Start Here | Table of Contents
Lessons from business, history, and culture on doing work that actually matters.
Welcome to Notes on Work and Life.
This isn’t your traditional business newsletter.
This is about how to thrive in business and keep your soul while doing it.
I’ll be sharing insights from business, history, and culture, along with stories from my time in online education and banking.
If you're just starting out, looking for a new career path, or trying to build a more purposeful life, this newsletter is for you.
I publish every other week on Thursdays.
Table of Contents
Brand Building & Customer Experience:
Decision-Making, Judgement, & Risk
Leadership & Communication:
Marketing:
Perspective & Meaning:
Interviews and Substack Live Sessions:
Here are a few of my favorite posts.
80% Reliable. 20% Weird.
Most brands are forgettable.
Rory Sutherland, one of my favorite authors, often talks about how brands need to be a bit more irrational. Here’s why that’s important.
Don't Worry. They Already Don't Like You.
Who else influences your decisions, your self worth, your actions?
Former friends? Former college buddies? Random LinkedIn connections you only kind of know? Future children? Future bosses? People who thought you were dumb in high school? That one professor who never liked your writing? That one date who thought you had no potential?
When Was Last Time You Saw Something Sublime?
At night, you might think to yourself “Did anything good even happen today? Do I even remember what happened, good or bad?”
String enough of these days together and you get a boring, unfulfilling life.
That said, what’s even worse than being busy is becoming so drawn into modern-day materialism that you simply stop looking for the sublime.
Or, that you become too afraid to talk about it.
Why I Write
I’ve always enjoyed writing, but aside from a brief stint at an email newsletter to a small group of friends back in 2009, this is the first time I’ve written publicly.
I was inspired to write this newsletter, because I had a hard time reconciling the experience I had in a small, mission-driven online education business with the experience I had working at the largest bank in the world.
I’m writing to merge the lessons I learned in both environments.
I’m convinced that it’s possible to do world-class business in kind, ethical, deeply human way. This newsletter is my way of presenting a better path forward.
I can’t say enough how grateful I am that you’re here.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. It means a lot.
About Me
I grew up in Southern California and have lived in the Midwest and Northeast. Now, I live in Virginia, about an hour from D.C.
I spent 6 years in online education, where I took an online high school program from a 10% annual deficit to a 12% annual profit. Then, I got my MBA from the University of Notre Dame and spent another 5 years working at JPMorgan Chase.
Now I work as a consultant and write about business.
I’m a Christian, and that’s the core of my life and my worldview. You’ll see Christian themes pop up from time to time in my writing. However, this is not a Christian newsletter. This is for everyone interested in living well and doing meaningful work.
I hope that the lessons I’ve learned and knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years will be helpful to you on your journey.
In my free time, I love studying history, reading classic literature, going to rock concerts, and spending time in nature.
To learn more, check out my full About page. You can also find me on LinkedIn.
© 2026 Colin Black
Great way to organize, index and promote your good stuff!
I love this bundling, Colin! Super inspiring. It's a great catch-up for newbies and pinning it for new arrivals is so logical. (I look forward to reading past posts too :) Do you mind if I borrow your approach?