What I've learnt from sending out 100 newsletters in 2 years

The CMO Journal is 100 not out

Exactly two years ago today, on March 27th, 2020, I sent out the first edition of this newsletter. I started it because, as I’ve written before:

First, an essay of mine took off and became widely influential in the Indian startup scene. Second, the pandemic struck, giving me a bit more time.

I used it to write.

And I didn’t stop.

Last week’s edition, How to (not) name your startup, was my 100th. I knew it was a special one, but I didn’t want to take attention away from the topic, so I didn’t talk about the milestone. I will now.

Today, more than 2000 of you read this newsletter every week. Producing it has helped me think about, learn about, and do things I would not have otherwise. I have found friends and kindred spirits, and some of you have encouraged and celebrated me in so many ways. I’m grateful.

I remember listening to former Indian cricket great Sunil Gavaskar on commentary one day, when he said that 100 of anything was an achievement.

I’ll take that.

What next for The CMO Journal?

It will go on. I will continue writing. I’ve realised that it is a necessary resource, and it certainly keeps me sharp. It has earned its place on reading lists and inside inboxes, and I intend to keep it that way. If anything, I want to make it better. I’ve believed for a long time in the idea of consistency in building a brand. I think I’ve demonstrated that with this newsletter, and I want to keep doing it.

The CMO Journal is free to read, to save, to share. Because of my role at Accel, and the complications it entails with respect to conflict of interest, I’ve refrained from any consulting engagements. If anyone wants to talk to me about something I’ve written here, I do, I help, and that’s it. I haven’t had it sponsored yet, though I’ve been asked several times. The job board is also a completely free resource.

The CMO Journal is a one man show, unlike other publications of this scale and regularity. It’s just me, and it needs me to be motivated all the time and to keep showing up. And for two years, I have.

Which is why this is a marker. In all the movement forward, we sometimes forget how far we have come. So thank you, to everyone who has been part of this, in any way, small or big. Special thanks to Substack too. I will be very happy to pay them for using this service, because it simplifies so much for me.

Two things.

1. I’m opening up comments on this edition. Please feel free to tell me anything you want to: appreciation, criticisms, critique, ideas. I would love to hear from you.

2. I’m planning a one hour Zoom session on the process of planning and producing this newsletter. This will be an informal, presentation-free, no-nonsense chat, with some Q and A after. This will also give a chance to meet, even online, some of my readers. If you are interested in attending this session, please inbox me on LinkedIn. Please don’t email/Twitter DM/WhatsApp me. I will be sending you mails individually, and I don’t want want to look in multiple places. LinkedIn would be the easiest. This will happen most probably on Thursday this week, the 31st of March, from 5 to 6 pm. If you need to block your calendars, please do so.

Also, if you are interested in my writing away from marketing, I’ve just launched a new personal blog where I’m trying to bring together everything I’ve ever written in the 10 or so years since I started putting finger to keyboard. Much like Substack, you can subscribe with your email. You can start by reading this, my first post there.

So thank you again, dear readers. As I’ve said before, it’s because you read that I write at all. I look forward to reading your comments and perhaps meeting you.