Lawson, this is terrific as always. Lots that resonated. I think your assertion that “everyone should start a business” is rightly caveated by the belief that the function of the product should be secondary (tertiary, even) to the form. Make things, not brands. You see this so often in tech companies — “here’s my shiny widget and sexy branding; let’s raise $20M.”
That focus on raising money (support, confidence, anything) from others, from strangers, forces you toward hyperbole not practicality. Performance, in the sense of showmanship, becomes more important than performance in the sense of actual function. Growth is fine — but it should be organic, local (at least at first), not synthetic.
(There’s an analogy with soil health in there waiting to be dug into…)
It makes me think that branding is so often concerned to cover up the faults in what we 'sell' to others. If we start selling ourselves, even unconsciously, we start trying to hide all of our faults too. That makes everything we portray less real.
Maybe one way we can combat this is by posting incomplete things, unedited things, uncharted things. Just to remind ourselves and other's that were not just a brand. So we would have less fear.
Awesome take. I’m going to make note of this even in my own posting. I almost didn’t post this one because it didn’t quite feel finished, or even worth addressing, but that is the beauty of this sort of platform… we can post it all. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate these pieces being a point of conversation and a launch point for further thought and discussion.
I've been thinking about this a lot lately myself. I'm ashamed of how much time I have wasted on social media. However, it has allowed me a few opportunities that I might not have otherwise had. I'm not so sure it was a fair trade in most of those circumstances, I was the one usually losing out and "selling" a part of myself I didn't know I needed.
I've also met people I've come to enjoy talking to and found small businesses I continue support because they're doing great things. I'm grateful I grew up without digital chains. So very grateful. I'm easing myself away from it these days, only following people who seem themselves, not a brand or an influencer trying to sell me the next big "trend" that I need about as much as a hole in my temple. It becomes so desperately tiresome. The whole "find your niche" thing is wild to me. I couldn't put myself in a box without always leaving the lid open, so I could crawl out and disappear for another year or two.
“I realize that I run the risk of being guilty of everything I speak of; here I am sharing a weekly writing piece on Substack, and hope to someday sell books I’ve written. I am no stranger to irony.”
But I think you’ve sort of flipped the script. Your image is not the commodity— you philosophize, create, generate, etc.
That carries a higher premium in a world where people try to project a lifestyle instead of live a life. Writing is working when it resonates with others. Otherwise it’s leisure. Isn’t that funny? You live in a system fueled by capital. It’s hard to work for free. You’re the only guy I’ve had the stomach to pay on this app, and it’s because I find you genuine. I don’t know if that’s good branding, or because you’re being genuine, but I’d like to believe it’s the former.
Appreciate this, and you subscribing! Like I said, sometimes with these it’s a thing I’m thinking about but I start to question, is this something people will actually read? I’m stoked to have this forum to connect on sometimes less than straight forward thoughts… this is the beauty of long form, and I’m so glad to find people as into it as me.
I really, really like this. Thank you for sharing - I’ve been enjoying reading your words. Recently, I’ve been reevaluating my relationship with social media and the impact it’s had on my life - both good and bad. This also ties into my relationship with creating, and how I can do that in a healthy and authentic way.
We don’t need to be any one thing and we don’t have to prove that we are any one thing. We don’t have to sell ourselves into one box.
Lawson, this is terrific as always. Lots that resonated. I think your assertion that “everyone should start a business” is rightly caveated by the belief that the function of the product should be secondary (tertiary, even) to the form. Make things, not brands. You see this so often in tech companies — “here’s my shiny widget and sexy branding; let’s raise $20M.”
That focus on raising money (support, confidence, anything) from others, from strangers, forces you toward hyperbole not practicality. Performance, in the sense of showmanship, becomes more important than performance in the sense of actual function. Growth is fine — but it should be organic, local (at least at first), not synthetic.
(There’s an analogy with soil health in there waiting to be dug into…)
Everything you said - bullseye.
It makes me think that branding is so often concerned to cover up the faults in what we 'sell' to others. If we start selling ourselves, even unconsciously, we start trying to hide all of our faults too. That makes everything we portray less real.
Maybe one way we can combat this is by posting incomplete things, unedited things, uncharted things. Just to remind ourselves and other's that were not just a brand. So we would have less fear.
Loved your piece. Thanks for writing it.
Awesome take. I’m going to make note of this even in my own posting. I almost didn’t post this one because it didn’t quite feel finished, or even worth addressing, but that is the beauty of this sort of platform… we can post it all. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate these pieces being a point of conversation and a launch point for further thought and discussion.
I've been thinking about this a lot lately myself. I'm ashamed of how much time I have wasted on social media. However, it has allowed me a few opportunities that I might not have otherwise had. I'm not so sure it was a fair trade in most of those circumstances, I was the one usually losing out and "selling" a part of myself I didn't know I needed.
I've also met people I've come to enjoy talking to and found small businesses I continue support because they're doing great things. I'm grateful I grew up without digital chains. So very grateful. I'm easing myself away from it these days, only following people who seem themselves, not a brand or an influencer trying to sell me the next big "trend" that I need about as much as a hole in my temple. It becomes so desperately tiresome. The whole "find your niche" thing is wild to me. I couldn't put myself in a box without always leaving the lid open, so I could crawl out and disappear for another year or two.
Wonderful and grounding read, sir.
Thank you for sharing.
“I realize that I run the risk of being guilty of everything I speak of; here I am sharing a weekly writing piece on Substack, and hope to someday sell books I’ve written. I am no stranger to irony.”
But I think you’ve sort of flipped the script. Your image is not the commodity— you philosophize, create, generate, etc.
That carries a higher premium in a world where people try to project a lifestyle instead of live a life. Writing is working when it resonates with others. Otherwise it’s leisure. Isn’t that funny? You live in a system fueled by capital. It’s hard to work for free. You’re the only guy I’ve had the stomach to pay on this app, and it’s because I find you genuine. I don’t know if that’s good branding, or because you’re being genuine, but I’d like to believe it’s the former.
Thanks for your thoughts, today. I needed ‘em.
Appreciate this, and you subscribing! Like I said, sometimes with these it’s a thing I’m thinking about but I start to question, is this something people will actually read? I’m stoked to have this forum to connect on sometimes less than straight forward thoughts… this is the beauty of long form, and I’m so glad to find people as into it as me.
Love it!! And also I meant latter, not former. That’s what I get for scrolling at 11 pm
I really, really like this. Thank you for sharing - I’ve been enjoying reading your words. Recently, I’ve been reevaluating my relationship with social media and the impact it’s had on my life - both good and bad. This also ties into my relationship with creating, and how I can do that in a healthy and authentic way.
We don’t need to be any one thing and we don’t have to prove that we are any one thing. We don’t have to sell ourselves into one box.