I think you’re going to love this.

The following is an excerpt from my free weekly newsletter The Works. Each edition shares an insight, tool or story that will help you be a force for change, written by me, MBS - recognized as the #1 thought leader on #coaching in the world. Subscribe to get the full impact delivered straight to your inbox.

My new journal is available for pre-order—with bonuses. Mostly in North America and the UK… there are some options in Australia, but I’m afraid they’re expensive.

And while this newsletter is trying hard to get you to preorder, please keep reading even if you’re not interested … there’s probably some wisdom here for you beyond the pitch.

Life goals: simple, beautiful and practical

It’s exciting to have another book on the near horizon.

Each time I get surprised again by the experience.

First, how an idea lodges from somewhere and I don’t seem to be able to shake it off.

Then, how close it feels when I’m jazz-handing my way around and explaining it to my team and publishing partners. The number of times I’ve said something like, “I can see it … it won’t be too hard to do.”

Then, how NOT close it feels when I’m starting to write and create. This journal, same. I thought I knew what I was doing, but it took time and iterations to get it to where I wanted it to be.

And that place, I’m realizing, is simple, beautiful, and practical. (And, woah, turns out that’s what I’m gunning for in life itself.)

Simple. Not simplistic, but the simplicity that comes from kneading an idea til you’ve squeezed out the excess and taken it down to what’s essential

Beautiful. Not pretty, but the elegance that comes from finding the right order and right relationships between things.

Practical. Not technical, but useful in an everyday way, like a knife you love to cook with (my new fav here), or a pen you love to write with (my old fav here.) 

This journal’s a triple threat ✅✅✅

There’s all the detail you could possibly want about the journal on this page, but let me give you a taste now.

Simple

• Over the year and ten drafts I took to complete this, we cut the introduction down by 70%. It’s now the perfect setup, so you can get into the work fast.
• We went from five questions to four, for the daily check-in. 
• We designed lots of white space, so there’s all you need to write as much or as little as you want.

Beautiful

• Everyone who’s seen it has mentioned how beautiful it is. Cloth covered, and indented title, and a quiet elegance.
• The paper is heavy weight, so it feels gorgeous to write on. Could have gone cheaper, but wanted beauty.
• I commissioned Jessica Hagy to create one of her genius illustrations for each of the eighteen weeks. I can guarantee a-ha moments.

Practical

• Some journals are planners, from the practical doing stuff. Others are dream-spacers for imagination or morning pages. This is both: daily questions for focus and momentum, weekly questions for self-reflection and growth.
• Mid-week orientation questions, so you take a breath and adjust what you’re doing to better suit reality.
• A daily structure nests inside a weekly structure next inside a six-weekly cycle. Designed to help you be present to the moment and to play your long game.

Is 2025 the Year You Do Something that Matters?

I’m rooting for you to find the thrilling, important, and daunting work for you to do.

I deeply believe that we unlock our greatness by working on the hard stuff. And also, it’s hard to work on the hard stuff alone.

The Do Something That Matters Journal can be your cheerleader, your teacher, your guide, and your practice to become the person you want to be.

BOOK SMARTS

More like Book Bonuses 🙂.

When you pre-order the Do Something That Matters Journal, you’ll get

One-week journal template

An immediate download of the journal’s opening pages (explaining how it works) and the first week. You can start journaling right away, no need to wait until January 21st.

How to Say No

I’ve been writing about this for thirty years, and I’m still working hard to get back on it. Knowing how to say No is saying Yes to freedom and focus. Seven of my most current insights, sent to you immediately.

52 of My Best Friends’ Best Questions

My first idea was to have these be part of the journal itself, but that ended up getting the way of simple and beautiful. But I wasn’t going to waste these pearls of wisdom! Best questions from fabulous people such as Susan Cain , Austin Kleon, Haesun Moon , Rich Litvin , Chip Conley , Luvvie Ajayi Jones , and more.

A New Year reboot with a special guest

I’ll be doing a deep dive learning event with a good friend of mine … gosh, this is going to be fantastic. She has a new book coming out, so we’re going to get some exclusive insights on just what it takes to get beyond resilient and into your 2025 sweet spot. January 30th.