73 Comments
Feb 10Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

Wow! Welcome!

I met Sari as a sales rep in the very first days of Startupy, she bought the software and won’t remember the exchange but I do and I’ve been a happy reader and better thinker since then.

Of course you should have gone to the party - we live and learn.

I am an internet community lurker - this is the first time I’ve felt compelled to comment or engage. Ok I’ve felt compelled but never follow through. I am floored by this? Thank you? Why don’t I ever comment? Interesting conversation to have with myself.

Musing that the reason I wanted to comment is because I am thrilled for you and feel like I know you already, in great part because you are very tbh in how you write.

Have an absolute ball with this - I am excited to be apart of it.

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Alison hi! There's really no bigger compliment to receive than what you just wrote, especially "you are tbh in how you write" lol I love that.

ppl often say they feel comfortable commenting bc I am very...unfiltered and it lets them feel okay to be that way too? Like, 'oh it feels safe to be myself' here or something. IDK! It's a grand mystery. Most importantly tho I'm glad it happens because it means getting to meet cool people like you!!

Looking forward to chatting more as long as no one's hips lie

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Feb 10Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

Congrats and welcome! I'm Domingo, a designer based in Colombia, and I love this newsletter because I find alternate internet spaces and a lot of inspiring ideas

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ur speaking my language. Anywhere I can check out your designs??

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Feb 11Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

Sure! Here's our latest reelhttps://vimeo.com/898823180 My site VeletaSL.xyz, and on insta @veletagram, we are very active 🙌 thanks!

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dude this is very sweet!! Thank you for sharing 🤍

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Feb 10Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

Chaos muppet... I don’t know what one looks like, and at the same time, know exactly what it looks like! I’m gonna draw one and send it to you.

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omg yes plz do that and send it

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Who I am - a recently (2022) retired person who went back to work for a limited engagement in January and February. I'm loving being in a much better resourced system, and feel I have something to learn and something to contribute. I like it very much. I also took three online classes in the last month - one in decluttering to welcome in the New Year (today!) of the Wood Dragon. And Tending the Bones with the School for the Great Turning - learning the stories, culture and art of the ancestors I know of in Ireland, France, Germany, Scotland, Holland and England. Plus, reading and exploring The Heart of Who We Are with Caverly Morgan - a Zen meditation teacher.

2. I'm new to Sublime and the newsletter. I like the way it encourages me to slow down and go deep.

3. Tell me more about chaos and order. I feel like creativity is order needing some chaos, or is it the other way around?

4. I think we should all have a continuous "hips don't lie" party!

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Hi Sonya! All those classes sound very cool especially The Heart of Who We Are. I started reading a zen book yesterday called "Expect Nothing" and I can't stop thinking about the title lol. I have a lot of expectations.

"I feel like creativity is order needing some chaos, or is it the other way around?" -- what a question! I feel like it's both! They balance each other out. So if someone defaults to a life of needing order, the chaos may be their pathway to creative stuff. But if you're like me and chaos is all around, order helps tame me into actually producing something to share with the world. I often think about the various work I do as containers - when thoughts pop into my brain (chaos), I like having specific containers to put them through (order), like "oh this idea would be perfect for the Sublime newsletter" for example.

I don't know if that made any sense lol

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I resonate with the more chaotic sense of how things are, and needing to create some order. Today anyway. Thanks for responding!

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Feb 10Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

Love it, Alex! I’m Tom and this is more about my corner of the internet here: https://www.whitenoise.email/p/nutella-lessons

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love the idea of 'nutella lessons' lol. also you had me at the good will hunting reference I feel like I am quoting that movie in my head most of the time most of the days

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“It’s NOT your fault.” Everything I make is basically this, in 1001 ways, befriending all the fucked-up parts, now appearing here at Heart Soul & Monkeys 🙉

https://heartsquest.substack.com/

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you had me at "poo hits the propeller" lol

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Feb 10Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

Haha you and me both!

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Welcome!!! I think Sari is brilliant and love her newsletters. Last month, I dreamt that I met her (!!!) and hugged her event though we didn't know each other, because I appreciate her work so much. (This was an odd dream, but her writing clearly holds some space in my brain.). You sound like you will add alot!

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Feb 13Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

blushing over here, Susan!!!! thank you for being here

<3

Sari

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thanks, it was a pretty atypical dream, but a nice one!

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haha wow what a compliment to Sari about her writing lol. Thanks for saying hi and yes I will do my best to add something here goes nothing

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Hi Alex. Agree with so many other comments here. Thanks for your skill in being real and down to earth, I’m so happy two old classmates reconnected in this wonderful way.

I think you not attending the dance was where you were at. Actually the name, hips don’t lie is both funny but a little scary if you’re a little ashamed your hips don’t move as well as some others who just got hip lucky. Same as being less athletic.

