I’ve been feeling uninspired lately as I surf the inter-webs. Don’t worry, this message isn’t all doom and gloom. I have an idea with a dash of hope!

I even deleted Instagram and LinkedIn from my phone for the past few weeks as a way to unplug from what felt like a parasitic relationship where my brain was being sucked right out of my eyeballs.

As I look for the weird and wild… the things that stretch my thinking and lead me down curious rabbit holes… all I find are dead ends…

A screen full of ads. Repeat pins on Pinterest. The same 2 Instagram accounts coming up in my feed. Business advice laced with the subtle “you’re doing it wrong” message.

I found myself watching YouTube videos about internet fatigue and how the internet is flattening culture. It felt nice to hear others articulate what I’ve been feeling for so long.

The most interesting things I come across are usually sent to me directly by friends like Bonnie, Thad, and Angela, to name a few.

The internet is changing. But I don’t want to just sit here complaining about it (ok, maybe a little ;) Like I mentioned last week, I want to imagine a better future and then put my creative energy into making it a reality.

Ok, so what is that better future?

Well, I didn’t have to think too long before an opportunity presented itself.

Ellen, a brand designer and co-founder of a custom board and card game (fun, right!?) emailed asking if my new strategy course will have a community included. As I was writing the email to tell her that this one doesn’t have a community, an idea came to mind that I had been chatting with friends about for YEARS…

Course clubs (like a book club, but for courses) where a small-ish group of people get together, say, once a week for 4-5 weeks to reflect on and talk about a course they’re all going through.

When I was learning brand strategy years ago, I had a group of friends I did this with. We met weekly on a video call, shared resources, practiced and reflected on what we were learning, and encouraged one another.

That experience was absolute GOLD. Great communities can help us filter the information that is constantly coming at us. Not just that, they can be super fun and spark ideas that wouldn’t have been sparked otherwise.

So I asked Ellen if she’d be up for testing out an idea to lead a course club through the strategy course. And she agreed!

If there’s one thing I love, it’s bringing the creative community together.

Does this type of idea spark your curiosity? Are your craving a creative community with shared interests and diverse points of view? Do you want to collaborate on, or join a course club?

Well my friend, I’ve got some ideas…

1. If you’ve been dying to learn something but would rather learn it with a group, hit reply and let me know what that is. Maybe we can figure something out.
2. Have another idea? Shoot me an email! I’m craving creative human connection and ideas beyond what have been fed to me by the internet overlords.
3. And if you’re interested in joining Ellen’s course club, it’ll be free for those who are on this list and purchase the pre-sale of the Super Duper Strategy Course. We’re limiting this group to 10 people. Fill out this form and we’ll get back to you.

Looking forward to hearing from you! Please note it may take me some time to get back to your email.

Warmly,

Melinda

---

What I’ve been up to:

• Connecting nonprofits with Crowdfunder for their US launch
• Planning a Strategy + Design 101 Workshop for founders with Little Fury​
• Reviewing the edits of my strategy course​
• Learned how to crochet a jasmine stitch​

---

What I didn’t post this week:

Proof that I’m a dog creeper who sneaks photos at the coffeeshop.