Welcome to this week’s 2-4-1 newsletter. A small pause to recharge, rethink, and reconnect.
Inside you’ll find two ideas I’m sitting with, four fun or fascinating discoveries, and one tiny step you can take to feel more like yourself this week.
Some weeks feel loud and fast. Others feel quieter, more foundational. Lately I have been noticing how much growth happens in the small resets, the beginner moments, and the simple practices that rarely look impressive from the outside but change everything over time.
2 INSIGHTS
1. Starting Small, Again
Last week I mentioned the adductor strain that pulled me out of the gym for a bit. This week I am back. Short workouts, light weights, and a completely different perspective than I might have had before.
What I am noticing most is a growing sense of gratitude for what will probably be a short window of time where the basics feel incredibly hard. Without the setback, I likely would have walked into the gym comparing myself to a past version of me and left feeling discouraged. Instead, there is something deeply satisfying about being completely worked by movements that once felt simple.
The soreness from these small sessions feels different. Not frustrating, but grounding. It is a reminder that progress begins where you actually are, not where you think you should be. Beginner’s mind is something I do not experience often. I am usually measuring myself against people ahead of me or against old benchmarks.
Right now I am trying to soak this phase in. Light weights. Short workouts. Real effort. It will not last forever, and maybe that is exactly why it is worth appreciating while it is here.
2. From Gatekeepers to Communities
For most of publishing history, authors needed permission before they ever reached readers. That dynamic is starting to shift, and a few well-known writers quietly helped redraw the map.
Hugh Howey built a massive audience for Wool through self-publishing first, selling tens of thousands of copies per month before agreeing to a print-only deal that let him keep digital rights. Andy Weir followed a different path, releasing The Martian chapter by chapter online (He’s number 3 in this article) and building a loyal reader base before a $0.99 Kindle edition caught fire and led to a traditional publishing contract. And then there is Brandon Sanderson, whose leather-bound editions and record-breaking Kickstarter campaigns showed that a strong fan relationship can function as its own publishing infrastructure.
The common thread is not rebellion against publishers. It is leverage built through readers. Sales, community, and direct support changed the risk equation, which in turn changed who holds the power. Increasingly, success no longer begins with a contract. It begins with connection.
There are many negative reactions to social media and the internet, but often overlooked is their ability to build connection and trust in ways that simply were not possible a generation ago.
4 FUN FINDS
1. Reading the Cosmere Backwards
I have been a fan of fantasy and sci fi stories for as long as I can remember. There is something about blending the magical or futuristic with very human emotions and everyday stakes that keeps me coming back.
Brandon Sanderson became one of my favourites after I first discovered him as the author chosen to finish The Wheel of Time. Since then I worked my way into The Stormlight Archive which, admittedly, left me a little underwhelmed at first. Mostly my own fault. Sanderson is building something much bigger than a single series. Many of his books take place on different worlds but exist inside the same connected universe, and a recent Stormlight release featured a major crossover character that I did not fully appreciate because I had not read the earlier works.
So now I am circling back. Mistborn, one of his earliest and most influential series, has been a great re entry point. It blends classic fantasy with an Ocean’s Eleven style heist story, which somehow feels both familiar and completely fresh at the same time.
2. Chef-GPT
If you have ever opened your fridge, stared at a collection of random ingredients, and wondered what to do with them before they spoil, you are not alone.
Lately I have been leaning on a friendly AI chatbot to help turn those odds and ends into actual meals, and I have been genuinely surprised by the results. With food allergies and sensitivities in the mix, cooking can sometimes feel limiting, but AI has been incredibly helpful at suggesting substitutions and tweaks that keep meals both safe and delicious.
One recent win has been a coconut-free SFED stir fry sauce that has quickly become a staple in my kitchen. It is simple, flexible, and proof that a little creativity paired with the right tools can turn “nothing to cook” into something worth sharing.
Here is the link if you are curious to try it yourself.
3. Cast Iron, Low Heat, and Letting Things Develop
I have been spending more time lately refining a very simple cooking skill that turns out not to be simple at all. Slowing down with cast iron. Lower heat, more patience, and trusting the process instead of constantly adjusting.
Whether it has been pancakes, pork chops, or one pan skillet dinners, the biggest lesson has been restraint. Preheat longer than you think. Use less oil than you expect. Give food enough time to develop before flipping or stirring. It sounds obvious, but it is surprisingly hard to do when you are used to rushing.
There is something satisfying about learning how small technical tweaks completely change the outcome. Crispy edges, better caramelization, more consistent texture. It has become a quiet reminder that good results rarely come from doing more. Often they come from doing the basics a little more intentionally.
4. Paper and Breath
I took singing lessons about two years ago and, like many things, fell off somewhere along the way. Lately I have been trying to get back into it and relearning one of the most foundational skills for singing well, breath control. I have been learning that pitch stability is not just about hitting the right note. It is about maintaining a steady, consistent flow of air underneath it.
One exercise I have been using is incredibly simple. Hold a quarter sheet of paper against a wall and keep it lifted using nothing but steady airflow. No forcing, no bursts of air. Just consistency. What I have noticed is how surprisingly difficult it is to sustain that kind of controlled breath for more than a few seconds.
It has become a small daily practice as I rebuild some basic singing skills. Keep it small. Keep it simple. Keep it consistent. Begin with the end in mind, but focus on the next steady breath.
1 REFLECTION / ACTION
Reflection: Where in your life are you waiting for permission, perfection, or certainty before you begin?
Action: Pick one small thing this week that moves you forward without needing a full plan. Send the email. Start the chapter. Go for the walk. Five minutes is enough. Momentum rarely arrives fully formed. It grows from movement.
If you enjoyed this week’s 2-4-1, the best way to support the newsletter is simply to share it or leave a quick comment. Your questions and reflections shape what I write next.
Thanks for being here.
Jack