Writing is a positive self-signal + free workshop on Monday [WRAP 147]

Hey Reader, a quick heads up that on Monday, September 16th (that's in two days) I’m hosting a live workshop with my friend John Meese.

He’s going to show you his wisdom-to-wealth method for building an online education business. And you don’t need an audience to get started.

​Follow this link to learn more about the free workshop, or you can sign up with a click.

I also heard a lot of great feedback about the Pen and Paper Productivity video preview last week. In case you missed it, watch here and reply with any feedback!

This week I really enjoyed using the Ugmonk Analog cards to keep a daily to-do list. I spent Thursday and Friday with my family, so I didn’t get around to a full BuJo spread. Click here to watch my Analog review.

If you like what you see, snag a trial pack of cards (just pay $5 shipping) and let me know what you think!

💡 One Big Idea: Writing is a positive self-signal

Not gonna lie, Reader — the last few months have been a grind. New baby, busy business, lotsa young kids kinda grind.

I’ve been tempted many a week to skip the newsletter. I’ve delayed new YouTube videos because other tasks and commitments piled up. Maybe you can relate? The day was exhausting, you didn’t protect the time to write (or fill in your own habit), and “who cares no one is going to see it anyway” kicks in.

So you miss a day. In the grand game of life it’s ok to miss a day - but not if you lose sight of the positive self-signal that “this (writing) matters to me”. I remember Ali Abdaal wrote about this mindset shift when he was building the habit of working out…

It’s not that you’ll never miss a workout, or a newsletter, or a scheduled YouTube video. The point is that you keep working and believing if only because it matters to you and the person you want to become.

Writing and publishing is not just about sharing ideas people find helpful. Writing, podcasting, and creating videos is sending a signal to yourself that you have ideas that matter and are worth sharing.

👀 Video to Watch: Tiny Experiments

My friend Anne-Laure, who I've shared on the newsletter before, has her first book, Tiny Experiments, available for pre-order! Anne-Laure has a Ph.D. in Psychology & Neuroscience and is one of the smartest people I know for science-backed strategies for personal growth and development.

​Watch this video where she explains her thesis, strategies in the book, and how you can do things like reframe anxiety as an opportunity for growth.

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📰 Article to Read: The Palace Coup at Disney​

Note: as of this writing, I found a free version of this article in the New York Times. But if it asks you to pay, well I guess the share expired. But in my opinion it's worth paying for a week of NYT then cancelling.

I find power struggles fascinating, though it’s a game I don’t play much myself. Don’t really have the stomach for it and prefer a calmer life. BUT… I still find the topic and pursuit of power fascinating. And one of the most public power struggles of the past 5 years got a front-page treatment on the New York Times this week.

This report is a beast. It’s a solid 30 minute read. But the struggle between Bob Iger and Bob Chapek over control of Disney... and the eventual fall of Chapek and re-installation of Iger.

You can certainly say that Chapek struggled as CEO and wasn't the right person to lead, but it's clear that Iger struggled to let go of the power and influence that come with being the CEO of Disney.

What I’ve been thinking about the most is that last part — when you have to step away from every label that made you who you are… what’s left?

Personal and professional transitions are always hard, because they aren’t just a part of who we are — in many cases (like Iger’s) it becomes entirely who were are. Iger even had a note in his car that read “Is there life after Disney?”.

After pushing Chapek out after 2 years and coming back as CEO, it seems Iger hasn’t figured that out just yet.

​Read The Palace Coup at Disney on the New York Times.

Sponsor Shoutout: Mighty Networks​

2025 has been a year of community building for me, and the best community platform I've found is Mighty Networks. I run the Father Fire community on Mighty, and also am a part of the Daily Stoic and Bullet Journal communities, all build on Mighty!

It has all the features you would expect from a community platform, like spaces for posts, chats, and the ability to go live. But my favorite little feature are the AI-driven polls and questions.

If you're a person building community with others over a common vision or goal (like living a great life) — then check out Mighty Networks and see what they can do to support your mission.

Check out everything that makes Mighty great by signing up for a free trial here. You can also listen to my friend Gina's podcast People Magic — it's like a step by step guide for building a successful community.

Have a great weekend,

Matt Ragland

p.s. if you have a (literal) minute to share feedback, click here.