What is cool is that now with some life under your belt you and Sari are more like equals in a room. All the silly but real detritus we held as young ones just emerging into adulthood have melted away and now you could dance with goofy hips and spread the joy of loving the experience and not caring. Which is the heart of karaoke. The bad singers are the heart and soul of it. To sing bad is so much better than to not sing. But it takes a little while to get there.

Not to go too long here but I feel inspired to share a very unique cultural experience I had during three months in China in 1993. There was a karaoke party and it was different. Each person would go to the front and sing to the rest. Then at those key moments like as if you were at a concert, as they got to the chorus the whole audience would start clapping. Like if the actual pop star was here singing it. And then at the end same thing a huge outpouring of applause and many audience members would rush to the front to give you bouquets of flowers. And they did the same thing for everyone. I finally took my turn, and it was incredible. You’d really feel lifted up by all the applause and all the attention and flowers at the end. It was like getting to experience what it’s like to be a rock star. So wonderful. And I just feel like we need so many more moments like that in our life where we are applauded and encouraged. I sense that’s what this community is about.

I’m here clapping for your opening introductory message to us all. Good job Alex.

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omg Jeffrey that story is insane I have goosebumps haha. I'm saving this story to refer back to later, thank you for sharing it! And for sharing this line of poetry: "To sing bad is so much better than to not sing."

Really glad to meet you and very grateful that this newsletter has brought us into one another's orbits

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Oh nice glad you liked it. :) Yeah let’s orbit!

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I remember the first time we chatted Alex and I immediately thought, “This guy’s hips are full of it.” But now it feels like your hips are telling nothing but the truth, so idk what to think anymore

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if by "it" you mean the rhythm of the night then yes they are

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Feb 10Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

Alex, I’m looking forward to some deep guttural laughter! Congrats on #2 and yes 10x as hard and 10x more love :)

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very important to remember that last part !! Nice to meet you Tarun

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Hi Alex!!

I'm based in Toronto and found Sari I don't remember how but through the original much more personal version of this newsletter, before Startupy was a thing. I missed the personal stories but have grown to love this new version. Mostly because it's still original thoughts and ideas, and not retweets of the same 5 articles going around LinkedIn! I love how genuine the search for meaning, connection, and understanding is. Constantly. Always!

I live in Toronto, Canada, and I'm a film/tv actor turned 2x founder turned Chief of Staff turned Head of People turned executive coach. I appreciate your comedy and improv background and am so excited to see how this newsletter keeps evolving.

See you in!! my!! inbox!!!

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hey Nina!! Sorry for delay in responding but I am here now to say hi! dang film/tv actor turned 2x founder?? that's awesome. and yes you're 100% right a big part of our purpose with this newsletter is to blend the personal stories with the big ideas - that's the best way, in my humble o, to experience both

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hey! russian/ukrainian immigrant here. probably also lotttta mental health stuff under the hood.

i think my hips are capable of lying though, so the similarities end there i'm afraid

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Timour how can I trust anything you say when your hips lie!!?

Where in Russia Ukraine are you from??

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Feb 13Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

I've been very much a lurker on this newsletter but now that there are two Brunonians at the helm I suppose I can emerge from the shadows to appreciate what a delight I've found in reading this (I'm B'10 and I feel pretty certain we must all have crossed paths at a Buxton??? thing).

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hey natasha!! I am also B'10 and am sure we probably said hi at some point!! What's ur last name if you dont mind my asking? Also feel free to just email alex@sublime.app or also just say no alex i want to remain anonymous on the internet leave me alone lol

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Welcome!

I am Gemma Garriga, I used to work with Sari and Gabriel at a company builder in Miami. I have always admired the authenticity, values, culture, work ethic and modesty from Sari and I personally invested in Sublime as the problem stroongly resonates with me and the future I would like to see for new kids. What do you most dig about this newsletter already? Inspiration, curation, woah moments, peace, real stuff for life, life purpose related content, and more! Been reading it since 2020.

After serving as Product Strategy and Growth at company builders in Latam/US and being a cofounder several times, I am currently exploring my next purpose/step. Right now I am exploring solutions at the Femtech space.

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Hi Gemma! That's so cool you worked w Sari and Gabriel already. Thanks for sharing and saying hello. I really dig your list of why you love the newsletter, especially the 'woah moments' 😄

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Feb 12Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

Nice to meet you, Alex. What a great intro (and I'm a double-fan b/c of the Brown connection).

I'm Sehreen, co-founder of Sleuth, which uses thoughtful AI and crowdsourced data to help parents track their child's health and development. At the height of NFTdom, I also bought an ad slot on startupy.

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Hi Sehreen! Brown connect for the win. Very cool about Sleuth. As someone who googles "is this normal" about my children (plural as of three weeks ago), I feel like your company is v much needed!

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Feb 12Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

Without question the fastest I have gone from “who?” to “holy shit I love them”. Cracking.

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hahahaha this is the best compliment I've gotten in a long time thank you.

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Feb 12Liked by Alex Dobrenko`

This is why the internet is cool. This is the best collab ever.

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Naaaaate what's up dude yes this is very sweet I am very excited

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