Becoming friends with feedback
+ a TL;DR on BeReal + a guide to finding mental health apps
Hi friend,
I used to be really horrible at receiving feedback.
Even still, when I get a huge amount of feedback or edits in on a piece of my work, I often have a heavy pit in my stomach.
For far too long, constructive feedback felt like a direct arrow at all my imperfections. It felt like a fault of mine – “If only I could write better or do better, I wouldn’t need any feedback.”
It felt personal.
But when I’ve been the person providing feedback, I know it’s all well-intended. It’s in pursuit of a better finished product for us all.
Feedback is our way of collaborating together. It’s our way of saying, “You’re not alone, let me nudge you in the right direction.”
Feedback can be so important as we see our work and our lives through such narrow lenses. When someone else provides their input, they’re helping us grow.
Some of the toughest feedback I’ve received on my work has left me cursing and annoyed for days. Only to realize later how much being challenged made me a better team member, a better writer, or a better creator.
This probably isn’t anything new to you, but maybe it can be a reminder that it’s normal if you have an initial negative reaction to feedback.
The growth is in realizing that it’s not personal and you’re in this together, all in the pursuit of something better.
with warmth + love,
N
P.S. If you have any feedback on this or any newsletter of mine, always feel free to reply or DM. Promise not to take it personally.
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📚 The Click Throughs
Long-form reads for the marketing geek + content creator
Axios: Gen Z’s new favorite app
I’ll be honest, I’ve only heard of BeReal through news articles such as this one. Probably because it hasn’t been co-opted by brands and advertisers (yet). This piece provides a solid TL;DR explainer on the latest app that’s gaining Gen Z’s attention.
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Scrub Daddy’s CEO says the brand’s ‘more edgy’ TikTok presence is paying off
I’m never entirely sold on the ‘edgy’ persona as a social strategy, but I’m glad to hear it’s working for Scrub Daddy. This piece talks all about their TikTok strategy and that Duolingo video you’ve been seeing everywhere (if you haven’t seen it, you’ve been warned).
Morning Consult: Physical Stores Are Still King: Diving Into the Demographics of In-Store Enjoyment
For the first time in a long time, I recently visited a mall and was immediately hit by mall nostalgia. There’s just something about brick-and-mortar that will hold a soft spot in our hearts and this piece has the data (and analysis) to prove it.
Dazed: Why are people with no social media so damn hot?
I’m always fascinated at the role social media plays in modern relationships. Some people love the allure of someone who’s offline, others can’t imagine not sharing their whole life on social media. This piece dives into the dynamic of the relationships between the online (me) and offline (my husband).
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🧘🏼♀️ Mindful Moment
One actionable thing to get you through this week
You seemed to really enjoy last week’s tool tip, so here’s another one for you:
This website portrays each day visually with 144 rectangles. Each rectangle represents 10 minutes of your day.
Puts a lot into perspective. What will you do with your rectangles today?
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🔗 Link(s) in Bio
Things I’ve been loving that have absolutely nothing to do with marketing or business
I am entirely here for this list of Trader Joe’s recipe hacks from TJ’s employees. I’ve got my eye on the froyo hack.
Buzzfeed News: Sexual Innuendo Is Everywhere, Including... Baby Clothes? – If you’ve ever tried to buy baby clothes in the past few years, you know that they’re littered with cringy sexualized messaging. But this piece is a much-needed investigation into the weirdness and grossness of this phenomenon.
New York Times: Nicolas Cage is in on the Nicolas Cage jokes – I absolutely love the full-circle moment of Nic Cage’s career and this feature interview. Kinda want to go see his new movie??
I unfortunately know all too well how hard it is to find help for mental health, especially nowadays. It can feel like a full time job to find a therapist that fits your psychological, emotional, and financial needs. The New York Times recently published this guide on how to find a mental health app that works for you. These can be hugely beneficial if you’re struggling and need a different approach.
Forge: When It Comes to Friendships, It’s OK to Be the Planner – I experienced this feeling last weekend when I was planning a surprise get together for my husband’s birthday with friends. Sometimes you just need someone to take the reins to plan something, and that’s okay.
Inverse: The 10 Best Subreddits for Productivity Tips, Tricks, and Brain Hacks – In case you’re a self-improvement geek like me, this is a fun list of some solid subreddits to get more tips and tricks (as if you really needed more advice).
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💭 Content Calendar
Ideas for you to take into your week ahead as a content creator
Always be iterating.
It’s okay if you don’t get it right on the first try. That’s what feedback and edits are for.
Social media content is incredibly forgiving in that you can publicly try over and over again until you get it right. Until you figure out what “right” even looks like.
Don’t be afraid to keep trying in public.
Don’t be afraid to make less than perfect work.
Be open to feedback and that’s where the learning happens.
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👋 The (ring) Light at the End of the Tunnel
