Newsletter #38: Shopify news, Harley Finkelstein’s podcast, and closing my laptop

Hi there,

I hope you're feeling good.

I’ve made the big move! I’m writing these words from my new apartment in beautiful London. If this newsletter had an audio format, you would hear the echo caused by the high ceiling and the lack of furniture. For now, it’s just a bed and a desk. Soon, I’ll be adding a table, chairs, plants, etc. I’m also considering adding a nice standing mirror.

This weekend will be dedicated to decorating and slowly getting settled in. If you’re in London and would like to have a coffee to chat about all things Shopify, feel free to reply to this email.

In today’s edition, we’re discussing Shopify news, Harley Finkelstein’s podcast, and closing my laptop.

Let's dive in.

Work

What was the Shopify ecosystem up to this week?

• Tobi shared a very interesting statistic

What a crazy number!

In the tweet’s comments, someone asked “Why did they quit for the first time?”. Tobi half-jokingly answered “False believe that there are better companies to work for I guess”.

Behind these tweets, there is an interesting topic to think about: why would an ex-employee return to a company?

There can be so many answers, especially regarding fast-growing companies like Shopify.

Perhaps you left back in 2015 and are now excited to rejoin to see how the company has evolved and how you can contribute? Perhaps you were laid off and you applied to come back at another position? Or perhaps you did try other companies but realized Shopify was a better fit for you?

In the comments, I also noticed an interesting comment from Jason Fried, the founder of 37Signals, who I was talking about in edition 26.

The most important sentence here is “If someone decided to leave, then they’re at the back of the line, not the front, when new opportunities open up”.

What are your thoughts on this?

• Harold Araba released Shift UI, a Figma UI kit and design system specifically made to design Shopify themes and stores

Harold is a French designer. He recently released his first theme, Cama, on the Shopify Theme Store.

With Shift UI, Harold addresses the time-consuming design process of repeatedly recreating the same e-commerce components.

His vision with Shift UI is to save designers precious time and help them establish a cohesive design system while adhering to important design principles and best practices.

Discover more about Shift UI on its website.

Inspire

Did you know that Shopify’s President, Harley Finkelstein, had a podcast?

It’s called “Big Shot”, and he hosts it with David Segal.

In the podcast’s description on YouTube, Harley and David describe themselves as Jewish entrepreneurs influenced by the greats who came before them.

“Big Shot” tells the stories of the people that shaped an entire generation, whose shoulders we often stand on without even knowing it, and who continue to serve as an inspiration for the future.

I find it very inspiring to discover the different side projects that Harley Finkelstein is working on. I first came across his Shopify store, Firebelly Tea, which he also co-founded with David Segal. And now, I’m discovering their podcast. What a nice surprise!

I especially enjoyed the two-part episode where Harley and David interviewed Isadore (Issy) Sharp, the founder of the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Explore

In this Explore section, my goal has always been to share relaxing content that allows me to disconnect from work. The format does not matter. It can be podcasts, articles, videos, music, etc.

Looking back on the past 10 months of weekly newsletters, I realize that a vast majority of this relaxing content has been on-screen content, meaning things I was recommending you to watch as they made me feel joyful.

Today, I’d like to add something important.

My biggest moments of disconnection, where I’m really able to unplug and relax, arise when I do one thing: closing my laptop.

Putting my sneakers on and stepping outside. Sometimes, the secret is as simple as that.

So that’s my recommendation for the weekend ahead.

Get some fresh air. Slow down. Enjoy the sun on your face (if you’re not in the UK). Just kidding, we do have blue skies. I have proof:

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading this edition until the end.

I'll talk to you soon.

Take good care of yourself.

Coralie