Flash apology sales, bland influencers, the weaponisation of gratitude and the goopification of self-care 🗞️
+ celebrating 30 years of ethical jewellery-making with Pippa Small
If you’re new here, welcome to The Digest, a bimonthly selection of articles, podcasts, books or other that I have found compelling, clever or even entertaining.
Dear oh dear. Has Thanksgiving been and gone already?
Did I mistakenly sleep for a week?
I’m asking because according to various outlets that started to hit my inbox with ‘store-wide Black Friday sale’ offers, Black Friday was… yesterday?
Anyway, I had the pleasure of hopping over to London this week to celebrate my wonderful client Pippa Small, OBE, who marked her 30 years in business with a beautiful event in London. The setting was spectacular, so was the jewellery, and so was the company.
The designer chose the historic Leighton House, today an art museum, previously the home-studio of the leading Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton. The evening featured a panel discussion hosted by Stephanie Phair, OBE herself, and Farfetch Group President, with guests and long-time brand partners Shoshanna Stewart, president of Turquoise Mountain, and Ana Maria Sierra, of Moda Elan.
For good measure, watch Shoshanna Stewart’s TEDxTalk at the London Business School: you’ll become a fan just like I have.
I felt awe at hearing these women talk about the work they do, the lives they touch, and the plans they have for the future. Awe has been in short supply these past few weeks.
An enthusiast at heart, I let myself revel in that joyous energy for a few hours, comforted by the knowledge that my coaching and consulting skills are being put to good use when my work supports such women. Dare I say that together we are making the world just a bit better and brighter.
On that note, The Digest will be short and to the point. I’ve got big plans for the weekend (read: work) and will leave you to enjoy and/or ponder on what I’ve collected for you this week.
As always, thank you for reading me. Don’t be a stranger, drop me a line if any of the below resonates with you.
Much love,
Quote
“Buy less. Choose well. Make it last” - Vivienne Westwood.
Looking Around
Good news: I’ll be putting one of these in The Digest in every edition, because we need good news right now. This week, yeay for the Parkinson patient able to walk after a device implant by CHUV doctors in Lausanne.
Sort of hilarious. If you think another pandemic is around the corner, maybe this fitness-bed is for you.
Apparently, November is the right time for New Year’s resolutions. According to Tiktokers of course.
We all need a good laugh. This bland influencer portrayal really worked for me.
Looking Out
Online hate as a marketing tool and flash apology sales via Vogue Business.
Hot take by Amy Odell on US Vogue’s controversial piece about Lauren Sanchez, the future Ms Bezos.
Bad news (for travellers) good news (for the environment): the future of travel could mean carbon passports. Call me crazy but I love it.
Gen Z isn’t impressed with their boozy parents. They are apparently the sober generation.
Still Gen Z, apparently shaking up workplace communication. Cheers to that.
Young ones, if you enjoy remote work, apparently you’re unlikely to be a CEO in the future.
Looking In
A bloody great podcast on the ‘goopification of self-care’.
Heading into the holidays, here’s another great podcast, one I regularly listen to called Being Well, this time by father and son psychologists Rick and Forrest Hanson. Titled ‘A holiday survival guide’ the conversation steers clear from cliches to a moving and powerful exchange to help us all cope through stressful situations. Look out for Forrest’s line on ‘the weaponisation of gratitude.’ A must listen.
