Welcome to Notes on Work and Life.
I’m so glad you’re here.
This isn’t your traditional business newsletter.
This is about how to thrive in business and keep your soul while doing it.
Who this is for:
If you’re trying to do business in a more ethical and human way, looking for more meaning at work, or trying to live with more purpose, this newsletter is for you.
What my writing is like:
To help you on your journey, I’ll be sharing insights from business, history, and culture. I’ll also be sharing a lot of stories from my 14 years in online education, banking, and the startup world.
I have very eclectic interests including classic literature, pop culture, rock music, travel, and fashion and clothing manufacturing.
So, you’ll see quirky references from these areas show up from time to time as well.
What you’ll get when you subscribe:
If you’re looking for short, immediately actionable business frameworks, this may not be your cup of tea. I’m not Alex Hormozi.
But, if you like writers like Malcolm Gladwell, Ryan Holiday, or Rory Sutherland, who share lots of stories and unique ideas to challenge your thinking, you’ve come to the right place.
Expect long, thoughtful essays with creative ideas, personal life anecdotes, and lots of subtle humor. As a plus, I also include a lot of beautiful travel photos.
I publish every other week on Thursday mornings.
What’s my background?
I grew up in Southern California, and now I live in Virginia about an hour from D.C.
I studied history in undergrad and then got an MBA from The University of Notre Dame. My career has taken me from running an online high school program with 1600 students, to marketing at JP Morgan Chase, to now working at an Edtech startup.
I’m also a Christian, and while this is not a Christian publication, you’ll see some elements of my worldview showing up in my writing every now and then.
To learn more, check out my full About page. You can also find me on LinkedIn.
Where should you start?
This publication covers a lot of ground, and I know that the Table of Contents list is quite long!
So here’s where I’d recommend starting if you’re new here.
I write about business and personal development, so here’s a bit of both to help you get the lay of the land.
My favorite essays on branding and marketing:
My favorite essays on building character:
Table of Contents
Develop Character
Courage and Resilience
Personal Growth
Find Meaning
Grow Your Business
Brand Building & Customer Experience
Hiring
Marketing
Strategy
Build Your Career
Choosing the Right Path
Leadership & Communication
Work-Life Balance
Interviews and Substack Live Sessions
© Colin Black 2026
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?