Hello, hello.
I'm writing to you fresh off a Thanksgiving week that reminded me how chosen friends become family. There's something about gathering around a table with the people you choose to have around you that is special. The laughs were loud, the conversations went deep, and for a moment, my phone stayed in my bag where it belonged.
I needed that.
It's wild to think we're officially in the last month of the year. December always comes with this unspoken pressure to sprint to the finish line, to cram in every goal we didn't hit, to end the year with some perfectly wrapped bow on twelve months of chaos. What if instead we gave ourselves permission to be gentle? To appreciate the fact that we made it here. That we're still showing up, still figuring it out, still surrounded by people who actually care.
This month, I'm choosing rest over rush. Reflection over resolution panic. Wherever you're at in this end-of-year mental checkpoint, just know that you're not alone. Take the wins. Hug the people. Be soft with yourself.
Anyhow, here's what's been on my mind and in the group chat this week:
What I’ve been thinking about lately
"Lock in" culture is missing the point - The last quarter of the year hits and suddenly everyone's in productivity panic mode like they've been wasting time all year. What if instead of locking in, we just focused on what actually matters?
The friendship tax: when new acquaintances get expensive - Making friends as an adult is hard. Making friends while navigating the weird financial choreography of group dinners with strangers? Even harder.
The laundry, the networking, and everything in between - We've been told to pick a lane, but what if we just showed up as whoever we feel like being that day? Sovereignty looks like folding laundry on Saturday and celebrating brilliant women on Sunday.
Business & Marketing News
SEO Is Dead, Long Live GEO Half of US consumers are now using AI-powered search to discover brands, and Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity are sharing tips on how to stay visible.
Prada Bought Versace Prada just closed its biggest deal ever, scooping up Versace for €1.25 billion. No other acquisitions planned for the next three years.
Nvidia Bets $2 Billion on Synopsys Nvidia purchased $2 billion of Synopsys stock to revolutionize design and engineering. Workloads that used to run for weeks will now take hours.
Culture & Lifestyle
Campbell's Thanksgiving Nightmare Leaked audio of a Campbell's VP mocking workers and calling customers "poor people" dropped right before Thanksgiving. The exec was removed, but the damage was done.
Gen Z Made Status Symbols Affordable (and Impossible to Get) From Labubus to Starbucks Bearista cups, the new flex isn't spending money, it's beating the crowd to get something rare.
Inside Le Bal des Débutantes Princesses, fashion royalty, and Hollywood offspring gathered in Paris for the Met Gala of haute couture-wearing teenagers. Carolina Herrera's granddaughter paid homage to her grandmother's first runway collection.
Tech & Leadership
Amazon and Google Team Up The two cloud giants launched a multicloud service that lets customers establish private, high-speed links between platforms in minutes instead of weeks.
Motorola's $60 Billion Glow-Up Motorola ditched the cellphone wars, returned to its public safety roots, and delivered shareholders a 1,000% return. Sometimes the pivot nobody expects is the one that saves you.
7 AI Chatbots Are Better Than ChatGPT According to a new study, Gemini, DeepSeek, Mistral, and Grok all outperformed ChatGPT when users ranked them for clarity, adaptiveness, and trust.
This is one of those incredible conversations that deserve your attention!
Dr. Victoria Grinman is a psychotherapist, speaker, and founder of an integrative therapy practice in New York. She helps people heal, lead with purpose, and trust themselves deeply. This episode is for anyone who's ever felt stuck between what makes sense on paper and what their gut is screaming at them to do.
Key takeaways:
How to recognize when you've outgrown your current role and what to actually do about it without spiraling
The real meaning of "faith beyond logic" and why trusting your intuition isn't as woo-woo as it sounds
Three concrete strategies for gaining clarity when you're stuck in analysis paralysis
Listen to the full episode: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
ICYMI: Influencer Marketing Is Dead The Way We Know It
The extravagant influencer trip is dead. Gen Z doesn't trust luxury PR anymore, and 88% don't believe your sustainability claims. Brands are still sending 30 influencers to the Maldives with champagne towers and coordinated outfit changes, and nobody remembers who paid for it three weeks later. Meanwhile, the smart brands have stopped gifting products and started creating moments worth sharing. Community over spectacle wins every time.
Have ideas for future newsletters?
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P.S. Did you love this edit? Take 5 seconds to forward this to a friend who could use some no-bull advice and insights to get them through those “life is life-ing” days.