I still get startled looks when I tell people I write a daily newsletter.

It certainly shakes the sleepy-heads out of their slumber.

And I understand why it does.

A daily email is still not a common affair (it’s getting more common mind you – word on the street is spreading) and I know some people don’t like the idea of being jostled, harangued or harassed by a daily bulletin, even if it is as chirpy as mine tend to be.

Truth is, I’m not trying to appeal to everyone.

My game-plan isn’t to write content everyone agrees with, in a style everyone approves of, using language everyone likes, making references everyone gets, in a manner everyone enjoys and at a tempo everyone jives with.

Not just because this would be mission impossible.

But also because I have zero interest in writing my emails to align with other people’s expectations. 

It feels much more authentic & fulfilling to simply write my emails in the way that’s right for me.

It’s also a hell of a lot easier to write this way too.

And if some high-spirited, easy-going subscribers want to come along for the ride, then so much the better.

As it happens, I’ve had more unsubscribes than I can shake a stick at during the two years I’ve been writing this newsletter.

And this is a good thing. Why would I want a reader on my newsletter who doesn’t enjoy reading what I’m writing?

Vamoose!  Off you pop!

But on the flipside, I’ve also had readers on my newsletter from Day 1 who still engage with these emails, drop me replies, ask me questions, join my webinars or invest in coaching with me.

I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these same readers sign up to my new group coaching programme too (details very nearly ready to share – keep reading!).

And this is who these emails are for.  The readers who enjoy chewing over what I have to say, look forward to my email dropping into their inbox and are open-minded enough to stick around even if they disagree with how or what I’m writing.

Or perhaps because they disagree with how or what I‘m writing.

Anyway, I’ve gone a bit off-piste.

The bigger point here is that trying to please other people or conform to their expectations does no-one any good.

Not just when it comes to daily emails, but when it comes to life.

The lyrical philosopher and human Cheshire Cat Ed Sheeran summed it up when he said:

I can’t tell you the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone

I think Ed’s right.

There have certainly been occasions (my working life in particular) when I was eager to please everyone, get along with all my teammates and avoid conflict wherever possible.

At the time, I thought this attitude was an asset.

But all it led to was feeling trapped and exhausted.  No wonder, really, when my focus was on the next piece of work, the next deadline and what more I could do for my company without spending any time thinking about what more I could do for me.

I could see what was going on too.

But I didn’t change anything.  I just waited and hoped that suddenly, miraculously, everything would get better.

And when it got worse I plumped for the radical step of quitting my job.

This is a big part of why I’ve decided to create a new group coaching programme.

The programme is specifically designed for anyone who wants to find more fun, flow and fulfilment at work without doing something drastic like changing career or quitting their job.

I’m calling the programme Thrive at Work.

And I’ll be dropping all the details tomorrow. 

So stay tuned.  That’s all for today.

 - Tom