A week without output, but not without progress
This week was about recovering from illness, running a Q&A while exhausted, rethinking podcast formats, and learning to respect slower weeks without forcing momentum.
Watch the video version of this letter below:
I didn’t do very much this week because I spent most of it sick, exhausted, coughing, sleeping, and slowly realising how uncomfortable it feels to be forced into stillness when your identity is usually wrapped around output and momentum.
The haze in Singapore triggered my sinuses first, then it turned into a full cough and flu situation that sent me to the doctor, kept me out of the gym, and grounded me at home eating proper meals, sleeping more than usual, and letting my body do the boring work of recovery, which is something I am still learning not to resist or feel guilty about.
When you are sick, the days blur together, and productivity becomes a strange concept because you are technically doing nothing while also doing exactly what is required, which is rest and patience, even if your brain keeps trying to negotiate a faster outcome.
I did manage to do a few things, though, and one of them was showing up for the fourth lesson of my masterclass, which is now in its third cohort, where we spent time talking about content planning through the 1-3-5 method and how to distribute one core idea across newsletters, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and long-form platforms without burning yourself out or repeating yourself blindly.
That conversation reminded me why I enjoy teaching creators and founders, because when people understand that content is not about volume but about intentional reuse, something shifts in how they see consistency and sustainability.
I also ran a Q&A session while I was sick, and although nine people signed up, only three showed up live. I have come to accept this without resentment, because I will always prioritise the people who want help over the numbers that look good on paper.
The first person asked about podcast sponsorships, because she had more than 20,000 subscribers but struggled to attract brands, and my advice focused less on pitching and more on format, retention, and structure, especially understanding where listeners drop off and how shorter podcast formats are becoming more viable unless you already have the scale and cultural weight of shows like The Diary of a CEO.
The second question was about showing up authentically at work, especially when you have side projects or identities that do not neatly fit into corporate expectations, and I shared what I have always believed, which is that authenticity takes courage and repetition, and that your colleagues already see multiple versions of you, whether you realise it or not.
If you wear a mask long enough, people will like the mask, not you, and that trade-off is something each person has to decide for themselves, because showing up fully means accepting that some people will never be comfortable with who you are, and that discomfort is not something you can manage or fix for them.
The third person surprised me because he announced a pivot from DEI consulting to writing a science fiction book, while also being deeply private and resistant to showing up publicly online. The question became how to build demand without becoming a visible creator.
My answer was simple and practical, because demand always comes before selling, and if you do not want to perform on social media, you still need to exist where readers already gather, whether that is Substack, Reddit, or niche sci-fi communities, especially when your process itself is distinctive, like writing an entire manuscript by hand without digital tools.
Documenting the process builds curiosity and anticipation, and a waitlist gives structure to that interest, so when the book exists, it is not released into silence.
Outside of that, I have been thinking about the podcast and how it evolves this year, because I recently connected with a production studio that is opening its space to podcasters in exchange for social promotion, which means you might start seeing different setups and a bit more experimentation in upcoming episodes.
Unlike my current studio, where production and editing are handled for me, this new setup separates filming from post-production, so I am testing it intentionally, without committing to it long-term until I understand the trade-offs properly.
I am also considering using a friend’s newly opened media studio, where he has offered me time to film episodes freely, and again, this is part of learning what flexibility looks like when you are building something independently without locking yourself into systems that no longer serve you.
One upcoming conversation I am especially looking forward to is with the drag queen Sammi Zheng, whose story is featured in a Netflix documentary called A Good Child, which I watched recently and cried through quietly, because it explores identity, caregiving, family reconciliation, and the long road toward being seen while caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s.
That story stayed with me because it reminded me how often personal truth, creativity, and responsibility intersect in deeply emotional, human ways, which is ultimately why I do this work in the first place.
That is all I have for this week, and it feels honest to end here without forcing productivity where there was none, because some weeks are about output, and some weeks are about staying alive and trusting that rest is not a setback.
If you want to catch up, my latest podcast episode with Andee Chua is live, and more conversations are coming soon, without rushing the process.