Hello Reader, This email is the third part in a short series that steps slightly outside my usual lane. I’m writing about the wage gap, payroll imbalance, and how we value work because it connects directly to the themes many of you know me for—time, attention, and productiveness. If something here resonates (or rubs you the wrong way), hit reply and tell me. Your feedback is shaping this series as I go. Inside most organizations, payroll is “the controllable.” When numbers don’t line up, the...
2 days ago • 4 min read
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 1, Issue 29 | September 13, 2025 Hello Reader, The week started clunky. Technical headaches, email mishaps, the kind of friction that makes you wonder if everything is going to stay off-kilter. By Tuesday, things had begun to settle. Not perfect… but better. And by the time you read this, I’ll have shared an evening with friends, unwinding with conversation and laughter. The arc of those few days is a reminder of how perspective takes shape. Perspective isn’t...
4 days ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, I want to be upfront: This is the second email in a series that is a little different from what I usually send. Normally, I’m writing about time, attention, and productiveness. But I’ve been reflecting on the wage gap, payroll imbalance, and how we define value — and I can’t help but see the connection to my own field. If you read something that resonates — or something you disagree with — I’d love to hear from you. Just hit reply and let me know. When companies make payroll...
5 days ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, “When we intentionally engage with time—when we slow down, focus, and immerse ourselves in the present—we create a deeper connection to our work and our lives.” – The Productivity Diet That line captures why connection has always been central to my work. It isn’t just about doing more. It’s about being present enough to notice, to listen, and to truly engage. Over the past few months, I’ve had the chance to share meaningful exchanges with people whose ideas continue to shape how...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, This isn’t the kind of territory I normally wade into, but I feel like it needs to be said. The way companies manage payroll—and the way pay gets distributed between executives and frontline workers—is deeply out of balance. You may have seen the headlines about strikes. The most recent that caught my eye was the Air Canada flight attendants’ strike. These are people who face customers every single day, manage the stresses of irregular hours and demanding environments, and carry...
9 days ago • 5 min read
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 1, Issue 28 | September 6, 2025 Hello Reader, I came across a video recently that stuck with me. A driver was furious about a parking ticket. His meter expired at 11:39 a.m.. He was ticketed at 11:43 a.m.. He recorded his frustration at 11:49 a.m., still simmering. Now, no one likes a ticket. But here’s the thing: the meter wasn’t subjective. It was objective. Four minutes past is four minutes past. And yet, when rules cut against us, we often want subjectivity....
11 days ago • 2 min read
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 1, Issue 27 | August 30, 2025 Hello Reader, This is my last email for the year—my year. Two days from now, on September 1, I’ll step into a new one. It’s not because the calendar says so, but because I’ve decided that’s when my year begins. I’m not alone in that. People like Gretchen Rubin and Martin Short also start their year in September, aligning it with the rhythm of schooling—their own in the past, their kids’ in the present. I’ve still got a few more...
18 days ago • 2 min read
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 1, Issue 26 | August 23, 2025 Hello Reader, Yesterday, our TimeCrafting Trust Premium community spent the day in immersive focus. No endless notifications. No juggling five tasks at once. Just deep, uninterrupted time devoted to what mattered most. For some, that could have meant committing to a Daily Theme and letting it guide every decision. Others might've leaned on a Monthly Theme that allowed them to weave focus into the day’s natural flow. Some may have...
25 days ago • 3 min read
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 1, Issue 25 | August 16, 2025 Hello Reader, As summer begins its slow fade, it’s tempting to do the same. We coast. We keep the heat on low. We simmer. But simmering is passive. It’s a waiting game—letting time slip while ideas, ambitions, and opportunities just bubble quietly beneath the surface. Seeking, though… seeking is intentional. It’s looking ahead, moving toward what matters, and taking deliberate steps—even small ones—toward a future we want to forge,...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read