We Didn't Come Here to Work.

Hello and welcome to the inaugural edition of We Didn't Come Here to Work. I'm thrilled you're here!

Why This Newsletter?

Let's cut to the chase: work is weird.

We spend a third of our waking lives (90,000 hours!) at our jobs, yet we often pretend it's just about the tasks we were hired to do. But here's the thing – we're human beings, not productivity robots. We form friendships, fall in love, argue, reconcile, and grow as human beings within these spaces we call workplaces. And what happens here informs so much of what we can and will do in the rest of the world

So why isn't everyone talking more about this?

What to Expect

In this newsletter, we're going to dive deep into the reality of modern work. We'll explore:

• The hidden social dynamics of the workplace
• How fostering happiness and community can actually boost business value
• Ways to create more equitable, just, and fulfilling work environments
• Why money matters so damn much and when companies pretend it doesn't, it's stupid and annoying.
• How you (yes you) can make your workplace way more cool for you and your colleagues to work at
• Strategies for communicating the importance of employee well-being to stakeholders

Why It Matters

Look, I get it. You're probably rolling your eyes right now and thinking, "Another newsletter about work? Ugh." But hear me out.

The way we work is fundamentally broken. We're experiencing burnout epidemics, quiet quitting, and a general sense that something's gotta change, for everyone. By understanding the full scope of what "work" really means to us as humans, we can start to build something better.

Plus, I give great GIF.

A Personal Note

I've spent years in the trenches of IT and service roles, focused on collaboration, particularly with Atlassian products. I've seen firsthand how the right tools, combined with the right culture, can transform organizations. But I've also seen how even the best tools fall short when we ignore the human element.

This newsletter is my attempt to bridge that gap – to look at work holistically and find ways to make it, well, work better for all of us.

What's Next?

In the coming weeks, we'll dive into topics like:

• How to be real when everyone seems so damn fake, and why it matters
• Why being "the work cynic" is just as toxic as toxic positivity
• How to really align company values through to strategy and actual day-to-day operations
• The unexpected benefits of "fun" in the workplace

Stay tuned, and don't hesitate to reach out with your own thoughts and experiences. After all, I'm creating this for you. I don't want to write a newsletter nobody reads. HOW BORING.

Let's reimagine work, one newsletter at a time. (I KNOW I KNOW BUT WHAT ELSE DO YOU SAY)

Until next time,

Bryan

P.S. SHARE THIS! If you made it this far, you liked it. So share it with your colleagues, your work spouse, your frenemies, your enemies, your boss, whomever. We can't make work better without all of them.

LESGOOOOOOOOO