Marc, these are huge wins, but obviously number 2 is the biggest! And guess what, he’s gonna keep on delivering wins! Great job! I’m so glad to have you here, and remember the last post of the year isn’t free, so you do have to buy the cow if you want all the milk.
"Write your wins down. Otherwise, you won’t see them, and they won’t be real." Great advice, thanks Christina! (Oh, and I guess you too Michael... Happy Hs xo)
Mine? Hmm. Wrote some good pieces, ghostwrote two books, spent a lot of time with grandkids, stayed clean/sober for another year, celebrated 43 years of marriage, and I’ll have to give some thought to the rest.
These are great wins! I’m especially happy to hear about continued sobriety. That’s winning on a whole other level! Congrats! Curious: can you say the books you ghostwrote, or at least what they’re about? Please say pizza!
Sorry - not pizza (but more pizza pieces to come). The two completed books were autobiographies - people have stories, I just help. Currently working on my brother Brandon’s next book.
I got featured too! 🥰 That overshadows anything else as it only happened last week and my memory is not what it was. 😂
It’s been a quiet year professionally (mostly intentionally) so I do feel proud of writing here every week (except one, I was sick) and also of going to yoga every week since May. 😌 It’s done wonders for my mental and physical health. So I guess the win is making the time for that. Oh and I attended some courses that technically had nothing to do with work stuff and met cool new people and that definitely felt like a win too. 😊
And one more! My business got featured by Australia’s biggest newspaper this month too. 🎉
Great wins, Jen! And glad to see that we share a yoga win! Also, what’s your business? Was being featured in Oz’s biggest newspaper helpful? I hope so!
That's a good question! It would have been more helpful perhaps if I'd remembered and made some updates to my site in time. I don't think I saw a sale come through so currently just good for my ego!
My 2023 wins: Launching my Substack, keeping it going steadily and consistently through the year, finding that I actually have a lot of things to say to the world. Also, turning 50 and loving my new decade. And travelling to Australia, UK, Greece and Germany after several years of covid hermit-hood. Thanks for the prompt. Turns out it's been quite a full year 😊
2. Discovering here writers and friends whose hearts and minds and words are brilliant
3. Scoring a winter house-sit for me and my van to stop for a bit and, thus, giving my self permission to give my writing the focus and attention it (I?) deserve.
Thank you, Michael, for the reminder to celebrate. :)
Great going, Michael! No really, writing down the wins? What a great idea!
I know that I was featured on Substack reads once, but it was so long ago (March-April?) I can't even remember when it was. So THAT was a win, wasn't it?
I picked up a BIG name follower, and she actually READS my shit! Like, that's a wow! (I mean, we're talking ICON here...but I'm not saying who because that just feels crass to me.)
I was interviewed by WINSTONE MALONE for THE LIBRARY, because I was the 100th story on that site. (Big shout out to THE LIBRARY!)
I started reading my story THE DAWN PATROL on the VIDEO app here on SUBSTACK -- and now someone wants to do a video interview with me. (That's pretty scary, because while I can't write funny shit, sometimes I can't stop the inner comedian part of me. So I guess we'll see how that goes.)
I picked up 290 subscribers this year alone. (That's more than I ever thought I'd get, considering I started with zero.)
Oh yeah, and this was my first "official" year of retirement. (I had the year before that off as well, but that was a practice year and not a lot of fun...in fact...the worst year of my life. So we won't talk about that.)
Dec 24, 2023·edited Dec 24, 2023Liked by Michael Estrin
Wins for 2023...I hadn't really thought about this yet but now is as good a time as any.
1: Started a substack. And I've kept at it since I have a bad habit of starting a dropping hobbies that don't require me to put any money into it. Got followers that aren't just real life friends I badgered into signing up. Made friends on Notes with fellow Star Wars fans.
2: Went to 6 concerts this year, which is triple the amount I went to in 2020 - 2022. Finally caught a show at Red Rocks. Got to see Run The Jewels on back to back nights in Chicago with one of my oldest friends. It was a nice realization that I am at a point in my life/career that if I want to go out of town to see a show, I am generally able to. Going to try for Taylor Swift in 2024.
Well, one BIG win is having you in my life. It's hard (impossible...) to remember not knowing you. Thanks for all the late night (for me) texts! And for all the support and fun and lifeness in general. Looking forward to more in 2024!! xThe Rat
I feel the same way, Jane! Also, helping you troubleshoot tech stuff makes me feel like a total winner because I’m usually the one asking for tech support🤖😃
Congratulations on a great year, Michael! Our coffee meetups are on my 2023 highlight reel.
My 2023 wins include publishing my 100th interactive fiction game, being Lead Narrative Designer on an IndieCade nominated game, and purchasing two lifelong obsessions: an arcade cabinet and a Who Framed Roger Rabbit animation cel.
