September Synergy: Being Present, Sustainability Careers, and Self-Reflection on a Significant Life Milestone

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The purpose of this newsletter is to provide you with monthly insights into technology and sustainability. We also include a productivity tip and a recommended resource to help you approach the upcoming month more informed and invigorated.

Hello Friends and Family 👋

Welcome to the September edition of my Monthly Newsletter! As the seasons begin to shift and we transition from summer to fall, September holds special meaning for me—this month, I’m turning 40! It kind of feels like a scary milestone to reach, but it does allow me to reflect both on my accomplishments as well as anticipate what’s yet to come.

With that in mind, I’m excited to share the latest insights, growth, and thoughts with you. Let’s dive in!

🏖️ Mindfulness Matters: Staying Grounded in a Hectic World

In this whirlwind of life and milestones, mindfulness can be a powerful anchor to us. In the spirt of trying to be always present, I recently wrote two blog posts reflecting on how mindfulness helps keep us centered, whether in the fast-paced world of product management or the peaceful practice of birdwatching. Here’s a peek:

1. Mindfulness in Product Management: Staying mindful in the role of a Product Manager allows for one to focus on user needs while maintaining balance between innovation and delivering what’s asked of you.

2. Birdwatching as a Way to Connect to Nature: For over 20 years, Birdwatching has been my personal refuge—a way to reconnect with nature and find peace amidst the chaos. I share how birds and the act of being outside can be a mindful practice that helps us unplug and recharge.

🌍 Sustainability Spotlight: Kicking Off My Climatebase Fellowship

I’m excited to continue building my future in the sustainability space. This month marks the beginning of my Climatebase Fellowship, a pivotal opportunity to delve into critical topics such as:

• Energy Infrastructure: Exploring sustainable energy sources and their implementation.

• Transportation & Supply Chain: Investigating ways to reduce emissions and improve efficiency.

• Food & Agriculture: Diving into sustainable practices that could reshape our global food systems.

• Corporate Sustainability: This one particularly resonates with me. Here I’ll be exploring how businesses can not only profit but lead the charge in environmental responsibility.

I’m eager to share my journey with you as I explore these fields and build the next chapter of my career.

💡 Productivity Corner: Harness Your Own P.O.W.E.R.

I get it - we all can get caught up in distracting and unimportant tasks that take your eye off the ball of what you really want to be doing in your personal and professional lives. As a way to focus on how you can truly drive progress towards your own goals, I’m sharing the P.O.W.E.R. framework—a guide that helps clarify where your unique contributions lie and how you can make a meaningful impact. It stands for:

• P - Pinpoint what only you can lead.

• O - Own a change that’s sorely needed.

• W - Work ON a system vs. IN a system.

• E - Establish an unmet need to fill.

• R - Remove a barrier.

Continue to revisit this and make sure that you are focusing on things that address these 5 areas. It has helped me focus on areas where I can lead change, and I hope it can help you, too. For more helpful productivity tips, I provide a great one here:

📚 Resource of the Month: "Burnbook: A Tech Love Story" by Kara Swisher

As I continue reflecting on my journey in tech, I recently finished "Burnbook: A Tech Love Story" by Kara Swisher. I know I’m late to the party on this one as it came out earlier this year, however listening to the audio book while power washing my deck gave me great insight on the tech billionaires club. Her insight into how many of these figures are more about the money than truly “changing the world” is a powerful reminder to stay grounded and true to your principles.

40 and Forward: Reflections and the Road Ahead

As I turn 40, it’s an opportune time to reflect on where I’ve been and where I want to go. From product management to birdwatching, sustainability to family life, I feel proud of the path I’ve walked so far. But there’s still so much I want to accomplish—particularly in the intersection of sustainability, technology, and leadership.

Thank you for being part of my journey. I’m looking forward to what the next decade holds and I’m grateful to have you alongside me.

As we move through September, I encourage you to take moments of reflection and mindfulness. Here’s to an inspiring month filled with growth, sustainability, and meaningful connections.

Stay inspired and grounded,

Patrick 🫡

About Feather Frameworks

Feather Frameworks, led by Patrick Meeker, is a consultancy deeply committed to harnessing the power of technology to meet people at the intersection of mindfulness, sustainability, and innovation. Taking a user-centric approach and planet-first mentality, we deliver powerful solutions that connect people through technology while solving the most important problems facing our planet.