Well hey there.
And man, it’s been awhile. I started this newsletter by saying “always be sending a personal brand newsletter” and then I did just that for a few weeks before falling off.
What a hypocrite.
In my defense, I’ve been busy. Somehow busier than I’ve ever been. Despite not having a full-time job since January, it seems like every minute of my day is spoken for with networking, applying, consulting, building and making sure I’m being as good of a dad and husband as I can be.
I don’t know any other way than to keep hustling, moving ahead and believing in what I’ve done and, most importantly, can do.
Here are a few things I’ve been working on in recent months:
1. I helped do PR for an MLB comic book series!
Despite never having written a press release in my life, I took advantage of my contacts and relationships in baseball media to do a successful presale launch for All Baseball Comics, which will drop its first three issues next month. (Cubs, Dodgers and Yankees fans take note.) My network helped me earn placement in several outlets like Yahoo Sports and MLB com that drove strong presales and also opened the door for a possible variant cover with a big baseball outlet.
2. I’m building newsletters and websites for business and nonprofits.
My friend Mike Oz knew my skillset with building newsletters and Beehiiv websites could come in handy for his food truck business in Fresno, California and a nonprofit that he’s heavily involved with. So I put together a new website, established a newsletter presence and will continue to consult on strategy each month for Fresno Street Eats.
I’m also close to launching the same for Clovis Culinary Center, a commercial kitchen and incubator for food-based businesses in the Central Valley. (Sneak peek above.)
I can’t thank Oz enough for seeing I’d be a great solution to their problems. The only issue is that I tend to get pretty hungry while working on either project.
3. I’m helping a big sports media outlet overhaul its newsletter presence.
I can’t say anything more right now, but I’m excited to say something when it’s done. It’s a brand I’ve long enjoyed and it was born out of a relationship that goes all the way back to 2008.
4. I’m growing Bears By 7 (and it’s working)
When I was laid off by CHGO and ALLCITY, one of the things that bothered me the most was that I’d put in four years helping build a successful network despite Bears teams featuring players like Byron Pringle and coaches like Matt Eberflus.
Now the Bears were on the brink of something truly special with Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, and I was being sent to the showers?
Nah.
Starting Bears By 7 back in April around the NFL draft was a way for me to keep scratching that Bears/Chicago sports content itch while flexing my audience-building muscles and really seeing what Beehiiv could do for a modern media business. I put in a lot of work on it at night and early in the mornings.
As we head into Week 2, I’m bullish about Bears By 7. Not only has it already become a regular part of almost 1,300 mornings in Bears Land, I recently launched a Bears By 7 YouTube channel with Ryan Droste and it’s being received well.
(Please subscribe to both if you haven’t already!)
While I’ve been exploring many possible next paths over the last eight months, I think it would be foolish to abandon my efforts in an arena where I’ve built so much equity as well as a job I know I am truly good at.
And if the Bears can keep contending and I can keep refining these skills, I’m really excited about where this could all be headed. If you’re someone looking to reach Bears fans through an engaging product, reach out! (Becoming a Bears By 7 member really helps too.)
But I’m Still Looking For What’s Next!
Everything I mentioned above has been great and I’m thankful for all the opportunities and support I’ve been given by family, friends and even strangers.
But it’s still not adding up to a full paycheck that my family needs and deserves.
I continue to seek a great role leading content and developing audience strategy. That could be in sports or out, I’m just looking to be part of a team that wants to innovate and keep asking what’s next in this wildly changing but still exciting time in this business.
If you know of something, you know where to find me.
Want to try out Beehiiv on your own? Use my referral link to get a free 14-day trial and 20 percent off your first three months.
Things I’m Currently Enjoying 🥇
I don’t know what it is about being laid off that makes me binge Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but the two times I’ve been super into the band have been during my two layoffs. The memoir by guitarist Mike Campbell was a great read and I really enjoyed one specific anecdote that inspired me.
As the story goes, it was the mid-80s and the Heartbreakers were still struggling financially because of a bad contract they’d signed at the start of their careers. The bank was about to foreclose on Campbell’s home, a fate that the guitarist was willing to accept but that his wife would not. After a meeting at the bank, they ended up not signing the papers.
Campbell returned home and set out to save his house. He worked on some riffs and songs that he was writing. Then Don Henley of the Eagles called. He was working on a solo album and needed a hit to anchor it. Did Campbell have anything? Long story short: He sure did. And the release of “The Boys Of Summer” a few months later generated enough money to save the Campbell house and then some.
I don’t think I have anything as great as a Mike Campbell guitar riff up my sleeve, but I know I can’t quit trying to look for one.
This newsletter was brought to you by …
285 Free Prompts to Save Time
Your inbox isn't the problem. Neither are your meetings. It's the hours you spend on work AI could do in minutes.
285 copy-paste prompts: built for email, meetings, admin, and delegation. Each one has a clear role, a specific task, and a defined output.
No setup. No prompt engineering. Just copy, paste, and get your time back. Free when you subscribe to Mindstream.