Adding another win to your column: your wit, humanity, and advocacy for other creatives/voices. You are a real peach! And what’s more vulnerable than a peach? Cheers to an inspired 2024! 🥂
Urp! Busted! My biggest win was wrapping up my first photo book project, coming to a bookstore of ill-repute near YOU in 2024!!! Mazels all around! 💗📸💥
It's so important to write down the successes, milestones, or whatever you want to call them. They encourage us to keep going, to move forward. They can also be exciting, especially when we see them all in a list and that list amazes us with all the entries! Thanks for the article.
I met more fantastic humans this year than I know what to do with.
Someday I'll share with you the small (or huge) ways some of your writing challenged/changed/bettered my view of the world and the people in it. But that's a big ask for the day after Christmas. I have a serious food hangover.
I have lots of concrete, goal oriented "wins" I could list here, but I have my own year-end Substack post to write (and that pesky Situation Normal doppelganger Stack I've been meaning to launch). Plus, I'd rather celebrate the people I found this year who felt like wins.
I assume you've gathered from this comment that you're one of them. 🙂
Thank you, Meg! Getting to meet you too has been very special! I see a big year for your writing in 2024, and I can't wait to celebrate every win (you're gonna have a few) with you!
my one win among many is getting to be great pals with you v grateful etc love u dude
Big win right there! Huge!
Same! Same! To both of you!! Plus, Anne!
Four-way win!
Grateful to have so many wins this year. But here’s 5 and change below. Grateful that that’s gave me sometime to reflect.
1. Wife and I brought a house
2. We had a son
3. Started a Substack to write about number 2
4. Featured on Substack reads
5. Learned the value of telling and sharing my stories
Honorable mentions :
- almost at 1K subscribers since joining in June.
- Becoming a paid subscriber to SN despite everything being free- the milk, and the cow.
Marc, these are huge wins, but obviously number 2 is the biggest! And guess what, he’s gonna keep on delivering wins! Great job! I’m so glad to have you here, and remember the last post of the year isn’t free, so you do have to buy the cow if you want all the milk.
"Write your wins down. Otherwise, you won’t see them, and they won’t be real." Great advice, thanks Christina! (Oh, and I guess you too Michael... Happy Hs xo)
2023
Win 1. Subscribing to your Substack, Michael.
Win 2. Reading most (sorry, not all) of your posts, Michael.
Win 3. Smiling and laughing out loud (because sometimes ((most of the time)) your posts are heartwarming and/or hilarious), Michael.
Have a super 2024 with lots more wins!
Thank you, Yasmin! This comment means a lot! I’m always so glad to see you here!
Congratulations on a winning year!
Mine? Hmm. Wrote some good pieces, ghostwrote two books, spent a lot of time with grandkids, stayed clean/sober for another year, celebrated 43 years of marriage, and I’ll have to give some thought to the rest.
These are great wins! I’m especially happy to hear about continued sobriety. That’s winning on a whole other level! Congrats! Curious: can you say the books you ghostwrote, or at least what they’re about? Please say pizza!
Sorry - not pizza (but more pizza pieces to come). The two completed books were autobiographies - people have stories, I just help. Currently working on my brother Brandon’s next book.
Here’s one I helped with: https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Wasted-Overcoming-Circumstances-Gratitude/dp/1947574612/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1P06090AI82EM&keywords=renee+bradford&qid=1703429040&sprefix=renee+bradford%2Caps%2C464&sr=8-1
I love this! How do they find you?
Found a couple of publishers through Upwork. My brother’s books are good ol’ nepotism.
Nepotism always wins😁
I got featured too! 🥰 That overshadows anything else as it only happened last week and my memory is not what it was. 😂
It’s been a quiet year professionally (mostly intentionally) so I do feel proud of writing here every week (except one, I was sick) and also of going to yoga every week since May. 😌 It’s done wonders for my mental and physical health. So I guess the win is making the time for that. Oh and I attended some courses that technically had nothing to do with work stuff and met cool new people and that definitely felt like a win too. 😊
And one more! My business got featured by Australia’s biggest newspaper this month too. 🎉
Thanks for suggesting this. 😊
Great wins, Jen! And glad to see that we share a yoga win! Also, what’s your business? Was being featured in Oz’s biggest newspaper helpful? I hope so!
That's a good question! It would have been more helpful perhaps if I'd remembered and made some updates to my site in time. I don't think I saw a sale come through so currently just good for my ego!
I run tours in London: Chocolate Ecstasy Tours.
My 2023 wins: Launching my Substack, keeping it going steadily and consistently through the year, finding that I actually have a lot of things to say to the world. Also, turning 50 and loving my new decade. And travelling to Australia, UK, Greece and Germany after several years of covid hermit-hood. Thanks for the prompt. Turns out it's been quite a full year 😊
I love all these wins, Vicki! I’m also really jealous of all that travel!
Congrats! These wins are wonderful!
I’d love to share my top three:
1. Starting my Substack
2. Discovering here writers and friends whose hearts and minds and words are brilliant
3. Scoring a winter house-sit for me and my van to stop for a bit and, thus, giving my self permission to give my writing the focus and attention it (I?) deserve.
