Sometimes, things don't work out.

I grabbed the juicy steak and threw it on the grill. The onions were caramelising in the oven, the broccoli was steaming on the plate - everything was ready for a fantastic meal.

As I sat down at the table and took the first bite, I realised it was not good - the meat was undercooked and the vegetables were tasteless.

I was annoyed. So much hard work went (literally) down the drain.

This bad culinary experience was a gentle reminder that sometimes, in the kitchen or in the workplace - things don’t work out.

And this is fine.

We should accept the circumstances (and stakes) as they are and realise failure sometimes surprises us despite our best efforts.

But this also made me think about how, for every botched task, there is one time that things magically turn out great despite your expectations. And those moments make you forget the bad.

⏰ ✍️ 4 Hacks To Keep Distracted Readers Engaged

*FREE KITTENS *

Did the above catch your attention? Good, because you were likely distracted while reading this. Henneke from Enchanting Marketing shared 4 fun ways to keep readers engaged in your writing through the power of:

1. Ditch conventional word choice, you jabbawookie

   • Inject surprise in your writing by adding unusual and unexpected words and phrases. They keep your writing spicy.

2. Make up words

   • Inventing words can help nail attention to your content. Words like “newphoria“ and “bazinga“ make readers think, which keeps them engaged.

3. Create an unexpected analogy

   • “He was a guy who talked with commas, like a heavy novel,“ writes Raynod Chandler, and shows us why vivid imagery and unexpected comparisons engage the attention.

4. There is a monster behind you

   • Okay, there isn’t, but the final advice is to set up a pattern, then break it, which is an easy way to throw a curveball and stop your readers in their tracks, as they process what you wrote.

   The 4 steps are examined in detail here.

📚 Shelf Shocks 💥

1. Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution: A Handbook for Entrepreneurs by Uri Levine

Uri Levine has built not one, but two unicorn companies (worth more than $1B), and in this book, he shares his entrepreneurship knowledge. He drills down into practical processes like hiring and firing, understanding product-market fit, and securing an exit, as well as broader topics like seeking disruption and getting to a billion users.

With a strong recommendation from Steve Wozniak, the book will guide you through the perilous journey of building a startup and reveal just how challenging and demanding the entrepreneurial path is.

🎧 Summary

2. The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life by Steven Bartlett

Steven hosts one of the most popular podcasts - The Diary of a CEO - where he interviews successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. He is also an entrepreneur himself, leding a marketing agency, a software company, an investment fund, and more. In this book, he shares 33 laws to help you succeed in business - and life.

For someone so experienced, he writes with creativity and simplicity that make you feel like you’re receiving advice from a friend. The book will show you how to understand and present yourself, assemble effective teams, be disciplined, and much more.

🎧 Summary

3. Million Dollar Weekend: The Surprisingly Simple Way to Launch a 7-Figure Business in 48 Hours by Noah Kagan and Tahl Raz

Noah Kagan has launched a seven-figure business in a single weekend — seven times. SEVEN! And now, you can learn more about how he achieved it.

He argues that we all should take a chance on ourselves and try to earn money by ourselves. He gives encouragement, exercises, and templates to provide actionable steps for your goal. If you’re feeling entrepreneurial, this is the book for you.

🎧 Summary

Fun Links ⏰ ❗️

1. Celsius flavour descriptions

Celsius is an energy drink with 24 flavours. On their website, each one has a vivid description which showcases great copywriting and descriptive language for what is essentially the same product - with a slightly different taste.

Read more about the “sensational fusion“ of flavours and that transport you to a lush, refreshing, desert oasis: explore all flavours here.

You've reached the end of my newsletter. Hooray! If you’d like to see more of my work, you can GET MY BOOK Write Better: A Simple Guide to Better Business Writing or connect with me on LinkedIn for more fun and educational content.

If you have any comments or would like to share what you enjoyed the most, feel free to get in touch! See you in two weeks!