The Lifelong Learner's Guide to Newsletters ??

In this letter: 

We take a close look at one of the strongest learning tools out there: the newsletter. 

- Why they're so valuable
- How to set up a newsletter engine
- Which tools to use (Meco, Substack, etc)

Ready your inbox. And let's get to it.         

Outbound vs. Inbound

Let’s talk sales for a second.

In the world of sales, there are two types of leads: outbound and inbound.

Outbound leads materialize when you reach out to people, pitching them on your product or service. Inbound leads come directly to you, either through marketing efforts or word of mouth.

Ask any salesperson, and they’ll tell you…

Inbound leads are amazing.

While it takes time to set up an inbound engine, once it’s running the benefits are through the roof. Clients show up highly qualified. And they tend to close at a much higher rate.

Sales team love inbound.

And as a busy professional, you should too.

Enter: inbound learning.

With the right setup, you can bring learning resources right to your door. No hunting for material. No Google searches. Just a steady flow of high-value content, keeping you in-the-know and saving you hours each week.

Pair this with a strong learning habit and the results are career-shaping.

Who doesn’t want that?

Why newsletters?

The humble newsletter offers two standout features:

1. It’s inbound, bringing content directly to you.
2. It’s continuous, showing up on a predictable schedule.

On LinkedIn, I’ve talked about the power of continuous learning engines. By organizing inbound + continuous sources of content, we essentially create a book that updates itself. The latest and greatest information always heading your way.

This is a marvel of the Information Age.

And the newsletter is our ideal tool.

How to set up a newsletter engine

Ok, let’s get into the details.

To build our newsletter engine, we need 3 critical tools:

1. A well-curated list of newsletters
2. A distraction-free way to read and learn
3. A consistent reading habit (aka time-blocking)

Mindset: Think of this setup process as an investment you’re making in your future career. A small commitment of time — say an hour — to keep you cutting-edge and competitive in the market. Plus, it’s fun. ??

1. Curating newsletters like a pro

Not all newsletters are the same.

For our continuous learning engine to work, we need every newsletter to check a handful of boxes.

• First, we need high value. This means the author has unique insight into the topic or puts in serious work to curate. Preferably both. Before you hit “subscribe,” make sure you’re getting the good stuff.
• Second, we need predictability. This means the author publishes on time, every time. Some newsletters are daily. Others weekly. Either way, check the publication dates to make sure there’s not a big gap.
• Third, we need skill-boosting. This means the content of the newsletter ties directly to a skill or knowledge base you’re building. It could be a technical skill, like programming. Or a soft skill, like public speaking.

With these requirements in mind, build your list.

If you’re starting from scratch, aim for 8-10 newsletters. If you’re already an avid reader, analyze your existing subscriptions to make sure they hit the mark.

—How to find great newsletters—

Newsletter discover is easier than ever.

Here are simple ways to populate your list:

1. Ask friends and colleagues. Send out a simple note letting folks know you’re on the lookout. See what your network is passionately reading. You can also post a similar question to LinkedIn.
2. Search Google or Perplexity. Head to your favorite search engine — mine in Perplexity AI — and type in “best newsletters on [topic].” Then, start clicking around looking for good options.Need a Perplexity AI guide? I got you covered here.
3. Browse newsletter directories. Reletter, Find Your Newsletter, and LetterList provide searchable lists of newsletters. And Substack has an Explore page where you can run across your next subscription.

—My favorite newsletters—

AI: Superhuman, The Neuron, Ben’s Bites

Product: Lenny’s Newsletter, Product Hunt Daily

Productivity: James Clear’s 3-2-1, Ultraproductive

Career: The Briefs, Cultivated Careers, Leading Sapiens

Tech: The Pragmatic Engineer, Technically

News: The Morning Brew

Marketing: The Reeder, Wes Kao’s Newsletter, Marketing Examples

Creator: Growth in Reverse, Jay Clouse, Saturday Solopreneur

L&D: Offbeat, Dr. Philippa Hardman, Work in Progress

2. Reading in the right environment

Most people stop at “subscribe.”

But the lifelong learner knows better. They know a newsletter that gets buried in your inbox doesn’t do anything. It just takes up space.

As James Clear says:

You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.

So, let’s continue by looking at a simple way you can set up your learning environment to maximize a continuous learning engine.

—How most people read—

Modern inbox tools are terrible for reading newsletters.

You essentially have three options:

1. Inbox: Read directly from your main inbox. Newsletters are shoved beside work emails or personal subscriptions. Distractions are everywhere.
2. Folders: Sort your newsletters automatically into folders. This takes time. And the folders aren’t convenient to search through. Plus, every time you log in, it’s easy to get pulled into the main inbox by distractions.
3. Separate address: Set up a fully distinct email address that’s just for newsletters. Log in to one inbox for email and another for newsletters. Manage two logins.

I’ve tried all three of these approaches.

Maybe one of them works for you. But they didn’t work for me.

—Enter: A dedicated learning space—

I use Meco daily.

Meco is an app hand-built for reading newsletters. It allows you to read newsletter content in one place, without the clutter or distraction of your inbox. I think of Meco as stepping out of the busyness of my day and into a library full of my favorite newsletters.

Setup is simple:

- Download the Meco iOS app (or use the web browser)

- Login using your existing Gmail account

- One-click to add your favorite newsletters

- Start reading!

Plus, Meco features some great tools.

?? You can add new newsletters with one click.

?? You can discover fantastic authors daily.

?? You can take notes directly in the app.

Meco saves me hours of sorting and looking for newsletters every week. It now has a permanent place on my home screen.

Disclosure: I’ve used Meco actively for months and recently joined their Partner Program. I think the app is fantastic, and I advocated for it long before joining the program. For transparency, I get a small incentive if you sign up using my referral link.

Whether you use Meco, a separate email address, or simply navigate within your inbox, the goal is the same. Make sure you have an ideal learning environment.

Your career will thank you.

3. Establishing a newsletter habit

This is Develop Daily.

So, I can’t wrap up without mentioning the importance of learning habits.

You can build the best newsletter engine in the world, tapping into high-powered thoughts from top content creators. But if you don’t show up consistently, your engine will run for no reason.

You’ll miss out on:

• Cutting-edge skills
• Career-growing information
• Insights, curated resources, and more

The solution? Read on a schedule.

—Time-blocking—

Time-blocking is the easiest way to build (and protect) your newsletter habit.

By carving out dedicated time weekly to comb through your newsletters, pull out key information, and invest time reviewing it. With a strong time block, you can take full advantage of your engine every week.

If you’re building a new engine, take these steps:

1. Pull up your calendar.
2. Pick one day each week when you’ll invest in newsletters. Sunday is my favorite because it helps me start the week on an energized note.
3. Place a time block on your calendar. Even 15 minutes of protected time is enough for you to skim 2-3 newsletters each week for critical information.

For a deeper dive into time-blocking, including some advanced tactics, read my full breakdown here.

To Wrap

Change is the new normal.

But that doesn’t mean you have to invest hours each week to keep up.

With the right newsletter engine, you can set up an inbound funnel of high-value information. The kind of information that can lift your career to new heights.

Remember, to build a newsletter engine, all you need is:

1. A well-curated list of newsletters
2. A distraction-free way to read and learn
3. A consistent reading habit

Happy learning!

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