I’m 49 today.
Thanks in advance for the birthday wishes and the gifted cases of Titleist Pro V1s. You’re too kind.
Forty-nine is a non-event. It makes me among the oldest at my company and the youngest at a Black Crowes concert, as I learned a couple of weeks ago. I would say I don’t feel 49, but I have no idea what 49 is supposed to feel like. Maybe it’s a median number. My hair is 25 and my liver is 73.
If I’m grasping for a landmark, I was 24 when I started my first company using dial-up internet and a flip phone in my parent’s kitchen. We cashed out seven years later, I drank a cup of coffee starting another one, and then CivicScience happened.
The human body (and psyche) isn’t built for 25 years of startup living. Raising money over and over again, personally floating payroll when you can’t, and asking your spouse to slog through a big job, so you can grossly underpay yourself while waking up at 3 am most nights wrestling with existential dread isn’t a recipe for physical or emotional well-being.
I’m speaking at the ROAR Forward conference in Hearst Tower on Tuesday. It’s an event focused on the later chapters of 50- and 60-somethings who tackle new life goals after they escape the corporate hamster wheel. I was blown away there last year, hearing inspirational stories of Baby Boomers who ran ultra-marathons, became artists from scratch, and started successful companies in new fields. These people are amazing.
Also, no thanks. When this thing is done, I’m done.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m as passionate about CivicScience as I was when I started it. We have lots left to do. And, with the proliferation of AI, we’ve never been in a better position. All I want is to go door-to-door, handing out those giant cardboard checks to our investors and our team, so they can do whatever they want with the next phase of their lives.
Then, I’m heading for the hills. No more startups for me.
I might keep writing, just for fun. I’ll definitely try to get my USGA handicap back down to where it belongs and maybe play in a few pool tournaments. I’m going to be one hell of an over-involved grandparent. Also, naps. Lots and lots of naps.
But for now, there’s too much work to be done. The world needs a foundational source of truth, today more than ever. No rest for the weary.
Here’s what we’re seeing:
In related news, one in five U.S. workers regularly take mental health days. I should first point out that AI wrote this entire article after tapping into our database, which I suppose could eventually free up our content team to take more mental health days, but that’s beside the point. Anyway, less than 1 in 10 working adults say their place of work actively encourages emotional well-being, while stigma among colleagues is an even further deterrent. No surprise, companies who do actively support mental health are viewed as much more desirable places to work.
[we need a chart here]
The appeal of fantasy sports extends beyond fans. Another AI-written article (don’t worry, we won’t make a habit of this – we’re just showcasing a new customer tool[hl]) this week looked at notable insights among fantasy sports enthusiasts. It didn’t take a sentient machine to discover that fantasy players are disproportionately men, but it might be less obvious that they skew significantly higher income and better educated. What’s most interesting, however, is that nearly 1 in 6 fantasy sports fans aren’t otherwise interested in sports at all. Gambling is a powerful drug.
Charitable donations on social media have skyrocketed, but people still prefer to go direct. In our 3 Things to Know this week, we learned that the percentage of Americans who’ve given to charities via social networking sites has increased by nearly 4X over the last decade. Still, a clear majority still prefer to donate via an organization’s website or in-person event. We also found that concerns about veteran’s affairs in the U.S. remain high – as does related charitable giving, if not high enough. Finally, completely unrelated, we discovered that very few consumers stick to their shopping list when hitting the grocery store.
The GLP-1 freight train just keeps rolling. With now over 115,000 self-reported Ozempic or other GLP-1 drug users in our database and 18 months of tracking data, the rising impact of these medications on consumerism is coming increasingly into focus. Behaviors among GLP-1 users are changing significantly, with snacking, alcohol consumption, dining out, and food portion sizes showing the largest net declines. Exercise, usage of vitamins and supplements, and utilization of mental health services dramatically over-index among users. If you don’t subscribe to this report – whatever industry you’re in – you should.
Toy buying could rebound this holiday season. After a dismal 2023, the percentage of Americans who plan to purchase toys as gifts this year is up 2%, while those who expect to spend over $200 on toys is up 3%. Online-only retailers (see: Amazon) are the most popular – and growing – choice. Big box and department stores (in-person and online) are trending in the opposite direction. Per usual, LEGO remains the brand shoppers are most likely to buy, followed by Disney and Fisher-Price. Games, puzzles, and electronic toys top the charts.
More awesomeness from the InsightStore:
- Gen Z is overtaking the snacking category, and they’re doing it earlier in the day;
- Ham is an increasingly popular Thanksgiving mainstay.
The most popular questions this week:
How health-conscious would you say you are about your diet?
Do you consider yourself to be a fashion-forward person?
Do you prefer to go for walks by yourself or with another person?
Do you typically continue working at your job as you eat lunch?
Answer Key: Not nearly enough; Much better – at least the young women; Definitely not; With another person for sure; Yes, it never stops.
Hoping you’re well.
JD
