“Day 2 is stasis. Followed by irrelevance. Followed by excruciating, painful decline. Followed by death. And that is why it is always Day 1.”
— Jeff Bezos
You did it.
You built the plan.
Shared the vision.
Launched.
The energy. Electric!
Yet, as Jeff Bezos famously outlined in his shareholder letter, it's not just about what you've achieved — it's about maintaining a Day 1 mindset.
Bezos emphasized the critical difference between Day 1 and Day 2 thinking: Day 1 is marked by agility, innovation, and a willingness to embrace change, while Day 2 is characterized by stasis, complacency, and decline.
For you, an impact leader?
Change is a constant. The Day 1 mindset equips you to be a beginner. Responsive. Durable. Ready to navigate challenges with creativity and resilience.
The mindset frees you from the pressure of needing the right answers or 100% confidence. Instead, it invites you to focus on the how — powered by questions:
- What's true today?
- What are our goals?
- What should we try today, this week, this month, this season?
By staying grounded in the present and remaining open to experimentation, you stay agile and become more effective at leading your organization's growth.
In this edition, we've curated three resources to help you embrace that it's always Day 1. Let's dive in!
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Why It's Always Day 1
(video | words) – via Jeff Bezos
“Jeff, what does Day 2 look like?” That’s a question I just got at our most recent all-hands meeting. I’ve been reminding people that it’s Day 1 for a couple of decades. I work in an Amazon building named Day 1, and when I moved buildings, I took the name with me. I spend time thinking about this topic. “Day 2 is stasis. Followed by irrelevance. Followed by excruciating, painful decline. Followed by death. And that is why it is always Day 1.”
The Importance of Courage
(audio | words) – via Debbie Millman
Success doesn’t manifest immediately. A calling will always come encased in resistance. And hard work will always beat natural talent. Here to wax poetic on all things creativity, battling resistance, and answering your calling is wise master of the creative process Steven Pressfield. The occasion for today’s exchange is Steven’s brand new memoir, GOVT Cheese—a deep dive into the improbable story of his life as he transforms from a flawed, broken truck driver to fulfilling his dream of becoming a writer. And of course, it explores the process required to birth a creative work and share it with the world.
Grit: The Power of Passion & Perseverance
(video | interview) – via Angela Duckworth
Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn't the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of "grit" as a predictor of success.
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Introducing: Collision Groups
TOGETHER 4's Collision Groups are curated cohorts of nonprofit leader that meet for 30-minutes each Monday and Friday for 4 months.
Applications are OPEN for our launch cohorts (only 16 slots available). These cohorts are FREE to join, yet require active participation (~2 hrs per week).
Sign up by April 26th to be included in the launch groups this May.
Curious, yet unsure? Join me on LinkedIn Live this Thursday, April 25th at 10a PST / 1p EST to learn more about Collision Groups.
