The Coolth Cometh
Above: the view from my desk, August 14 2025.
I'm milking these last days of summer for all they're worth, but there's something about the change of seasons, and the promise of a crisp morning, that gets me going.
Starting in about early August, when I wake up here in the Catskills, I let my dogs out and lo and behold there's that unmistakable chill in the air. My fractional CMO said her grandmother-in-law calls it "coolth." My new favorite word. Coolth signals the unmistakable return to school, to activity, to purpose, and to work.
We've been hard at work, for well over a year, in preparation for this fall. I'm feeling that familiar giddiness—the one I get just before we release something really special into the world. What a feeling that is.
And with that in mind, I wanted to share five Small Big Things to get you in the mood for fall, and for work.
1. The Imperfectionist: You may know Oliver Burkeman from his best-selling book Four Thousand Weeks. There are few thinkers in the productivity realm that resonate as deeply and speak so clearly. I save each and every one of his newsletters like precious specimens. In a time of so much uncertainty, Burkeman is a true voice of reason.
2. The Quincailleries: When I travel, I always visit the local hardware or grocery store before any museum or tourist attraction. I was not aware of the century-old tradition of the French hardware store, until I stumbled on this recent Times article—these places are indispensable to their communities and are like museums in their own right.
3. Make your work your calling: Many might be dreading the end of summer, and the onslaught of work. I get it. If that's you, then read this article by Arthur C. Brooks, one of my favorite Atlantic writers. In his words: “Don’t wait for your life’s calling to find you with the perfect job; turn whatever job you find into the way you seek that calling.”
4. The Hardest Working Font in NYC: I recently discovered a font close to my heart, even though I lived amidst it for my 25 years in New York City. This in-depth profile delves into Gorton, a utilitarian engraved typeface that has quietly shaped Manhattan’s infrastructure for over a century, from elevator panels to subway signs and machinery labels.
5. Make Life Possible: Take small steps, be prepared to shift direction, anticipate surprise, trust in creativity, and go with friends. Explore some principles for navigating uncertain timesfrom Mandy Brown, a writer and work coach who I recently discovered and am gearing up to follow into this fall.
