The Low Down and Some Swag
An update on all sorts of stuff after my first 3 months on Substack
For years I kept a Wordpress blog. Before that I published writings on Blogspot. My posts were wildly inconsistent in both frequency, theme, and quality. In one visit to my website you could hire me as a leadership consultant, buy all my books, read about the time I dressed in drag in Mexico City, get your fill of my business philosophies, and watch videos of me losing my ever-loving mind as I walked across America. Around the winter holidays I’ll add an extra page to exhibit items for my virtual garage sale. Vintage magazines, silver certificates, a trail worn backpack, or a Henry Miller original etching. My blogwebsitestore had a little bit for everyone.
My amalgamation of collected interests and professional directions was a marketing fail—or, at least that’s what folks told me. But no matter how many times I cleaned things up, there always remained a bedazzled cornucopia of curiosities. Which, now that I’m thinking about it, shouldn’t surprise me since every personality test (or astrological reading) I’ve ever done has made it clear there’s no separation between my personal and professional lives. The patchwork medley represents me well. Still, those old blogs had lost my interest. My ongoing growth was dependent on some big changes.
Last year I started following some amazing writers on the Substack platform. Isaac Fitzgerald, Nicole Antoinette, Carrot Quinn, Roxanne Gay, and more. Their posts were a reminder that writers write, about all sorts of things, all the doggone time. The more I read these posts, the more I wanted to be part of the Substack community.
Twelve weeks ago I launched With a Good Heart. I’m still learning how it all works—I want to get better at engaging new readers, promoting writers I enjoy, and making my page more attractive. But for now I’m doing what I set out to do, which is write a lot.
My goal at the outset was to publish one essay per week, and so far I’m keeping pace. This post marks my 17th in 12 weeks. It’s no surprise that I’ve written about all sorts of stuff: Travel, family, grief, business, backpacking, human connection, and even some poetry. Each post represents a small piece of my life’s pattern. And if there’s a theme connecting them all together, it’s personal discovery.
I’d love to hear which posts you’ve particularly enjoyed so far!
After 3 months I have 41 subscribers, 2 of which are paid (1 monthly and 1 annual). The essay with the most clicks is my most recent about my shifting mindset as a business consultant. The second most popular is the piece about my Army roommate who once woke me up by pounding his angry fists into my face.
Currently, With a Good Heart is free to everyone, but it is a reader supported publication. So, if you have the means to do so, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Please also share my writings with your networks. I dream of one day making a living as a writer, and folks like you are integral to me ever making this happen.
You can also support my writing by picking up one or more of my books. Find my biggest sellers on Lulu, and my more artsy books on Magcloud. They’re also available on Amazon, but be aware that when I sell a copy there I earn, at the most, $.08/copy (yes, that’s right, eight cents per book), compared to a solid ten or so bucks when you buy direct.
I’ve also got some TG LOVE snapback trucker hats available. I had them made after clients repeatedly asked for swag at my keynotes. If you are a paid subscriber and would like one, I’ll send you one on the house. Free subscribers can pick one up for $20 (plus shipping). Want one? Subscribe, leave a comment, and I’ll get in touch with you.
Alright then—a quick update:
The last 12 weeks have been a bit of a novelty compared to previous years. I’ve been at home, and not traveling for work or for family obligations. These past 3 months have been, by far, the longest stint in my own zip code for a long freaking time. I get to sit on my custom metal benches and work at my big wooden farm table. I get to indulge in a daily matcha using my favorite mug. And then there’s the temporary joy of listening to the swirling broods of periodical cicadas in the yard. Have a listen:
On most every afternoon, I hop on my bicycle and roll down Smith Level Road en route to a local cafe. I’ll order either a 6 oz. americano or oat milk cortado (decaf if it’s after 1:00 p.m.). This is when I usually work on my next Substack post—the topic of which is never predetermined and largely inspired by what I’ve read or seen or thought about that week. Before long I’ll bump into a friend with whom I’ll have a quick chat that inevitably fuels me to write even more. Eventually I’ll pedal back up the hill to make it home by 6:00 or so, make dinner, then sit in bed with a cup of tea and a book by 8:30, latest.
This year has so far been a little bit of everything. I’m deep in the throes of questioning my personal/professional purpose which sometimes really puts a damper on my mood. It’s hard to be in flux. In a liminal space. But keeping a regular routine helps me chug along, and I am doing my damndest to trust that all is progressing as it should even though myriad unknowns loom above me like a suspended ocean.
What I am focused on right now (in no particular order):
Less scrolling
Getting my foot 100% better
Reaching out to friends for regular meetups (or sending postcards)
Keeping a daily routine of reading, writing, and creating
Eating smart and drinking at least 130 oz. of water/day
Daily meditation with affirmations for the future
What I’m most excited about:
Upcoming travels to see family in NY and CA
August adventure to Akshayuk Pass on Baffin Island, Canada (come on, foot!)
Two book projects in process
A kick ass summer article for Running Insight Magazine
The pain-free 3 mile run I did yesterday!
A couple noteworthy books I’ve read recently:
At the Center of All Beauty: Solitude and the Creative Life by Fenton Johnson (NF)
Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami (NF)
The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon (F)
What I’m listening to:
IDLES (Tangk)
Ghost Trees (Intercept Method)
Florry (The Holey Bible)
Orville Peck (Stampede Vol. 1)
I am super grateful for everyone who’s taking the time to read my stuff. Sharing my writing (and my life) here is a real joy. Onward!
Thank you.
