Fresh and Ready to Roll

Some housekeeping to start the year.

My last post of 2024 featured Woody Guthrie's resolutions (Amen!) from New Year's 1943, and I mentioned I'd share mine if I came up with any. While they probably lack the resonance of Woody's —and most certainly the doodles that accompanied his list — here they are.

2025 Resolutions

• Go one month (or more) without using an exclamation point. Or exclamation mark. Whichever you prefer, really. Trying to give the poor punctuation mark a breather and the footing to regain its meaning in my writing. So far, so good, though I'll admit it's a bit challenging — it has become a rival for the plain old period at the end of a sentence and if you don't use one you run the risk of appearing flat or disinterested, especially when responding to someone on social media.
• Be more selfish. Hmm. That sounds bad, doesn't it? Perhaps: Be less unselfish? At any rate, I've run through 66 years being, unless I'm totally self unaware, thoroughly unselfish and thought I'd dial it back a bit for a year and see what it feels like. Perhaps it will lead me to creating even more impact? We shall see – another test as I've paved the road of a lifetime by saying "Yes."
• Pay keen attention to the number "6." I've never given it much thought, 6 —more of an 8 guy I guess. But as I've got mirror sixes this year, I thought I'd give it more credence and pay attention to it as a sign – and then act upon it. First up: Set a goal for 2025 of achieving 66 members for the Inspiration Alley co-working hub I started last year. A bit ambitious considering past performance, as the first six months of operations yielded 16 members, but we'll roll the dice and see what the amulet of double sixes delivers. I don't know — feels pretty good to me.

What's in a Name?

Circling back on the issue of whether Godspeed should survive as the name of this publication.

(Reminder: In response to bemoaning my slow subscriber growth, a reader suggested that the reference to "God" might inhibit people from exploring it for fear that it was a far-right religious publication.)

I received the most responses to anything about this, so people are keen on the subject of brands.

While some were concerned by the religious association, most — 75% — weren't anxious about it and in fact thought it was a strong name, summed up by this comment by reader John Brunelle: "Godspeed is indeed a great word. Godspeed, John Glenn. It's inspirational. There is even a character in the DC multiverse (not sure if he's a good guy or bad guy). Stay the course. Double down. It's a good word."

(And yes, we checked out the DC Multiverse, not my usual neighborhood, and it appears the character of Godspeed is indeed a villain, though one commenter on DC Comics Sub-Reddit said the character "is panning out to be some form of anti-hero or at least morally grayish antagonist." Okay — that works.)

So, while it might risk turning off some, I'm going to roll with it.

What I really think the name needs now is a cool logo. That might push against the religious misattribution.

Thanks to all the smart folks who contributed their insights. (Almost put an exclamation point at the end there. 😉)

Godspeed, friends.

Russ

P.S. Dang it. Six days into the month and I just slipped up on a text message to a friend with an exclamation point adorning my "Hello" greeting. Looks like I'm turning the clock back to zero and starting again. Also – Day Six. Something about that number. Hmmm...

💬 Quote of the Week

"The great enemy of freedom is the alignment of political power with wealth." Wendell Berry

💥 Quick Hits

• Eye-gasm architecture – Looking back, just a little, because we love architecture so much: One publication's top-10 architecture projects of 2024. Just check out The Observatory on Apple's campus or the new California College of the Arts in San Francisco. (There's plenty beyond Cali as well.)

• Godspeed, Jimmy Carter – From wilderness refuges to alternative energy, it's hard to think of a U.S. President with the environmental achievements of Jimmy Carter.

• Pantone Color of the Year 2025 – Here you go: Mocha Mousse. Meh.

Find the Most Meaningful Work of Your Career

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• Wefunder - Throw your talent to the crowd — and in the process use your skills to design the future of startup capital raises at this public benefit corporation. Lead Designer. San Francisco, CA.

• Helion - Thai fusion, jazz fusion, or power fusion? If you're into the latter, there's a role for you at a company that's building the world's first fusion power plant. Internal Communications Lead, Everett, WA.

• Motional - If you like to work autonomously, then perhaps this job's for you – helping make driverless vehicles safe, reliable, and accessible. Human Resources Director, Boston, MA.

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