A gentle close to the week

The lighthouses that kept me going / Issue 1,128

Oh, hi friends! 

As close up the week, I wanted to share a few things that felt like little lighthouses: tiny beacons guiding me toward next steps.

4 million copies sold started with one really bad first draft 

My jaw dropped when I read this piece by Susan Cain, author of the NYT bestsellers Quiet and Bittersweet.

She shares the feedback her editor gave on the first draft of her first book. It is…brutal. “Needs more science, less of your own story, the prose must be tighter, crisper, more energetic, and more filled with information and excitement.” 

You know what would have been easy? Stopping.

Instead, she rewrote the entire book. (It went on to sell four million copies.)

An invaluable lesson in absorbing what we need to hear, even if it’s not what we want to hear.

3 comments from you folks which encouraged me this week

“Boldness and courage will be amplified this week.”

A comment from Alyse H. that I kept in mind all week long. 

“I’m supposed to turn in a final draft of my 7-years in the making PhD dissertation and feeling all of these things when really it's just...time to actually turn it in.”

Go, LV, go! We support you!

“Wow, this really hits the week I've resigned from my 11-year corp tech job to take a six-month career break (after which, who knows). I'm firmly in the driver's seat now to decide my next move. Both terrifying and exciting.”

From Ciara, who reminded me that the intersection of terrifying and exciting is the best place to be.

2 quotes I’m playing on repeat

Aransas Savas, one of my dearest, wisest, most inspiring friends, just launched a new podcast. I just listened to her latest episode, an interview with Susie Jaramillo, an Emmy-nominated director, illustrator, storyteller, and president of Encantos, an award-winning entertainment company for kids.

I had to stop what I was doing to write down these two quotes.

The driving force in life is you.

This relates back to “the cavalry isn’t coming.” You have to believe it for yourself.

The greatest risk in life is not to take risks.

Yes. YES.

I highly recommend listening and subscribing to The Uplifters. In the words of Aransas, it’s never too late to live your dreams.

1 “productivity trick” that actually works

Timestamps.

When you start an item on your to-do list, simply put a timestamp next to it:

• Write newsletter 2:30-

When you’re done, close up the timestamp:

• Write newsletter 2:30-2:52

It starts a low-stakes, gentle timer in your brain and lets you know how long things actually take.

Finally, my big Broadway manifestation of the week

“Alex Borstein wants to do a Marvelous Mrs. Maisel stage musical,” according to Entertainment Weekly.

Some newsletter readers might remember composer Ron Passaro and I adapted The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel into a musical during the second year of the BMI Workshop!

During June 2020 (wow), we recorded an opening number, Midge’s first day at B. Altman, and, my personal favorite, Susie Myerson convincing Midge “You Got the Goods”.

But seeing that headline about a possible Maisel musical sent me spiraling for a solid 24 hours.

Who should we contact??? Should we do a concert??? Should I revise some of those lyrics??? Should we finish the other songs???

All of the “should should should.”

Honestly, though, the biggest lesson from this?

Remembering how fun it is to make stuff you like with people you like.

That’s it.

That’s the ballgame, the lighthouse, the reason for it all.

Have a great weekend, my friends! See you soon.