Re my comments about identity theory in the Feb. 11 issue:

“Mark, I recently read a fascinating book that addresses the question of gender fluidity and trans people – as well as several other woke issues – called The Madness of Crowds by Douglas Murray.  It’s quite good.” – AG

From LinkedIn:

“First & foremost I need to thank you because you’ve had a profound impact on my life and career. I became a copywriter because if your writing in Early to Rise. Your articles & books have shaped a lot of my thinking about my own businesses.

“For example, you once wrote about taking a one-step-over approach to creating new products or businesses. That concept applied to networking conferences & business ecosystems allowed me to… create a network of 8-10 annual & semi-annual events….

“There are dozens of your ideas I can name with similar impact. So, thank you. You’ve been a profoundly positive influence in my life and my family and I owe you a deep debt of gratitude.”

Re my Feb. 11 review of the Clive Davis documentary:

“I liked your piece on Clive Davis. I worked at Arista back in the 80s [and] I met him a few times. Also met Whitney Houston and many others whose records I was flogging. Had a fantastic time, loved it. Arista went from around $25-30M in sales to over $100M in a couple of years on Whitney’s massive success…. Lots of fun, great memories. Feels like another entire lifetime now.” – TS

Re the Jethro Tull video in the Feb. 9 issue:

“I looked at the Jethro Tull video and had a flashback to grammar school. Sister Claire Eileen entered me in a music competition for the tuba when I was in 6th grade…. The professional in the Tull video criticized Ian Anderson for his flat fingering. Holy shit! That was the same mark against me when I was judged. It was the only mark against me but enough to lower my grade to a B. I was mortified. WTF! Flat fingers!” – JM

An email from DP:

I feel like I’m re-living many of your stories that I have studied voraciously in your books and blog posts. Thank you for being the mentor to so many that you never knew.

An email from NB:

About your essay “Being and Becoming”… thanks for the great read Mark. I am constantly saying (to my loved ones) that it’s not the achievement of the goal that matters but who I become in the process. I must have heard that from Zig Zigler or somewhere in the past and it stuck. I also saw a bit of myself in your personal story of becoming a writer.  

An email from MF:

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I wanted to THANK YOU for your contribution to this day. You need to be proud of the relief work that Rancho Santana folks are doing for the hurricane relief programs. Everyone is making a difference; that trickles down from your vision.

An email from JM:

I just read your essay, “12 Things I’ve Learned About Living a Full Life.” These were excellent. All of them…. I always told my children that smart is when you can learn from your mistakes but brilliant is when you can learn from others’ mistakes. I am going to share with my children and hope they take these 12 things to heart or brain.

Thank you.

An email from LC:

Thank you Mark for your essay on Tribal Dynamics in Business. You put words on feelings that I had (e.g., loathing corporatization) but I didn’t know how to deal with, in the face of entropy. 

An email from TN:

Thanks again for your feedback. You gave me a HARD NO on part of it… but in a world of grays,  a black and white answer is a huge relief.

An email from BC:

Your belief in me was the catalyst for never settling and forever growing. It’s the least I can do to forever pay it forward. It was the ONLY choice.

An email from BJ:

Over and over, I’ve cited this quote by you: “What we need to do in life is available to us. We come across good advice all the time – through the media and in conversation. But most of the time we do not pay attention. But sometimes we do pay attention and just when we need to. Those are the ‘Aha!’ moments that change everything and move us forward.”

 Since taking this advice to heart, I’ve started paying more attention to all the good advice lying around in plain sight. And as a result, I believe I’ve become better at everything I do.