👋 Hi! I'm Dan. I help makers, artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives find the clarity and motivation to get their work out into the world. If that sounds good, let's go! 🚀

Hi Reader,

It's been a few weeks since my last newsletter. But those weeks have been PACKED.

We moved to Merida, Mexico for the '24-25 school year. Beginning a dream that I've had for ages:

Living outside the US for the better part of year. Exploring a new culture and country.

I've learned so much and seen so much already, and I've only been here for two weeks.

Here's the thing about dreams that no one talks about. In our minds they exist in their ideal state. But the ideal is never real.

And it's not supposed to be.

It's the driver that moves us forward.

It's the north star that guides us.

But reality is messy. Life is hard.

There are logistics, expenses, limitations, restrictions, bug bites, bad moods, hot days, car crashes, tears, fear, self-doubt, and more.

All of it. All of that is true. All of those have happened.

And it's also a dream. I can't believe we're here. Playing. Swimming in the pool. Walking in the jungle. All of it.

Both are true.

Your dreams are never perfect; they're not meant to be

They're the directions on the compass, not the journey, or the destination.

The journey is messy. When you're chasing a dream, it's good, hard, and everything in between.

And we wouldn't want it any other way. 🖤

Coming Soon:
NEW Course on AI and Process

For the better part of this year I've been working with small teams and high capacity leaders to free up their time and prevent burnout via better processes, AI, and automation.

If you follow me on LinkedIn, you've likely heard!

I'm taking the high-touch one-on-one work I've been doing, and creating a done-with-you style course to help you build an AI first approach to your work.

We'll be working together with a cohort of other Meaning Movers ("Meanies"?) to shave off 5+ hours from your work weeks via better processes, AI, and automation.

Along the way you'll also:

• skill up your AI proficiency,
• learn some great new tools,
• develop an AI first mentality,
• build an AI strategy that fits with your values,
• and free up more time to do that good juicy stuff that you love and only you can do (the biggest benefit!)

I have a lot to develop, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Click an option here below so I can know who's interested:

Also, hit reply and let me know if you have more thoughts!

In Case You Missed it:

A few recent posts and articles across platforms

From LinkedIn:

📰 I’m using AI to get clients unstuck.​

📰 Halfway through 2024. What's working and what's not: ​

📰 Self doubt is a silent killer. I’ve struggled with it throughout my career.​
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From the Newsletter:

✉️ We’re moving to Mexico. And I have AI to thank for it 😳​

✉️ I left the C-Suite to build my dream business... then it blew up 🫣​

✉️ I turned 42. Eight mid-life lessons I'm reluctantly learning.​

Favorites!

I love sharing what I'm into. And I love hearing what you're into as well!

(If you've made it this far, hit reply and tell me some of yours!)

Here's this week's list:

🎙 Search Engine: Can I Microdose Veganism?

Search Engine may be my favorite current podcast. It's the one I skip new episodes the least. The host, PJ Vogt, does a great job asking and seeking answers to interesting, complex, and fun questions — much like the questions you'd ask a search engine online.

This week's episode struck a chord. It's about animals, food systems, and how complex it is to make ethical choices about what we eat.

I'll leave it at that. Give it a listen wherever you get your podcasts (here's the substack link). If nothing else, it will get you thinking.

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And for a bonus, if you didn't listen to my interview with Chase Purdy about his book Billion Dollar Burger, it'd be a fun pairing (see what I did there? 😉).

🎹 Fade Into You by Manchester Orchestra

This cover is simple and beautiful. I always love a good stage piano (fellow music nerds: is that a stage piano?!?). Listening to this on repeat today and it's perfect.

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🍿 G.H. Cretors Kettle Corn With Tajin Popcorn

If you see a bag of this popcorn at Costco, grab it. It's the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and spice. It's a dangerously delicious combo!

Your turn

Anything great you've been enjoying? Hit reply and send it along! I'd love to know. Seriously.

9,000+ people are getting this email, and I can count on one hand how many responses I usually get. You have the chance to change that! Hit reply. Tell me what's good!

Yours in meaning making,