This week, I celebrate a year on Substack! And what a year it’s been!

Whether you’ve known me across my transformational efforts on 6 continents and found yourself on Substack a year ago when I moved my newsletter here OR you we’ve met in the last 12 months, THANK YOU for your attention, support, and everything you do to create a better world.

You are the reason I do what I do.

I’ve had a pretty confronting time of it recent, as I shared last week in my most personal post yet. One of my conclusions is: if given the option, I isolate and stay silent. I talk — aka write — if I feel invited to do so. If I think it can make a difference. Otherwise, I am quite content going weeks — months — without talking to another human. Yes, I am an introvert… Thus, the 60+ posts I have published signify that we’ve had a dialogue, and that is something — maybe everything — in a world where connection too often feels elusive. Thank you for having me in your headphones and/or for casting your overcommitted eyeballs over my writing… I SO appreciate it!

Here are some highlights from the last 12 months:

* Having edited lots (incl. as the editor-in-chief of two magazines), I finally got the honor of editing a book! Lonely Girl is a courageous and heartfelt memoir by Anna Vatuone, coming to Amazon TOMORROW! Whether your interest is peaked by this work in particular or you’re curious about what it takes to write and publish a book, this discussion between Anna and I is for you!

* Changemakers’ Handbook is read in 30 countries… Given that my mission is

to support changemakers around the world in their vital work, this means more than I can say.

* We’re a podcast! Please take a moment to follow and rate Follow the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or both!. Note that I recorded a couple-dozen episodes (with voiceover) before activating the podcast, so please check out Substack. It remains the hub for ALL my work.

* With your help, Changemakers’ Handbook is Substack’s #32 “Rising in Science!”

Rather than share new content, I’d like to draw you attention to what you may have missed over the past 12 months:

* We had our first LIVE session, and with the amazing Blair Palese! Drawing on nearly 4 decades as a professional changemakers, she shares so many gems that help us understand how to leverage the history of successful advocacy to shape the future.

* I have shared my vision for the future where changemaking is recognized and rewarded as a discipline. I’ve also introduced the findings of my PhD research into changemaking, world-first (by definition, as they don’t let you do a PhD if it is not original knowledge). I will continue to detail these in the months to come.

* I’ve thoroughly covered several topics you can explore as “playlists.” Sadly, it doesn’t appear I can set these to play automatically, but at least they are grouped for you!

** The 10 megatrends reshaping the world, and why it matters to changemakers. Specifically, check out the 10 opportunities ripe for your efforts!

** Identifying your purpose is fuel for your changemaking.

** Starting with the end in mind: planning for your exit may be the best thing you can do for your transformational initiative.

* I continue to develop a few more topics:

** On darkness/depression, which is as familiar to me as rain. Sadly, this is the case for many changemakers.

** Gems for humans changing the world: the best in science and debate for people working to change the world. Put your ideas for additions into comments!

** Building blocks and formulas for transformation, the most nascent playlist of them all as there’s lots to uncover still!

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* While this is not a political publication and I greatly appreciate the range of political views shared by this community, my lived experience with an authoritarian regime seems to offer insights many of us see. I have posted after the 2024 US election, after Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House, and during the US Military parade in June.

* Drawing on my experience with blockchain technologies, I’ve published this opinion piece.

* To see how everything connects into a roadmap to optimizing your impact — from identifying your transformational ideas through vetting, funding, implementing, and scaling them to putting yourself in the best position to thrive — get your copy of Change-maker’s Handbook (2023). Even as I expand and refine what we know, it will provide a handy structure, with wide margins for your notes!

To help me celebrate, would you help?

In our digital world, every “like,” rating, share, and comment ranks my work in “the system” and helps other changemakers find us. So, if I may ask and if you feel comfortable, would you please consider:

* Share with this publication with other changemakers in your life to grow this global community committed to perfecting our craft of changing the world!

* If you have 30-60-90 sec to spare, please click here and “like” every post that resonates. Depending on how many fit into your browser, it may be 3-4 pages. You don’t actually have to open posts or have an account to “like” (e.g., if you’ve already listened or read elsewhere), and every “like” helps!

* Get a Substack account (e.g., with this email address) and comment. EVERY comment (e.g., even “thanks” and “nice” help! It’s a crazy world!). An account also allows you to meaningfully engage with this community, join LIVE sessions like the one with Blair Palese, and explore all the voices that Substack has to offer!

* If you can afford it, your paid subscription helps me keep most posts free for all around the world.

Cheers!

Image credit: Secoura from Pixabay

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