What you missed in 2022
This year was disorienting for many This for That readers. Consumer confidence and tech company valuations were down. Interest rates and layoffs were up.
As Packy McCormick from Not Boring wrote earlier this week:
The past few years have been chaotic and weird, and it came to a boiling point in 2022. The things that made sense a couple of years ago, the sure things, don’t make as much sense, are no longer sure. You might be experiencing the weird as a general vibe or very specifically in your life and career.
Why then am I optimistic?
If Covid-19 taught me anything it was this: never underestimate our capacity to overcome a difficult obstacle. I am optimistic because of the progress that I see coming from the organizations where This for That readers work. The partnerships you are forging are helping to democratize access to information, augment human intelligence and tackle climate change. You are part of why tomorrow will be better.
I am optimistic but I am no longer naive. I appreciate now more than ever that technology is a double-edged sword. It can lift millions out of poverty and also accelerate economic inequality. Social media connects me to long-lost friends from childhood … and also connects terrorists and white supremacists. My mobile phone puts the entirety of human knowledge in my hand ... and also distracts me from the people I love right infront of me.
We have learned to manage these trade-offs with other technologies - fire, electricity and automobiles. I am optimistic we can do the same with biotech, artificial intelligence, digital currencies, etc. But it will take focus, compromises and, yes … partnerships.
This year @ This for That.
I wish I could say that 2022 was a fabulous year for This for That. But that’s not my call to make. That’s for you to decide.
Here is what I know: I tried some new things here. I took some risks. And I learned a ton. In response, MANY more of you subscribed and engaged with the ideas and guests featured here.
I am so grateful that you are here.
But chances are that you missed some of the best from This for That in 2022. The highlights below are for YOU. Go take a look at what you missed.
But first, three asks of you:
Please forward this 2022 recap to a friend if you’re enjoying This for That.
Please reply to this email with one topic or question you want answered in 2023.
Please take a moment to fill-out the reader survey coming to you soon. It will be short … and your feedback will help make This for That even better in 2023.
Three top posts
These three posts had the highest engagement:
The most popular post from the archives
This post from 2021 has continued to drive high engagement and new subscribers so I’m re-sharing it here for newer subscribers who may have missed it ...
Four Formats
This year’s posts largely fell into four formats:
1. Dear Remora
A professional advice column named after the Remora fish, known for their symbiotic partnership with sharks. If you can partner with a shark, you can partner with anyone. Send me your questions for Remora to answer.
2. Interviews & guest posts
What in the world is Fractional BD? - outlined a career path that is unfamiliar to many thanks to guest author Jen Verriere.
Looking back on a career in partnerships was a career retrospective interview filled with gems of wisdom from Cathy Gordon.
The Future of Work featured Brian Elliott of Future Forum who offered insights on how work is changing and what it means for TfT readers.
What can an investigate reporter teach you about partnerships? was an interview that drew lessons from reporting that closely apply to BD/partnerships.
6 answers from an AI about whether robots are coming for your job in partnerships was published before the ChatGPT craze we are now living in.
3. Partnership Principles and Playbooks
Stories and principles from those on the frontlines of deal-making; I want to do more of these next year. Let me know if you have a partnership principle / story to share.
Just because you want to become partners doesn’t make it a partnership with Alex Richards
10 Partnership Commandments from Lauren Berson-Sugarman.
Steal These 5 Slides on Partnership Strategy from Okta’s Maureen Little
4. Grinding Wheel
A series of recommendations to make you sharper at work or to lift your spirits. I limit the frequency of these to preserve the quality of what I recommend to you.
Grinding Wheel - vol 5 - six recommendations including an Oscar pick.
Grinding Wheel - vol 6.- four recommendations including summer reading.
Grinding Wheel - vol 7 - four holiday gifts under $100.
What you can expect next year
Next year I will continue to try new things. And some of them will fail. That is the only way to find the new things that work better. I will stay focused on uncovering insights you (and I) can use to build better partnerships.
