Announcing a New Project!

Hi friends,

Today I’m announcing a project I’ve been working on for a couple weeks with my friend Andrew Levine.

Slightly Smarter is a daily email and cross-platform content to help us all get slightly smarter every day.

You can see our most recent email below, which spotlights ideas from the book Courageous Cultures: How to Build Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates.

But first, some context:

It’s still VERY early days, but we’re really excited about Slightly Smarter’s potential and hope to scale it into something meaningful.

We identified that there are many people who wish they had time to read more (Andrew and I included)… and the goal of the Slightly Smarter newsletter is to curate one book a day to help make readers (and aspirational audiences) smarter.

It’s not intended to be a book summary, nor is it a book review. It’s a book spotlight to help you discover and remember a few of the big ideas or learnings.

You can think of us like your personal book concierge, helping you decide which books (and subsequent ideas) you want to dive deeper into.

We will spotlight a variety of books to keep it interesting (not just self-help and business books, although I expect there will be quite a few of those too).

We will try to keep the writing light… we want this to be short and sweet… an easy read that is enjoyable and gives you a boost of energy to take on the day. Think Morning Brew or The Skimm, but for evergreen content instead of the news.

This is also an experiment on how to best use AI to scale a business that is “powered by people with machines.” We believe human curation will remain critical, but we’ve been really impressed with the power of AI so far, and we’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible.

We believe this has the potential to be much more than just a newsletter (e.g., modern book clubs, learning challenges, personalized recommendations / content, podcasts, events, communities, commerce, publishing, workshops, B2B services, etc.).

But first, we want to start with a very targeted offer that we can scale. That’s why we’re laser focused on 1) dialing in the newsletter to get something valuable, 2) better understanding our target reader, and 3) growing subscribers.

I understand this won’t be for everyone, but if you’re intrigued by the concept at all, we’d love to have you along for the journey with us!

HUGE FAVORS TO ASK:

1. Share it with 3+ friends that you think would be most interested (you can forward this email or copy and paste the links at the bottom of this email)

2. Subscribe if it’s your jam!! Or even if you think it has the potential to evolve into something helpful / enjoyable to read. We’re open to suggestions!

3. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter

4. HONEST FEEDBACK!!! Reply to this email to let me know what you think. We are still very early in the development and expect more iterations, so your honest feedback is crucial.

Below you can read the most recent issue of Slightly Smarter.

In addition, here are links to our last 3 spotlights to give you an idea of other books we’ve covered.

• How Innovation Works by Matt Ridley

• The Wager by David Grann

• Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Let us know if you have any recommendations for future books. We’re open to suggestions!

Regarding Growth Meditations… it’s not going anywhere. I’m still planning to keep it as my personal blog, but I may decide to adjust the frequency in the future. More to come.

Finally, here’s the latest issue of Slightly Smarter. Let me know what you think!

🤐 The High Cost of Silence
How Fear-Driven Quiet is Killing Your Company's Potential

Happy Wednesday! Today’s insights are from Courageous Cultures by Karin Hurt and David Dye, two leadership experts who’ve worked with top companies like Marriott and Verizon.

The book has been hailed as a game-changer by leaders in various industries and praised for its practical insights into fostering a culture of innovation.

📕 In this book, Hurt and Dye argue that many organizations are plagued by a "FOSU" problem—Fear of Speaking Up.

This silent epidemic stifles innovation, hampers problem-solving, and ultimately hurts the bottom line.

Have you noticed this in your workplace?

The authors provide practical strategies to transform your workplace into a "Courageous Culture," where every voice is heard and valued.

SMARTEST TAKEAWAY

A FEW LESSONS FROM THE BOOK

1. Identify Your “Smoke Signals”

Just as smoke signals warn of fire, certain behaviors hint at a fearful culture. Look for signs like hushed conversations that stop when a manager approaches, or the same few voices dominating meetings.

2. Master the “IDEA” Framework

Use this acronym to foster open communication:

• Interested: Show genuine curiosity in others' thoughts.

• Direct: Be clear about what you're asking.

• Empower: Give people the autonomy to act on their ideas.

• Ask: Follow up to see how their ideas are progressing.

3. Celebrate “Stumbles”

In a courageous culture, mistakes aren't failures—they're learning opportunities. Publicly acknowledge your own missteps and how you've grown from them. This sets a tone where taking risks is encouraged, not penalized.

GET STARTED TODAY

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WANT MORE?

If you want to go deeper and learn how to transform your workplace into a haven of open communication, check out the book Courageous Cultures: How to Build Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates by Karin Hurt and David Dye.

QUOTE TO REMEMBER

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