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June 9th, 2025
I've started a daily writing practice (literally yesterday), and the first thing I noticed when I opened up my journal is that I only write when something's going really badly. The last entries before yesterday's were about what I felt immediately after losing my job, and struggling with the role of parent last year.
Do you also have a behavior or habit that you only return to when things aren't quite going the way you want them to?
Do you only look at your budget when you've racked up some serious debt?
Do you only build new skills when you're about to look for a new job?
Do you only reach out to friends and family when your phone dries up?
I'm going to do my best ot stick to this new writing habit, whether I'm feeling good or shitty. And I'd love to challenge you to do the same, with a positive habit you typically only fall back on in challenging times.
Welcome to First Things First. I'm so glad you're here.
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56% of high school grads said that their school actually encouraged them to explore content creation as an alternate career path. I have many thoughts on this, which I'll cover in future videos, but for now, it's interesting to see the legitimization of content creation as a career path.
Boomers won't retire, and that's a big reason organizations can't shift up younger talent. A recent episode of Glassdoor's The Lonely Office pod goes into detail on why they're staying, and what this means for you.
My friends at Wonsulting recently launched a resume generator that's backed by the template that thousands have used to secure their next job. Check it out!
The unemployment rate among recent college grads is now higher than the national unemployment rate, driven mostly by AI and general economic uncertainty.
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If you're an introvert who struggles with networking, Andrew Yeung (an introvert who built a 7-figure in-person events company) shares some excellent tactics in a recent blog post. One of my favorite tips here is to use a Barbell strategy of low and high-intensity touchpoints!
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Last year, the top use case for AI was idea generation, according to HBR. This year, it's finding purpose and meaning.
I've been really into American Manhunt on Netflix recently. I watched their series on Osama bin Laden last week, and this past weekend I finished up their earlier series on OJ Simpson.
Currently 30 minutes into this 5-hour-long documentary on Rolex, and I'm hooked. If you care about luxury, branding, or watches at all, strap in.
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Last week, I reflected on each of the places I've called home in New York. As someone whose first NYC apartment wasn't an apartment at all, it was fun and nostalgic to think back to who I was in each of these places as well.
"As you start to walk on the way, the way appears" - Rumi. I used to love planning. And while I still have goals, I'm learning that thinking 10+ years ahead is largely a waste of time. More often than not, just "walking the path" and showing up consistently to the things that give me purpose and community has been a worthwhile strategy. And as a "first", your path will look so different from most anyway.
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I wouldn't have expected 2 comedians to provide some of the most powerful reflections I've heard on friendship and career-building, but this recent podcast episode between Hasan Minhaj and Roy Woods Jr. was excellent. A few timestamps: 07:30 Ramen Noodle Friends vs. Sushi Friends, and 12:55 Why Roy Never Says "No"
I've never thought of parenting as a "nervous system bootcamp", but I was reading these reflections and #7 stood out to me especially. Managing my own emotions and reactions as a parent has not always been easy, but it's another reminder of what my friend Timm Chiusano said to me last year: "calm is a superpower".
If you're a last-minute Father's Day shopper, Uncrate put together a gift guide that's actually very good for something unique and high quality (not sponsored, just really love the vibe they've curated)
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For The Firsts
I'd love to see you at my professional meetup club
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Career Resources
Here are a few career guides I've developed over the years
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It really means the world to me that you show up to explore these topics with me each week, so thank you for reading. If something above resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone else who might need it too.
If you have any feedback, you can always reply or email me at me@colinrocker.com
And remember that you’re not behind. You’re just building something different.
Chat soon,
Colin
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