What I'm Up To
​Volume 89

Hey friends,
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Here’s what I’ve been up to since Vol. 88…
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First an explanation. We had technical difficulties when our email provider changed their brand from ConvertKit to Kit. 😩 The fact that you're receiving this means we’ve finally resolved it. 🥳 Hope you missed me. Rather than sending three emails, below is my brief November update. You can catch up on our September here and October here.

1. November Happenings​
After two hard months finalizing our 2025 book, The Rookie Real Estate Agent, the manuscript is off to the copyeditor. It’s extremely satisfying and challenging to “finish” a book. Books aren’t like software. With software, you release a patch and the errors go away. If you mess up with a book, you can make corrections in a reprint but the errors will live on in every copy printed before. If you take pride in your work, the final passes through the manuscript are your last best chance to get it right. Keep an eye out for the book next fall!
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Wendy, the Produktive team and I hosted our 8th and final The ONE Thing Goal Setting Retreat. We had around 240 attendees at Brazos Hall and another 300 or so following online. Kaelyn Loes came back from “retirement” to help craft an amazing experience. It was by far our best event ever. Next year, the event will evolve into our first ever The ONE Thing Summit. Tickets will be on sale on www.the1thing.com in the next few weeks.
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Finally, we flew home to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family in Memphis. We got to grab some Gibson’s Donuts, catch Wicked in the theater, and trek to our family gathering on the banks of the Mississippi River. Gotta say it’s strange to realize that among 53 attendees, I’m now one of the “elders.” This gathering of Papasans and Gaffords is thanks to my great aunt, June, and late great uncle, Gerald. After the death of their parents, June was raised as my father’s sister, and Gerald was raised by his aunt. My cousin Becky shared that tragic separation when June was 9 and Gerald was 14 was likely the genesis of our crazy devotion to coming together. So many generations in one room. ❤️

​2. What I’m Reading​
Another light month of reading. I thoroughly loved Kate Quinn’s historical novel, The Alice Network. Quinn does a fantastic job weaving stories of a British spy in occupied France during WWI and a single, pregnant American runaway searching for her lost cousin in occupied France during WWII. Add it to your list. I also enjoyed A Completely Different Game by Emma Hayes, the new coach of the US Women’s National Team. It’s steeped in British soccer references, so it’s not for the casual fan. Hayes won 14 titles at Chelsea and is a pioneering leader in women’s sport. I can’t wait to see the impact she will have on the US Women’s team.

3. What I’m Watching​
Wendy and I enjoyed the second season of The Rings of Power (Amazon). I think it was better than the first season. We also watched the documentary Will & Harper (Netflix). Will Ferrell drives cross-country with his longtime SNL friend and colleague Harper Steele who transitioned to a woman. Steele was one of the lead writers at SNL and loved to drive cross-country, frequenting dive bars and race tracks. Will accompanies her on this first trip as Harper. It’s funny, moving and, at its heart, about friends who love each other no matter the circumstances.
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Finally, we saw Wicked in Memphis with my family. It’s stupendous. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shine. Go see it on the big screen!
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That’s it for this month. Please reply back and let me know what you’re up to!

Be well, do good deeds, and eat tacos!
Jay

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