This week, I want to take a step back.
Not to teach anything.
Not to dig into philosophy or drop a one-liner from Marcus Aurelius.
Just to tell you why I’m even writing these.

A few years ago, I went through a really rough stretch.
Things looked fine on the outside—businesses running, life happening.
But inside, I was exhausted. Untethered. Questioning pretty much everything.

So I started writing.
Nothing fancy.
Just raw notes to myself—how to be a better human, how to make peace with failure, how to hold myself together when things felt like they were slipping.

I wasn’t trying to write a book. I was just trying to stay upright.

But the words piled up.
And somewhere along the way, they started turning into something bigger.
Not a diary. Not a self-help manual.

More like a guide.
A brutally honest guide.

For people like me—people trying to do life well, without the fluff.
Trying to be good parents, decent humans, better partners, better business owners, all while navigating a world that moves too fast and rarely gives you time to breathe.

That turned into the book I’ve now (finally) finished.
Not sure what I’ll call it—I'm tossing up between Don’t Be a Dick, or maybe The Unconventional Guide for Life.
Honestly, both titles feel pretty on-brand. What do you think?

And that’s also why I write these emails.

Because if someone out there is going through it—if you’re trying to figure things out, feeling a bit lost, a bit tired, or just sick of the bullshit—
I want you to know you’re not alone.

These emails aren’t about being wise.
They’re about being honest.

If even one of them helps you pause, reflect, laugh, or breathe a little easier—then it’s worth it.

Thanks for reading them.
Thanks for sharing them.
Thanks for just being here.

Truly.

​
​Broden

PS: If you know someone who’d vibe with these, send them the signup link. It means more than you think: brodenjohnson.co