Morning Brew - 🍸 Booch

A COO’s least favorite question at the moment: “So, when are we going back to the office?” (Sorry, Austin!) On last week’s PressClub, Josh Constine’s Clubhouse show, top execs and workplace experts, including Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield, Salesforce COO Bret Taylor, and NYT’s Zeynep Tufekci discussed whether we’ll be dusting off our cubicles or fake commuting forever. 

They agreed on one thing: “We’ll be going back to in-person co-working sooner than expected, but employers will have to compete for the most inclusive hybrid work culture in order to attract talent.” So it’ll be on them to figure out a hybrid culture that’s even more tantalizing than pre-pandemic in-office perks like nap pods and free cold brew. 

Butterfield is working on one idea, to make communication between remote and in-person settings even more seamless. In the PressClub room, he announced Slack will soon be launching asynchronous audio messages (aka voice memos), synchronous audio chat rooms (think Clubhouse), and stories—just like every other tech company. If you want to listen to the whole convo, check out the recording here.

As we start to plan returning to the office, Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy, authors of No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work, have a few suggestions for how leaders can support employees right now. Most importantly, being honest and saying something is better than nothing, even if you don’t have a plan yet. 

• It’s a little too late, but here’s how kids would solve the Suez Canal blockage. Oliver’s A+ plan: “I would just push the back until it was free and it could float away. I’ve seen things like this in my life. Like sticks in the creek.” 
• If you think olive oil is only for cooking, not baking, Sohla’s latest recipe (olive oil blondies with salted caramel) will make you reconsider. 
• The hottest new pasta shape is called cascatelli, and it looks like a seahorse. It may score high on sauceability and forkability, but it doesn’t look appetizing, IMO. 
• Tomorrow night I’m hosting a Clubhouse chat with the founders of fast-growing food brands Magic Spoon, immi, and Behave, and the founders of iconic design studio Gander. Come learn what it means to create a universe around a brand, or find out what my voice actually sounds like. 
• Journalist Alex Shultz found the Annie behind my fave childhood comfort food, Annie’s Mac and Cheese. How did we all not know that she’s also the founder of Smartfood Popcorn?

From a young age, we’re taught to say “Please” and “Thank you,” but when we’re older, our thank yous turn more generic and less convincing. “I love it!” “It’s just what I wanted.” Or, just “thank you.” 

A proper, meaningful thank you goes a long way. This five minute video from the School of Life suggests that we can take a few pointers from artists. What distinguishes an OK artist from Michelangelo is the level of detail and specificity, and the same can be said for thank you notes. Ask yourself, “What about the gift did I truly appreciate?” and then choose two to three highly detailed reasons as a way to express your gratitude. 

I’m a big thank you note gal, and I learned the tricks of the trade from my mom. She’s got her own Stacey Cantor-patented formula for a basic thank you note that I’ll share with y’all today.

First, you explicitly say thank you. If you were given an object, you directly name the gift, and if you were given money, you say, “Thank you for your generous gift.” Then, you typically say how you’re going to use the gift in one or two sentences. If the person gave it to you in person, you acknowledge that it was nice to see them, and if they sent it to you via mail, you mention that you hope to see them soon, and if possible, you name a date. 

A handwritten thank you note is 10x better than an email, so if you’re looking for some stationery recs, here are a few online shops to check out: Drawing A Blank Cards, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Crane Stationery, and Papier. Hit reply, and let me know your go-to shops. 

Of course we drink on the job.

We mean coffee (silly). If you wanna join us, Atlas Coffee Club will keep you well-caffeinated and well-cultured in the art of international coffee. 

No matter how you sip (or gulp) your brew, a coffee world tour from Atlas means rare, sustainably grown coffees from 50+ countries, roasted to order and delivered directly to your door each month. So you can start your morning with micro-lot coffee from Papua New Guinea this month and jet off to Peru the next. 

Sidekick readers can get 50% off your first bag when you try Atlas Coffee Club today.

• My current favorite skincare brand: Three Ships. All their products are cruelty-free and use 100% natural ingredients, and best of all, they’re affordable. Their Radiance Grape Stem Cell + Squalane Day Cream is extremely hydrating, especially if you have dry skin. Use the discount code SIDEKICK15 for 15% off (doesn’t apply to bundles or kits). 
• A self-care rec from Devin, the Brew’s Managing Editor of Lifestyle: “Ettitude is my go-to for eco-friendly linens, and you can try ’em out with their face towel, just $10. It’s made with 100% organic bamboo in a luxurious, moisture-wicking waffle pattern that gently exfoliates the skin.” 
• Luna Bay Booch Co is the first and only female-run hard kombucha company in the US, and I’m bullish on it. My best friend introduced me to the brand last summer, and I’ve been hooked ever since on their Hibiscus Lavender flavor. Their spiked bev is gluten-free, vegan, and made from ethically sourced ingredients.