Has anyone, ever, been charmed by an American accent?
Hello!
This week I found a 15-year old gratitude journal that I kept for a good 10 days during the period of time in which I was running a small nonprofit in Kenya with my BFF, Lara. Someone had said (Oprah, prolly) to make sure and write at least 20 things a day I was grateful for, which was obviously not a sustainable suggestion, hence why the experiment only lasted 10 days.
Notably, on pretty much every day I wrote “Lara” as one thing I was grateful for, except for one day, when I wrote, “Not being around Lara.”
Has anything ever summarized life more succinctly?
NOTHING IN EXCESS, PEOPLE.
Things…
General Dumpster Fire Alerts
A Washington State high school band has returned to practicing, with some Covid precautions in place, and the internet is going wild. I feel like the magic marker gigantic #s (8!) on the green martian pods are a special touch.
Reading and Watching
I finally read Supermaker: Crafting a Business on Your Own Terms by Jamie Schmidt, founder of Schmidt’s deodorant (and more generally Schmidt’s Naturals). I really loved it as an engaging, personal read about one woman building a business in Portland that is now all over the world. The part where she gives away 50% of her company for $38,000 was, uh, terrifying, and kept me glued to the page to see HOW THE HELL THAT TURNED OUT. Also, I just bought a ton of natural deodorant. Huzzah!
Is it worth reading if I forget everything I read? Answer TBD.
A Kids Book About: The Podcast. (New podcast alert for kids and the smart parents of them! Thanks @myfriendjanine!)
Startups and Sundry
If you’re a pregnant woman who has ever raised a round of funding while pregnant (or know someone who has), tag that person in my thread, which thanks to a random Citibank analyst who wrote me on the internet we have turned into a Google doc. Add yourself (if appropriate)!
The next $1B consumer startup will be a vertical social network, and here’s why. (I agree, but wish there was a better name. Vertical community? I be thinking.)
Launch w GS Entrepreneur Cohort is open for startup founders who identify as women or people of color. A virtual, 6-week program, that comes recommended from a few investors I respect, including its former director, Natalie Fratto. (Watch her popular TED talk on 3 ways to measure your adaptability here.)
In conclusion, the same Lara of the nonprofit in Kenya is now an ER doctor escaping the pandemic in New Zealand with four children, and recently got a ticket while driving for something I already forgot. One college roommate was shocked she couldn’t “talk her way out of it with her cute accent” to which another college roommate responded, “has anyone, ever, been charmed by an American accent?”
The answer is no.
Claire
Hi Claire - I'm the co-founder of Camp Supernow (www.campsupernow.com). We offer live, interactive kids classes that keep kids moving, creating, and socializing even during this hellscape of a year (think Peloton meets PBS). As parent to "subhumans" who also happens to understand the tech world, I wanted to know if you'd be open letting us sponsor a post. If you are interested in chatting or learning more, email me at rachel@campsupernow.com!