The Newsroom

I wish I knew your name, and I wish I knew you for real so that I could address this email directly to you. I don’t gather people’s first names, though, because the only reason to do that is so you can use a merge code in your email marketing platform that inserts people’s first name in the emails you send out, which makes it look like you know the person you’re writing.

Time for something a little different. I stumbled upon a podcast conversation that is so good that I found myself with crazy hands while I took notes during the whole episode. It’s a conversation between Lewis Howes and Rory Vaden about how to create a million dollar personal brand.

I wish I knew your name, and I wish I knew you for real so that I could address this email directly to you. I don’t gather people’s first names, though, because the only reason to do that is so you can use a merge code in your email marketing platform that inserts people’s first name in the emails you send out, which makes it look like you know the person you’re writing.

We’re living amidst a potentially massive shift in the way creators like you and me can make money online. If things keep heading the direction they’re starting to head in, we could soon find ourselves with more ways to earn income from the things we create, whether we make art, essays, blog posts, or online courses.

First up, a fantastic conversation between Louis Grenier, who writes a fantastic newsletter called Everyone Hates Marketers, and one of my favorite humans on the planet, Seth Godin. The context of this conversation is what Seth would do if he had to start a new business and not use his existing fame to grow it.

My good friend and brilliant business strategist, Ryan Lex, recently dug up an old issue of my newsletter in his inbox from 5 years ago, forwarded it to me, and pointed out some things he liked about the format I used to use.

I’ve drifted from that format due to a desire to experiment, iterate, and make the best newsletter for you that I can. But when I read my five-years ago newsletter, I felt like “Forest version 2016” was doing things better.