June 2025 round-up
Hari reflects on the wins, challenges and numbers that made up 13 Times’ June 2025.
Wins
SOFest - I genuinely wasn’t sure about SOFest. It sounded fun but would it be valuable? Would taking 3 days out from the daily grind be a blessing or a curse? It wasn’t cheap so would it be worth it?
As you may have read in my event write-up SOFest really was amazing. No regrets, no complaints, no notes. I’m hoping to go next year but the dates do clash with a fairly significant family birthday that I’m not sure I can skip… fingers crossed I can work it out.
New faces - As well as all the new connections we made at SOFest we also have a few new faces around the (virtual) office.
Dionne came on board to help us with some business development for 13 Times. I also got a chance for an in person meet-up with the lovely Hayley Maisey who’s been helping us out with marketing for the past few months. It was great to reconnect with Lina at SOFest too - she and I really need to get on with finding the right overlap of storytelling and systems thinking to work on.
Time out - the first day of June was also the last day of my holiday to Cyprus, a lovely sunny 8 days over half term.
Challenges
Hayfever - grass pollen hit me hard this year and was especially bad on the two days I spent in Manchester teaching a class in a great social enterprise venue beside the canal. It can be hard enough talking for 8 hours a day for 2 days, but doing it with a runny nose and scratchy throat is a real challenge.
Luckily I had enough Benedryl with me for day 1 and one day 2 one of my students generously offered me some antihistamines from her own stash. Thanks!
Heat - Aaron and I mostly work from the office we converted our attic into. It’s a great space full of light and air - most of the year.
On those days where the temperature rises into the high 20s, it gets rather unbearable in the afternoons, even with all the windows open. A few fans help, but it’s still a sweaty hot drag.
In numbers
1 x 2 day Storytelling for Business course in Manchester
2 x 3h Storytelling and Data virtual masterclasses
4 x 1h webinars
Overcoming stage fright
Projecting confidence - fake it ‘til you make it
Professional personal brand
Storytelling for business - intro course
