The future of my newsletter
Agile, Product and Leadership
Here we are in 2025. I hope this will be a great year for you.
Since I started writing in 2016, the world has changed. Back then, Agile was booming. Now, not so much. I am fortunate not to see this impact in my daily work. I also continued to see my newsletter grow, to 4377 followers today. I largely ignored the discourse. But I don’t think I can continue to do so.
For seven years, writing articles felt effortless. There was so much to tell about Agile in all kinds of ways. But the type of content I created back then is no longer pushing the needle today. I still believe that organizations benefit from Agile. That said, words like “Agile” and “Scrum” are out of fashion, to say the least. And what’s even more important: I don’t think it’s the most important thing to discuss now.
I want to continue writing relevant articles about agility, creating valuable products and leadership. My motivation is the same as when I started: I think I have something to add to the narrative.
I have many thoughts about the current times and how this impacts the creation of valuable products. But these thoughts are all over the place. Contrary to before, I can’t have something publishable ready in two or three hours. My time for writing is limited. I have to figure out a new way. I am on a journey.
I may want to change the newsletter’s name (Ageling on Agile). Because before I know it, this name may give people the impression I’m stuck in 2001. But I’m unsure what would be a good alternative.
What do you think of my contemplations? What would you like to see me write about? Do you have a great suggestion for a newsletter name? Please let me know in the comments!
Thank you!
I work for a large multi-national org that thinks it IS agile yet the hierarchy here is at times stifling. I am constantly focusing on breaking down barriers, working on continuous improvement/lean and this seems to land well. It has taken me time to build my relationships with various leaders, so that's positive that they are open to things. All this tests my courage! so that is my current situation. I love what you say and know you DO have experience with helping large organizations find their ways to better ways of working. They are seriously contemplating implementing SAFe and I have no voice in this and I feel like running away but I won't. How does one adopt positive ways of thinking facing such things?! Ha, longer comment than I expected to post but I am quite interested in your newsletters. Thank you for all that you share and might share!
Hey there, thanks for sharing insights always and your continued efforts for and with the agile (!) community. I feel you. With all the "agile is dead" thinking and old fashioned management believing they're agile, while being stuck in the old (like "before agile") world. Agile always has been "about people". And the "about process" folks have never got that and likely never will. Regardless which name we hype. To me: Jumping on the agile bandwaggon now would feel weird. Sticking to the name with a track record of "being on board for decades" gives credit to the movement, while showing your own wealth of experience.