32 Comments
Sep 15, 2022Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

omg I love the practice guide

Expand full comment
Sep 15, 2022Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

I am amazed at the sheer power of anyone who can sit on a wooden chair.

Expand full comment
Sep 15, 2022Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

My grandpa and dad had that same green lamp!!

Expand full comment
Sep 15, 2022Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

Has my desk gotten messier since you debuted this series? Yes.

Expand full comment

Love the concept of this series! I just started reading Tabs, what beautiful timing.

and the Practice Guide is a gem! Reminds me of the iconic Killers lyric - “Are we human, or are we newsletter?” at least, I think that’s how the song goes...

Expand full comment

Wow, Tabs seems super cool. Thanks for the tip! I realize now I might need a fidget knife. And LOVE the Practice Guide for Newsletter. Haha. Yes!

Expand full comment
Sep 15, 2022Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

I am the proud (?) operator of not one but TWO messy-ass workspaces. Just so you know

Expand full comment

Shit man I wanna do one.

Also thanks for introducing Rusty, 'Tabs' is great!

Expand full comment
Sep 16, 2022Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

I found the coffee maker on the desk absolutely shocking. It strikes me as totally dangerous. If I was sitting that close to the coffee all day I’m sure I’d be up to ten cups in no time. Five is bad enough!

Also love this: “I can be convinced almost anything is cool by someone who really believes it is.” So true! Enthusiasm really is infectious!

Expand full comment

I'm still new to you, Alex, or vice versa rather, but I dig the questions you choose to ask and love how you autopsied the photo! I've done that with selfies that people have sent me over the years, or selfies my friends have shown, i go deep beyond the bra and panties/pulled down boxers and hone in on the random box of opened Cheez-its on the table behind them. Also, I have the same Kettle, computer, and grinder as Rusty! Weird to feel a connection via things, but i did.

Expand full comment

"I minimized everything until I was comfortable with just this old 13" Macbook air. I like that it's extremely portable and wherever I can open it: there's my whole workplace. The limited screen real estate also helps keep me focused on one thing at a time, instead of my undiagnosed ADHD brain bouncing all around."

I've been in a similar situation for years now. Every so often I set up an external keyboard and mouse on my desk with my laptop, thinking I can transition to having separate/multiple displays again, but I always revert to just using the laptop on its own. Having a single workspace and way of working that's the same wherever I am (and this works even though I transition across multiple machines, with a MacBook Air that I take on the road with me) just seems so much more preferable than having some extra screen space that would likely be a distraction more than an aid.

Expand full comment

Oh my god, of course the person who types directly into the CMS hits snooze for 2 hours. (It me.)

Expand full comment