Hope everyone had a nice Labor Day Weekend. The weather in greater Boston was A+. What did you spend your time doing? Did it feel “normal”?
Here are the recs:
Netflix
The Chef’s Table. BBQ Episode. I love good BBQ (best I’ve had in MA is BT’s in Sturbridge). The attention to detail and the labor are what resonate with me most. If you’ve ever tried to do “real” BBQ in the backyard, you understand how consuming it can be, often with really mixed results. This episode follows an 85 year old woman’s journey to becoming the number 1 pitmaster in Texas. The episode feels like a piece of art. Tootsie’s story is incredible. Equal parts sad, challenging, and uplifting. Do yourself a favor and don’t read the google reviews of Snow’s BBQ while watching the show. They ruined the story for me. Filled with a bunch of grumpy fucks who bitch about the drive and the wait.
Actual Carrot Cake
When I am feeling bad for myself, I almost always find myself face to face with an 8000 calorie dinner. It’s like clockwork. It’s also astounding that I can talk myself into spending 40-50 bucks on a Doordash meal for one. Every time I use DD, I am shocked by the price, but I usually do it anyway. What does that say about their business? What does it say about me? So last week, I ordered a meal from the Cheesecake factory (seeing this in writing is embarrassing 😳). I selected the Cheese Fact because of the option to get some dessert to finish off the meal. They have the Carrot Cake DIALED in. Full recommend. Additional observation: Their takeout packaging is the best I’ve seen. Not sure if their specially molded cake slice plastic dish or their cardboard french fry containers are patented, but all other restaurants should take note.
Two gluttonous recs so far…here’s something a little lighter:
A buying experience
Sullivan Tire (no relation). There’s nothing that I dread more than bringing a car in for service (my inspection sticker had a 3 on it from 2019). I’m always at an information disadvantage when speaking with mechanics. This makes it impossible to feel like you are not getting completely taken advantage of. The boys at ST didn’t alleviate that as much, but they do have a pretty slick app!!!! I was able to book a same day appointment, tick off things like oil change, inspection, and write a description about a sound that I was hearing, etc. The whole experience was a much more modern buying experience than the typical phone call to three different shops to see who could take you in. I still spent 300 bucks on new lug-nuts and 700+ bucks on the visit, but did I mention the app??
Some YouTube:
Do you guys watch Yeti’s (500 dollar cooler company) content? They have absolutely nailed the premium brand/media company that monetizes by selling devices to keep your drinks cold, model. Anyway, they just released 2+ hours of content on YouTube. It’s a bunch of short story documentary style art pieces. I’d love to know which ones you like the best. I like the Jimmy Chin surfing one and the woman who kicks everyone’s ass in open ocean paddling.
Some questions for this week
Just as an informal survey, what’s work like for you right now? Are you WFH? Is business slow? Ripping? Is your company talking about getting back in the office?
What do you think of the shiny new release of https://www.blacksmith.work/ ?
I’ve made a full pivot into helping companies launch podcasts. I have one client so far. I’d love to hear specific feedback on “Can you clearly tell what we offer?” Is any of the website copy confusing?
Do you know what you are really good at? How did you find out?
Love you all. Hope you are well. Hopefully the parents are getting some relief with school sort of starting up.
