Hey it's me, Tom Critchlow, your friendly neighborhood consultant/blogger/weirdo. This list has grown a fair amount since I last wrote to you all so as a reminder: you probably signed up at tomcritchlow.com and this newsletter covers: independent consulting, art/tech crossovers, media design and networked writing. Thanks for being here.
Five years ago I quit my job and went independent. The best metaphor I've found for being independent is like being on a road trip:
It's really two emotions wrapped tightly together - on the one hand the freedom of driving where you want with the windows down and the music blasting, while at the same time being untethered without a home or permanent shelter.
At times it can be dislocating and disorientating but mostly I've had an incredibly positive experience and I want to.... get a little squishy and emotional for a moment. Seriously - *thank you*. I literally would have not been able to make this journey happen without the friends, bloggers and networks I'm a part of. That means all of you on this newsletter. Thank you thank you.
For all of 2019 I've basically had one main retained client - and it came from my blog, re-kindled THREE YEARS AGO when I wrote my TWO years on the road post:
The power of networked writing... of networks.... of blogging. It's funny how things go.
I've talked about the power of small-b blogging before but I don't think people properly understand quite how *small* I'm talking. It's outrageous that my blog has such a meaningful impact on my life - clients, friends, connections - when it's this small:
If you're unsure about the leap into blogging, into consulting, into networked writing then consider this a kick in the ass - if I can carve out a small slice of living from this meager network then you can too!
Head on over to my blog post: 5 years on the road for the full recap, revenue charts and so on but mostly I wanted to give a big fat thank you to every single one of you.
I'd love to hear from you - hit reply and tell me what you're up to!
Thanks a million. Love you all.
Tom
PS - here's a few other posts I wrote since my last newsletter: occult ads and understanding marketing realities. The notion of brands as unknowable hyperobjects is top of mind right now. Ping me if you have thoughts or want to chat.
Five years ago I quit my job and went independent. The best metaphor I've found for being independent is like being on a road trip:
It's really two emotions wrapped tightly together - on the one hand the freedom of driving where you want with the windows down and the music blasting, while at the same time being untethered without a home or permanent shelter.
At times it can be dislocating and disorientating but mostly I've had an incredibly positive experience and I want to.... get a little squishy and emotional for a moment. Seriously - *thank you*. I literally would have not been able to make this journey happen without the friends, bloggers and networks I'm a part of. That means all of you on this newsletter. Thank you thank you.
For all of 2019 I've basically had one main retained client - and it came from my blog, re-kindled THREE YEARS AGO when I wrote my TWO years on the road post:
The power of networked writing... of networks.... of blogging. It's funny how things go.
I've talked about the power of small-b blogging before but I don't think people properly understand quite how *small* I'm talking. It's outrageous that my blog has such a meaningful impact on my life - clients, friends, connections - when it's this small:
If you're unsure about the leap into blogging, into consulting, into networked writing then consider this a kick in the ass - if I can carve out a small slice of living from this meager network then you can too!
Head on over to my blog post: 5 years on the road for the full recap, revenue charts and so on but mostly I wanted to give a big fat thank you to every single one of you.
I'd love to hear from you - hit reply and tell me what you're up to!
Thanks a million. Love you all.
Tom
PS - here's a few other posts I wrote since my last newsletter: occult ads and understanding marketing realities. The notion of brands as unknowable hyperobjects is top of mind right now. Ping me if you have thoughts or want to chat.