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I love my work, though I sometimes get caught in the abyss of existential paralysis. What is the point of this newsletter? Or what is the point of doing this work at all?
As anyone pursuing an entrepreneurial endeavor can attest, these moments of pointlessness are quite normal. That’s why Gin Lane’s account of finding purpose by pivoting to a cooking-and-burnout brand resonated so strongly with not only me but also the entire Sharehold team.
Sharehold combats existential dread by maintaining focus on our purpose while remaining mindful that hyperfocus on purpose can detract from making actual progress. As we ask of Gin Lane’s new company, Pattern, are we fighting fire with fire? Is engaging in client services – and all of the inherent power dynamics therein – just reinforcing the same systems and structures that we hope to overturn?
Truthfully, I don’t know. All we can do is remind ourselves that part of our purpose is to question how we determine and pursue goals. We must be committed, detached, and resilient enough – all at the same time – to make big changes in tactics, whatever they may be, as our goals require.
How do you fight existential paralysis in your work?
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 Purpose is twice as important as compensation and career advancement for motivation at work, especially when purpose aligns the walk and the talk in how you serve your customers. This HBR piece is a good one for your bookmarks.
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 Sharehold doesn’t have a book club, but if we did, Jia Tolentino’s latest book Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self Delusion would be November’s selection. Tolentino reminds us that we make our own meaning in meaninglessness even when there may be no point to it at all. (via Katie)
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Can a community evoke authentic meaning if it has intentionally strategized to do so? Apparently so, or at least it is the case for fanatics who say that the Peloton “bike gang” changed their life. We’re trying really hard to believe in it. (via Christine)
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Related to the breakdown of humanity, this guy tackled his inbox with only Gmail smart replies for a week, and the results were both hilarious and thought-provoking. Can we all agree to write our own one-liners? (via Lianna)
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While Twitter is discontinuing political ads, Pinterest is scaling back the social part of its social network. It’s about time that platforms take responsibility for the outcomes of their products and design them accordingly.
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“I don’t know” is one of the most powerful and humbling things you can say as a leader. Ta-Nehisi Coates has six best practices for saying it well. (via Christine)
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For most of us, taking the advice to “just be yourself” too literally can be a risk. Perhaps this explains why we are so transfixed by Cardi B: “We want to believe that someone can be rewarded for being so radically themselves.”
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Thanksgiving is nearly upon us in the US, and Pringles is here to help with the entree. Feast your eyes on Turducken chips. Up your holiday treats with not only turkey, duck, and chicken-flavored chips, but cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, too. Act fast – they’re on sale at noon today!
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Sharehold is a progress company. As an innovation agency focused on people-driven change, we help organizations undertake self-sustaining transformation for, with, and by their people.
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What questions are you asking? What's keeping you up at night?
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 Sarah Judd Welch
Co-Founder & CEO
Sharehold
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