Jake's Notebook | Steven Bartlett & A Letter From Deciem's Co-Founder

In the first episode of 'my notebook,' the host introduces a new format where he shares insights and reflections from his personal notes accumulated over the years. At nearly 47 years old, he expresses his lifelong habit of journaling to make sense of his thoughts and feelings about his life, career, and experiences, all while giving listeners an unfiltered look into his mind.

He starts by recounting the excitement of seeing fellow podcaster Stephen Bartlett appear on The Tonight Show, sharing his initial feelings of envy before realizing that success in the industry is collective rather than a competition. This reflection leads to a discussion on the importance of storytelling, optimizing content, and maintaining integrity in work versus succumbing to clickbait culture in podcasting.

The episode transitions as he shares his admiration for entrepreneur Nicola Kilner, co-founder of the beauty brand The Ordinary. He recounts a touching story about Nicola’s kind gesture towards his daughter, which showcases her character and the reality of who people are when they don’t think anyone is watching.

The host discusses his recent absence from television and the internal conflict of ego versus fulfillment in his work. He emphasizes the importance of caring about what you do, noting that genuine endeavors yield energy and motivation, while those that don't resonate feel laborious. He ends with the notion that taking even small steps—anything above zero—contributes to personal growth and habit formation, leading to eventual transformations.

The episode concludes with an inspiring quote from Phil Knight about facing the unknown versus retreating to comfort, encouraging listeners to embrace the journey of personal and professional development as he intends to continue sharing his reflections weekly.