Hello Again,

It’s been a few months since my last letter. I’ve many updates to share with you, along with some exciting news.

First, I want to start with a few well wishes.

While much of the world is recovering but many hearts and minds are still in turmoil. It’s not easy to have life upend itself and then suddenly “go back to normal.” Normal’s not the same.

So, I hope you’re taking care of yourself.

I’ve found these words very helpful:

In the end, everything will be okay - and if it’s not okay - then it’s not the end.

It’s okay to feel how you feel. You don’t need me to tell you that. If you want to sit in a room and do fuck-all for a day, go ahead. I’ve done it plenty of times.

Whether you know it or not, everyone’s got some shit going on right now. You may feel alone, but you’re not. And if you’re not sure about it, this is one more reminder that it will be okay. If you need anything, feel free to reach out.

I hope you’re okay.

Now, for the business content I promised when you subscribed.

Let’s get into it.

COVID Realizations:

To make sure we all have the key context, here’s the summary:

• COVID didn’t crush every business. In most cases, it just sped up their otherwise inevitable rise or fall.
• The wealth gap has grown (it’s massive) and everyone knows it.
• The sudden move to working remote has completely changed “work.” Offices will soon be for socializing/collaborating (and a total luxury).
• The piles of money printed into the system and handed out will have consequences.
• Trust in society is low. Trust in institutions is very low. Racism is up. Hate crimes are way up. It sucks but we need to recognize it.

If any of the above items are new to you, please read up on them.

Here is one source that packages almost everything I summarized into one document:

• Knight Frank’s Wealth Report (2021) → #1 in wealth management for Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWI). I trust their opinion on the global economy over our local news.

I’m going to cover how work has changed and what’s next. It’s the most useful thing I can address. If you have questions, just send me a reply or message me on IG or Twitter.

Getting Ahead of How Work’s Changed

First, your income:

• The money that was printed will create inflation. Today, $100 will buy 100 widgets. Tomorrow, $100 will buy you 90 widgets. You still have $100 - it’s just not worth as much (good luck with that dream home).
• My estimate: you will likely need a big raise (10% - 30%), over the next 2 years, just to stay even after inflation takes effect.
• If not a raise, for your lifestyle to stay the same, you’ll need a meaningfully higher income. Again, this is just stay where you are now.

Second, your job:

• Most companies won’t be able (willing) to give such big raises.
• I expect policy changes to make work more flexible. Companies have no real choice.
• This means the remote-working knowledge worker (pretty much all of my subscribers) will have more time on their hands.

Third, your opportunity:

• Flexible work, done from home, affords time and space for another income stream.
• But, it’s not like you’re going to jump into full-time entrepreneurship. I wouldn’t recommend it in this economy unless you’re absolutely positive things will go well.
• This means side-projects will be key for most of us. Especially from now until 2023.

Shipping Side-Projects in 2021

In the technology and software industries, releasing a new feature or update is called “shipping.” We ship new features, new products, and new projects.

Shipping is not just for technology companies anymore.

• There are over 50-million online creators today.
• Platforms for creators are among the fastest growing companies globally.
• The #1 job children aspire to is to be a Youtuber (2017). It’s 3x astronaut. The top 7/10 desired jobs were all some form of “creator.”

It’s a huge space that continues to see rapid growth.

That’s where most many of us will find our side-project opportunity. Myself included.

I’m Shipping Something New:

New ideas, tools, products, and business opportunities are everywhere and I struggle to focus. Curiosity always gets the better me. I love to tinker with new ideas and see what I can make of what I find online.

But the more I look at these opportunities, the more I question conventional wisdom. Why is it that we should only focus on one thing at a time? Does spending more time on something make it “better”?

More time doesn’t necessarily make it “better.” Studies have confirmed this. But not all things need as much time as we give them. Why can’t we do many things well? With so many ideas, it’s hard to pick just one.

This begs the question. Is conventional wisdom to focus on one thing exist because it’s best, or is it because people feel like they “need” the time (is focusing on one thing just a cop out)? It feels like a catch-22, and I’m curious to test it.

I’m launching Ship 21 in 2021. A new campaign to combine all my random ideas under one banner and build my first business(es).

21 projects in 2021, on a platform that allows me to track the success/failure of my business ideas.

More importantly, it lets you learn from my successes and failures.

If even one person comes to me and says “Darwin, I saw what you did and it made me want to start a side-project.” I’ll be very happy.

To support my launch, please like, comment, and share my posts on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for reading and being part of this with me.

I appreciate you.

Darwin.