The view from my desk in the Catskills, August 14th 2025 |
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FROM PB-S
THE COOLTH COMETH
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I'm milking these last days of summer for all they're worth, but there's something about the change of seasons, and the promise of a crisp morning, that gets me going.
Starting in about early August, when I wake up here in the Catskills, I let my dogs out and lo and behold there's that unmistakable chill in the air. My fractional CMO said her grandmother-in-law calls it "coolth." My new favorite word. Coolth signals the unmistakable return to school, to activity, to purpose, and to work.
We've been hard at work, for well over a year, in preparation for this fall. I'm feeling that familiar giddiness—the one I get just before we release something really special into the world. What a feeling that is.
And with that in mind, I wanted to share five Small Big Things to get you in the mood for fall, and for work.
Stay Coolth,
Peter Buchanan-Smith
Founder / Re-Founder
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FIVE SMALL BIG THINGS FOR FALL 2025
1.The Imperfectionist: You may know Oliver Burkeman from his best-selling book Four Thousand Weeks. There are few thinkers in the productivity realm that resonate as deeply and speak so clearly. I save each and every one of his newsletters like precious specimens. In a time of so much uncertainty, Burkeman is a true voice of reason.
2. The Quincailleries: When I travel, I always visit the local hardware or grocery store before any museum or tourist attraction. I was not aware of the century-old tradition of the French hardware store, until I stumbled on this recent Times article—these places are indispensable to their communities and are like museums in their own right.
3. Make your work your calling: Many might be dreading the end of summer, and the onslaught of work. I get it. If that's you, then read this article by Arthur C. Brooks, one of my favorite Atlantic writers. In his words: “Don’t wait for your life’s calling to find you with the perfect job; turn whatever job you find into the way you seek that calling.”
4. The Hardest Working Font in NYC: I recently discovered a font close to my heart, even though I lived amidst it for my 25 years in New York City. This in-depth profile delves into Gorton, a utilitarian engraved typeface that has quietly shaped Manhattan’s infrastructure for over a century, from elevator panels to subway signs and machinery labels.
5. Make Life Possible: Take small steps, be prepared to shift direction, anticipate surprise, trust in creativity, and go with friends. Explore some principles for navigating uncertain times from Mandy Brown, a writer and work coach who I recently discovered and am gearing up to follow into this fall.
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