Thank you, Michael, for the reminder to celebrate. :)
Good wins, Holly! Glad to hear you've got a house sit set-up for winter so you can focus on your writing!
Great going, Michael! No really, writing down the wins? What a great idea!
I know that I was featured on Substack reads once, but it was so long ago (March-April?) I can't even remember when it was. So THAT was a win, wasn't it?
I picked up a BIG name follower, and she actually READS my shit! Like, that's a wow! (I mean, we're talking ICON here...but I'm not saying who because that just feels crass to me.)
I was interviewed by WINSTONE MALONE for THE LIBRARY, because I was the 100th story on that site. (Big shout out to THE LIBRARY!)
I started reading my story THE DAWN PATROL on the VIDEO app here on SUBSTACK -- and now someone wants to do a video interview with me. (That's pretty scary, because while I can't write funny shit, sometimes I can't stop the inner comedian part of me. So I guess we'll see how that goes.)
I picked up 290 subscribers this year alone. (That's more than I ever thought I'd get, considering I started with zero.)
Oh yeah, and this was my first "official" year of retirement. (I had the year before that off as well, but that was a practice year and not a lot of fun...in fact...the worst year of my life. So we won't talk about that.)
So now, on to next year!
This is great, Ben! And congrats on the first official year of retirement! It sounds like it was a good one!
Wins for 2023...I hadn't really thought about this yet but now is as good a time as any.
1: Started a substack. And I've kept at it since I have a bad habit of starting a dropping hobbies that don't require me to put any money into it. Got followers that aren't just real life friends I badgered into signing up. Made friends on Notes with fellow Star Wars fans.
2: Went to 6 concerts this year, which is triple the amount I went to in 2020 - 2022. Finally caught a show at Red Rocks. Got to see Run The Jewels on back to back nights in Chicago with one of my oldest friends. It was a nice realization that I am at a point in my life/career that if I want to go out of town to see a show, I am generally able to. Going to try for Taylor Swift in 2024.
Love both of these wins! And I’m jealous you saw a concert at Red Rocks. I hear that’s a great venue. Good luck scoring Taylor Swift tickets!
Thanks! Red Rocks was incredible. Definitely see a show there if you have a chance.
I really want to! We have some friends who live nearby. We meant to go in 2020, but that didn’t happen. I’ll call it a 2024 goal!
Well, one BIG win is having you in my life. It's hard (impossible...) to remember not knowing you. Thanks for all the late night (for me) texts! And for all the support and fun and lifeness in general. Looking forward to more in 2024!! xThe Rat
I feel the same way, Jane! Also, helping you troubleshoot tech stuff makes me feel like a total winner because I’m usually the one asking for tech support🤖😃
Congratulations on a great year, Michael! Our coffee meetups are on my 2023 highlight reel.
My 2023 wins include publishing my 100th interactive fiction game, being Lead Narrative Designer on an IndieCade nominated game, and purchasing two lifelong obsessions: an arcade cabinet and a Who Framed Roger Rabbit animation cel.
All great wins! And thanks for reminding me of our coffee meet-ups! Those are huge wins for me!
Adding another win to your column: your wit, humanity, and advocacy for other creatives/voices. You are a real peach! And what’s more vulnerable than a peach? Cheers to an inspired 2024! 🥂
Thank you, Sheila! But I’m not letting you off that easy! Share your win, funny lady!
Urp! Busted! My biggest win was wrapping up my first photo book project, coming to a bookstore of ill-repute near YOU in 2024!!! Mazels all around! 💗📸💥
Kickass! That’s the win I was hoping you’d share!
Grazie!!! This entire thread is giving me LYFE!!! I love seeing all this great mojo zapping around the horn. Maybe make this a monthly win round-up? 💥
Sounds like a great year! Happy Holidays to you and your wife!
Thanks Mark! I wanna hear a win from you! I know you had some, so it’s time to celebrate!
Published a long essay about the importance of public libraries which was been well received in my home province so that counts!
That’s a wonderful win for you, public libraries, and your community! Triple-win score, Mark!
It's so important to write down the successes, milestones, or whatever you want to call them. They encourage us to keep going, to move forward. They can also be exciting, especially when we see them all in a list and that list amazes us with all the entries! Thanks for the article.
I met more fantastic humans this year than I know what to do with.
Someday I'll share with you the small (or huge) ways some of your writing challenged/changed/bettered my view of the world and the people in it. But that's a big ask for the day after Christmas. I have a serious food hangover.
I have lots of concrete, goal oriented "wins" I could list here, but I have my own year-end Substack post to write (and that pesky Situation Normal doppelganger Stack I've been meaning to launch). Plus, I'd rather celebrate the people I found this year who felt like wins.
I assume you've gathered from this comment that you're one of them. 🙂
Thank you, Meg! Getting to meet you too has been very special! I see a big year for your writing in 2024, and I can't wait to celebrate every win (you're gonna have a few) with you!