I’m starting this Substack on the advice of a friend.
Initially, I plan to port over (mirror) my weekly posts on LinkedIn, where I investigate the poverty of authenticity in modern life.
We traverse through so many different roles in life. In my case: father, husband, son, worker, peer, manager, mentor, friend, volunteer, servant, writer, hobbyist, consumer, citizen and so on.
I’m quite good at compartmentalizing these responsibilities. But, by seeking greater authenticity, can I amplify what I bring to each sphere?
Here’s a typical line of inquiry:
I love my children.
I wish to be a caring father.
But do I (should I) also aspire to be a caring co-worker?
Why or why not?
In what way does being caring in one life sphere impact how I show up in the other?
Is it really possible to bifurcate, such that I can be less caring in one sphere, and still my best caring self in the other?
What should I do about people who are nasty or political at work?
What do I teach my children by the behavior I model?
That sort of thing. I sometimes refer to this concept - of how the way we choose to behave in one sphere as influencing, and being influenced by, how we behave in another sphere - as “porosity”.
To what extent is the world improved by thoughtful, selective de-compartmentalization?
What’s the right setting on the porosity dial?
How do we even know what the available settings are?
How do we make sure the best things pass through, while filtering out the contaminants?
Along the way, I talk about stuff like parenting tribulations, navigating the career journey, what amounts to servant leadership, how personal integrity is key to civil society, and so on.
If you’re interested to read more, you might want to consider subscribing.
Answers to questions you may have:
If I already follow you on LinkedIn, why join your Substack?
1. I will sometimes offer longer form versions of what I post on LinkedIn, which are condensed to fit a 3000-character limit.
2. I have organized my postings for audiences interested in authenticity at work, at home, and through inner life; these groupings make them easier for readers to explore.
3. I’m curious if what I write has value to a wider audience - and if you have friends on Substack you can help me reach them by reposting.
[4.] I offer exclusive content on Substack, particularly in-depth essays that are not suitable for the “post” format on LinkedIn, such as my series on AI (being rolled out in September in installments, link active 9.30.24).
Is this free?
Yes.
I have no plans to offer a subscription model. I have a day job that pays me well, and I write as a form of self-therapy. My main goal in sharing is to prompt reflection and conversation on these topics.
What’s in it for me if I subscribe?
Many people don’t realize how much good they can do in their lives simply by how they choose to live. I’d like to think that includes myself. I hope that by sharing my journey with you, we can figure that out together.
What say you?
J
Do you wish to engage in dialogue over these points? They are most on target at a stage in our lives. I’m not suggesting that I have answers, but rather the same sort of questions. And I have an interest in talking with others who may be further along than I am.