11 endings to becoming boring plus enshittification
What stuck with me, what you missed, and one question worth asking
Hello and happy hot, sweaty summer.
For the last year, I’ve written a post each quarter that rounds up some great reads and shares some of my thoughts. Because you seem to enjoy this post — and I’ve determined I have more to share than fits in a once-per-quarter post — I will start releasing this post every month. This post will always be free.
Let’s get to it.
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What stuck with me this month
We will all become boring
By Louise Perry
This post got me thinking. In large part because Perry didn’t pull any punches. While I don’t agree with all of her points, this quote stuck hard:
“You cannot buy solitude when it suits you, and then try and buy back company when it does not, because company of the sincere and intimate kind cannot be bought.”
I’m an introvert. I can go a long time on my own. But I’ve also looked up and realized no one was there.
Relationships take work. Specifically, they require us to show up — even when we’re not in the mood.
11 Graceful Ways to End a Conversation That Work 100 Percent of the Time
By Minda Zetlin
This article popped up a couple of times, so I finally sat down to read it. If you’ve ever attended a networking event and gotten stuck talking to one person (read: trapped and unable to get away), this article has something for you.
My go-to is to ask for their card. Somehow, even the talkers know that’s a signal to move on.
Enshittification, Explained With Hotdogs
By JJ Pryor
It’s a rare moment to be gifted with a piece that does two things well at once. In this case, Pryor’s piece serves as an excellent example of good storytelling. He uses a story to explain a concept, which makes the concept resoundingly clear (all while remaining jargon-free).
The piece was inspired by Cory Doctorow, who coined the term ‘enshittification’ in 2022. Rather than expound on this useful concept, I’ll simply start the story for you:
“Frank’s Franks was the hottest spot in town, teeming with people who couldn’t get enough of the free, mouth-watering hotdogs and the infectious buzz of the crowd.
The city was enchanted. Who wouldn’t be?
Amazing hotdogs, free food — and all their friends were there too! Frank, with his eloquent speeches and promises of greatness, became a local legend.
But amid the euphoria, no one paused to ask a critical question:
“How was Frank making any money?”
Read the piece for the answer, if you haven’t guessed already. And even if you have, it’s still worth the read.
What you missed
This is a new section where I’ll include what I’ve published over the last month. I only included articles this time. In the future, I may also include Substack Notes and LinkedIn posts.
How we can navigate false value
False value exists as part of our culture and economy. We can ask questions and make choices that limit it.
Non-profits aren’t second-class businesses
Treating them that way limits their ability to deliver value to their team and the people they serve.
Wait, so value is binary?
No. Like so many things, it exists on a spectrum.
Consider your opposing forces
Businesses in the value economy identify and mitigate the forces operating in opposition to effective value delivery.
To rent or to purchase?
We rent something with every subscription we pay. While we see renting as easier and freer, it does not necessarily mean we are better off.
The problem with pledge porn
While it may give us that warm fuzzy feeling, sharing what you intend to do isn't as valuable as sharing what you've actually done.
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One question worth asking
Do you know what game you’re currently playing?
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