As I write this, I’m literally WOOP WOOOOP’ing because we finally put in a new doorway between our kitchen and dining room. That doorway project sat on our list for YEARS. It was low priority, despite the potentially big impact it would have on our life. But now, instead of taking an absurd number of 90-degree turns to get food to the table, you can walk in a reasonably straight line. Friends call it “the expressway.” My favorite reaction: “Oh, I thought it was always like this.” It all makes me giddy.
I have a long list of projects like that doorway, in work and in life. I always think checking them off will fundamentally change things. And it does! Briefly. Then new priorities appear. New doorways.
We’re all doing this for ourselves and for the brands we manage: working toward moments that feel perfect, even if only for a minute. Clearing the slate. Making a new list.
So best of luck to you in setting your new list of priorities for the year. And good luck to you again in two months when everything changes and you have to rewrite it all. It’s kinda wonderful that we get to be so untethered.
Small Brand Notes
- Sunwoven’s refreshingly vague yearly goals
“Land 2 big projects” and “Make more money.” No rigid benchmarks, just a direction. That kind of looseness feels far more realistic for small business owners whose priorities shift constantly. - The server’s message at Thai Diner
On a recent NYC trip, Alyssa and I finally made it to Thai Diner. The food ruled, but what stuck with me was our server. When we asked for favorites, he named a few dishes, then shrugged and said, “Everything is good. Trust your gut.” That kind of confident, agency-granting nonchalance stuck with me. When we communicate — online, in our copy, or one-on-one — we can either create more uncertainty or help people feel capable and steady. Let’s aim for the latter in 2026.
Last Month’s Survey Results
First, a few notes on the process
It really is so hard to get people to do anything online. I sent this survey to 50 people and got 5 responses. A 10% response rate isn’t horrible, but I’d love to grow it next time, and I’m excited to experiment with how.
