloquent) words. Really made my day.
Yes. I loved hearing this whilst I made plum jam and my hands were too sticky to scroll. Thinking about what I want to read sounds indulgent but also a lot of fun. I’m taking a month off and paused subscriptions whilst I think about my newsletter. I felt I exhausted ideas. I realised I was tired and no longer writing what I want to read!
Ha! This really made me smile: "I loved hearing this whilst I made plum jam and my hands were too sticky to scroll." ...This was exactly my goal to serve the making-plum-jam-sticky-hands readership! I hope that your pause is restful, or fruitful in some way. Of all the life lessons I took from my time writing about sports science, possibly the most useful was that deliberate rest is as important as deliberate practice.
you keep writing, I'll keep reading (or listening or whatever)
You're the best. I have the birthday sheet in a special spot in my home office;)
Yes - please do more voice overs, as you're able. Good points on Kleon's advice... do you, to attract the likeminded.
Love the voiceover option. Listened while doing laundry 🧺