A Doodle a Day

Hi Reader,

Welcome to Your Dose of Mana — a quick, weekly note with:
1 real story
1 leadership insight
1 practical takeaway

1 dose of art (NEW!)

It All Started with a Doodle (sort of)

1 Real Story
Meet Gary, one of my besties from business school. He’s one of those rare combinations—smart, sharp, maddeningly disciplined, and most importantly, a genuinely good soul. He’s got a razor-sharp wit to go with his GQ looks, though we still debate the correct hair length (I’m right, natch).

A marketing talent who honed his skills in Fortune 100 companies then shared them in the startup world. Then one day, he did something most people only dream about—he walked away. From the corporate ladder, the title, and the predictability.

He chose happiness. He chose art.

So, he started to draw. Every day. A doodle a day.

And because he’s an Ironman-level overachiever (seriously—complete tree plus other ultra things) he didn’t stop at one. He’s on #27.

Two stacks of black notebooks sit side by side on the floor in front of a wood chest. The floor is stone gray and terra cotta. The books are numbered. The left stack of books starts at the bottom (book 1) going to 16. The right stack of books starts at 17 on the bottom going to 26. — Gary’s books of doodles

Every day, my phone pings with at least one of his doodles. Each one’s a hit of joy—a reminder that joy doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes it’s just a pen and a blank page.

Now, he doesn’t just doodle. The doodles are his daily warm-ups. He creates and sells a wide variety of art—pieces that reflect the same discipline and curiosity he brings to all other aspects of his life.

1 Leadership InsightGary’s story isn’t about art. It’s about agency.
He didn’t wait for permission or validation. He didn’t rebrand his pivot to make it sound heroic. He just started doing the thing that gave him energy.

Leaders frequently get this wrong. They chase titles, not truths. They measure progress in promotions instead of peace.

Real leadership is knowing the difference between “this is good” and “I should”—and having the guts to stop shoulding.

1 Practical Takeaway

Find your version of a doodle.
Something that pulls you out of the grind and back into yourself.
It doesn’t have to be pretty. It just has to be yours.

1 Dose of Art

Featuring: Gary Schechner’s Doodle of the Day

A little whimsy. A little joy. A little doodle.

May 30, 2025 Doodle of Cliffs and the Beach

Even though this is a “mass email” I mean it when I say—let me know what you are up to. Reply, book a Zoom, pick up the phone. I’d love to catch up.

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Thanks for letting me show up in your inbox.
See you next week with another Dose.

More joy. Less friction. Always.
—Amy

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