A few days ago I shared about a new tool called RecordFlow that automatically saves zoom recordings to Google Drive.
It’s not the sexiest topic to write about, but it solved a little irritation that created a surprising amount of friction for me. I also found myself reflecting on how often we tolerate unnecessary friction because “that’s just how it works.”
So I wrote about it.
Then something nudged me to share the blog post with the founder. I’m not sure why. Maybe because he’d been responsive to my feedback. Maybe because I just love loving on people when they create something cool.
Lickety split, this response arrived in my inbox:
“This genuinely made my day – and then I read the piece, and it made my whole week.
I went in expecting a tool mention and instead found something I keep turning over: that we quietly tolerate friction we’ve decided is “just the way it works,” when one small shift can dissolve it.
That’s the exact itch that made me build RecordFlow in the first place, so seeing you spin it into something bigger about life was a real gift.
(Also – “obedient little digital minions” and ‘a royal pain in the badonkadonk’ are now my favorite descriptions of the problem we solve.)”
Heh. I love that he quoted me back to myself.
It reminds me of something I forget all the time:
People rarely know the impact they have on us.
The founders, the artists, the writers, the neighbors, the teachers.
The person who solved the problem you’ve been wrestling with.
All of them are walking around wondering if what they’re doing really matters, and it only takes 30 seconds to tell them.
And suddenly, it makes their week.
Later on he added:
“Our social channels aren’t up yet, but once they’re live, would you be open to us sharing and linking your piece down the road? I’d love to send people your way with a link back to your blog.”
Ain’t that cool?
I didn’t share the article because I wanted something. It wasn’t some sneaky networking scheme or visibility strategy.
I just liked what he built and wanted him to know.
Sometimes we underestimate the power of simple appreciation. We think marketing has to be so clever, and networking has to be strategic.
Meanwhile, a sincere message saying, “Hey. I really like what you made,” creates opportunities, friendships, collaborations and unexpected moments of connection.
So here’s a little challenge:
Know someone who’s doing something cool?
Tell them.
Not tomorrow. Today.
You never know whose week you might change.
And…
If you’d like an easy way to send a little unexpected appreciation without the heeby-jeebies of knowing what to say, check out The Small Business Kindness project.
Fill out a form and your message will be delivered, no strings attached, by Deanna Seymour, the quirkiest, coolest carrier pigeon of gratitude you could ask for.
Yours in love and play,
Steph 🐲❤️
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