[MT.170] The streak and the stop

Hi, I’m Matt Tillotson, and this is Matt’s Mix Tape: ideas for remixing the Side B of life.

It’s 54 degrees. Cold rain spits and spatters onto disapproving palm fronds.

It’s a cocooning day, Florida style. I didn’t want to write the newsletter today. But then I remembered:

The newsletter is supposed to be fun.

So, it’s a light week, in length and topics. Remember, at least sometimes, this writing thing is supposed to be enjoyable. And when you publish, it’s more fun.

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A three-digit publishing streak. But what you don’t know …

In the final live session of Write of Passage, I learned I have the third-longest publishing streak of all Write of Passage alumni.

• First thought: How did we figure this out?

• Second thought: Lots of great newsletters, from lots of great people, on that list. Write of Passage alums make the Internet a better place. Check out a bunch of these, if you haven’t already.

So I wanted to reference the streak while leading our first Write of Passage Runway Community Hour. And not to humblebrag (mostly not …), but to talk about the time I quit writing.

At issue 13, I stopped writing for ten weeks.

It was a grueling interview process.

Five C-level execs taking me on all at once, and in more than one session. I thought I had the job. We were going to move our family, The timing was right. It felt like one of those pre-ordained events that occasionally pops into our lives and changes them for the better. Oh, and just in case, I’d been interviewing for a second, less desirable but still-pretty-good role at another company.

You know how this ends.

The email came in after two weeks of silence. “We're impressed, but have chosen another candidate.” Thirty minutes later, a second email: I wasn’t getting the job at the other company, either.

Then Covid hit. Everything stopped. Including my will to publish.

After ten weeks, it was time to start again. I haven’t stopped since. So my message to writers is: yeah, sometimes you’re going to get out of rhythm. And maybe you should. Let your brain and soul rest if necessary.

But eventually, start again. Lost writing momentum can be recaptured. It’s worth it.

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“Always two, there are.”

So said Yoda about Sith lords. Those bad cats always run in pairs, master and apprentice, more powerful together.

Turns out the HomePod Mini is also better in pairs.

I’ve had one on my desk for over a year, and the sound is decent. Last week I added a second, and you can pair them as a set of stereo speakers.

The sound improvement is way more than double—big upgrade.

Supposedly you can also pair them an Apple TV to create a bulbous soundbar for your TV. Tempting, though you can probably get something better for the comparable $200 price tag.

But as a desktop stereo, or a pair for a bedroom? Highly recommended, in the twin formation.

(Especially for playing too-early Christmas playlists.)

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Thank you for reading.

Whatever you’re working on or working through: keep showing up.

And Happy Thanksgiving, if you’re celebrating in the U.S.

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