Iterate Weekly - Issue 84
This week we're using Google to save money this holiday season, looking at the non-linear workday, pandemic-era work lunches, bands write graphic novels, and the scandalous world of olive oil!
Welcome to issue 84 of Iterate Weekly!
Just a reminder that you can always reply to this email or leave a comment on the web version. I read all of them, and I appreciate the feedback, questions, and insights from all of you.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Google wants to be your shopping partner this holiday season
I think it’s safe to say that many of us will be doing some online shopping over the next few months. So why not let Google help you find some better deals?
Google has announced that they will be adding some new features to their shopping service in an effort to help folks save money.
The benefit here isn’t entirely saving you money, but also saving you some time by letting you see these discounted prices right within search rather than clicking though to several pages to find the “real” price.
You’ll be able to see comparisons between retailers right within your search results and see who may offer special coupons or limited time offers to achieve the low prices. They’ll even give you an easy “copy coupon code” button if you need to past the code into another window.
Some of these features have been available on Google’s “Shopping” site but it’s clear that they’ll be in front of far more eyeballs if they’re baked into the search screen. Google says 43% of Americans this holiday shopping season are planning to look for deals and sales more than last year, which makes sense with the rate of inflation and threat of a possible recession looming.
My guess is that Google won’t be the only company to move forward with frugal (Froogle?) shopping features in the coming months. I’m all for saving money and using technology to make it easier and faster to find those deals.
As you’re shopping this holiday season, be sure to pay attention to the new discounted prices you may find on that search page.
🎓 Education/Productivity
The Non-Linear Workday
I know that many of you reading this are remote workers. But even if you still conduct business in-person, there is a good chance that your schedule has changed over the past few years.
Pandemic or no pandemic, it’s clear that many workers are in favor of the “Non-Linear” schedule.
Many employees may still be working approximately 8 hours per day, but fewer of them are compressing those hours between 9-5. A McKinsey study found that 40% of workers consider a flexible work schedule a top motivator for staying in a position.
I can only speak from my own experience but I would certainly consider myself in that 40%. A non-linear schedule allows me to find time in my day to take care of my daughter, walk my dog, and maybe most importantly to you, write this newsletter!
Work and compensation should be tied to expectations and outcomes rather than hours on-duty or total time spent on a project. This may have sounded radical just a few years ago, but it seems to be the growing trend today. Employees work best during the blocks when they are energized and motivated, and that won’t be between 9-5 for everyone.
I find my best hours for writing are between 10am - Noon. I’m able to get through emails and light tasks between 2-4pm. Meetings in the morning usually work well for me as long as I’m still able to take my daughter to school and make sure my dog gets his morning exercise.
It’s important for everyone to find the schedule that works best for them in whichever stage of life they find themselves in. What works today may not work next year or next month. I just know that any future employment opportunity for me will need to have that flexibility for me to do my best work.
Anyone else out there have a non-linear schedule that works for them?
♻️ Health & Environment
The Pandemic Ruined Lunch
Let’s keep that theme of pandemic-era work arrangements. Let’s talk about lunch!
When I got my first “real” job at an advertising agency way back in the day, I remember the importance placed on lunch. From the moment people got to the office in the morning, there was talk about lunch. Some days there would be lunches where clients were taking us out. Other times there would be lunch delivered in to the office. But on most days, there was just an unwritten rule that employees would gather together and go out to restaurants in the neighborhood in groups of 3-8 people.
As a naive recent graduate, this seemed appropriate. How else was I going to get to know my colleagues if I didn’t make an effort to go out to lunch everyday? After a few months on the job, I realized just how much of my meager salary was being spent on lunch each day. They were mostly forgettable lunches too. I would have been just as happy to eat a sandwich by myself and pocket all that extra money.
Fast forward to today’s pandemic-era work climate. Restaurants that relied on business from the company lunches I described above are really struggling.
A survey from Freshly found that 43% of Americans have picked up the practice of meal-prepping lunch during the pandemic. Plenty of people working from home are also just eating whatever they can find in the fridge. The idea of a workday lunch has certainly shifted.
For me personally, I found the forced socialization and expense of lunches out to be a drain on both my energy and my wallet. These days I’m often implementing some sort of intermittent fasting where I may just eat a quick lunch in the mid afternoon or something small in the morning and nothing again until dinner.
I certainly feel for the lunch restaurants (particularly in downtown areas reliant on office workers). There are times when my wife and I will order some lunch delivery to our house when it makes sense during the workday. But with our different schedules, it can be hard to find common time to eat together.
While we may never go back to the pre-pandemic work lunches of old, it’s nice to have occasional opportunities to socialize and mix up our lunch routines.
What types of lunch rituals do you have these days?
🛍 Grab Bag
Graphic Novels About Your Favorite Band
Have you ever wanted to read a graphic novel or comic book inspired by the story of your favorite band?
No, I don’t think I have either.
But Vault Comics is teaming up with some big name bands to create a series of music graphic novels based on the stories of bands like Metallica, Def Leppard, and The Beach Boys.
The new line will be called Headshell and Vault is hoping it makes some new fans of the medium who may not have otherwise picked up a graphic novel.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure some of these bands actually have amazing stories to tell. I can just imagine how beautifully illustrated some of the band fights or party scenes would turn out. It’s an interesting move for Vault and I think a lot will be riding on how the first set of novels turn out. If things go well, I could see a long list of other bands getting in line to bring their story to the pages.
Would you be into reading these? Any particular bands whose stories may lend themselves to the graphic novel medium?
💬 Quote of the Week
"The ballot is stronger than the bullet."
-Abraham Lincoln
📕Content Recommendation
Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil
This week I’m recommending the fascinating book “Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil”. This one was on my to-read list for a while and I just blew through the audio book on some recent dog walks.
Did you think that the olive oil industry was just a bunch of happy farmers working in beautiful olive orchards? Do you think that you can trust everything that is written on a bottle of olive oil? Do you see an Italian flag and authentic-sounding Italian last name on your bottle and just assume that oil came from Italy?
Oh boy, there is a lot for all of us to learn about this industry. It certainly isn’t all that it seems. Fraud and “creative marketing” are very prevalent when it comes to olive oil. Terms like “extra virgin” “cold pressed” or “first press” are used with reckless abandon and not a lot of scrutiny.
I learned so much about the health benefits of olive oil as well as the long, rich history it has around the world as a culinary marvel, currency, medicine, and much much more. And I will be even more scrupulous when selecting my next bottle of oil and I suggest you do the same.
And if you’re looking for a specific oil recommendation, I’ll give a shout out to McEvoy Ranch where I am a member and have seen their process with my own eyes. It’s great stuff.
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Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
P.S. - Are you looking for a coach? I’m looking to work with some potential new clients and would love to help you out. Are you struggling with screen addiction? Need some help building positive habits or ditching negative ones? Iterating on a new business idea and need some guidance? If you’d like a free 30-minute consultation chat, feel free to book some time with me here!