Hello Must Readers, I hope you had a good festive break and are recharged for 2021. This week I sent 21 must reads to get you ready for the first week of 2021 and a few articles from me that will help you to succeed in January. Normal programming of Must Reads each and every Friday will resume from the 8th.

The 21 Must-Read Stories To Prepare You For 2021

1. How Google is killing local news 📰 - Link While everyone else is attempting to fix local, large players are looking to kill local news

2. Finally - the internet has got smart to multi-layer marketing and kicking back 👏 - Link Network marketing seems to be on the up from brands trying to leverage subscriptions, consumers are fighting back

3. Trust your aha moment 💡 - Link

4. How Mr. Beast took over YouTube 💪 - Link Influencers launching products will ramp up in 2021, Mr. Beast will be one to study and learn what brand affinity and influence truly is

5. The best and worse of the internet in 2020 👩‍🏫 - Link

6. TED: How to control your free time 📆 - Link

7. 2021 the year you build WFH boundaries 👌 - Link

8. In one year, a challenge to help blind run safely worked, here’s how 💯 - Link

9. A peek behind the curtain of how Spotify is going to dominate audio…ads 👂 - Link

10. We’ve lost the art of being bored, should we go back to boredom? 😑 - Link 

11. How to build your own luck 🧱 - Link

12. Want to become a morning person? Here’s how 😴- Link As a morning person, I approve of this message

13. How thinking like a gardener might help you and your family grow 🌳 - Link

14. What lessons we can take and expect in tech in 2021 🤔- Link 

15. Some coaches have legendary stories. What’s yours? Here’s a good read of how legendary San Antonio Spurs coach brought respect to his team 🍷 - Link One of the first recommendations I make at focus is to arrange eating or drinking together as a team (virtually works too), this connection is vital in team development and bonding. When was the last time your team did this? Read my Focus AMA for more tips.

16. Meet brand live - the digital company behind Biden’s campaign 🗳 - Link

17. Why the virtual office is about to get an upgrade 👩‍💻 - Link Look out for developments in the digital HQ and virtual HQ space, both in the software and hardware space.

18. The secret to public speaking: Have something worth saying 🗣 - Link

19. The essential communication skills Salesforce CEO wishes everyone knew 👩‍💼- Link

20. Why cats slow blink at their owners 🐈 - Link

21. The business lessons from Jeff Bezos and Amazon 📦 - Link 

My Recommendation For 2021

Be More Creative!

Here are 10 essential reads from me for the next few weeks.

From dannydenhard.com:

• The Brand Book 2021 - 6 brand leads help to guide you in making a great brand for 2021 and beyond - Link 

• The questions to answer for CMO’s and Brand leads for 2021 - Link 

• The growth areas you should explore - Link

• The biggest industries ready for economic growth - Link

• Vodcasts - the next big wave of podcasts - Link

From focus.business:

• The 2021 predictions you should follow - Link 

• 21 actions to take to win culture and strategy - Link

• The five roles you and your business should hire in the coming months - Link

• The rallying cry and what you should send to your team on January 4th - Link

• The five things you should do before 2021 - Link

Quote Of The Week:

Thanks again for reading today, I will see you in the new year.

Danny Denhard Connect with me: Twitter Or LinkedInOr

The Must Reads newsletter is your weekly brainfood newsletter filled with Must Read Articles. It takes me a couple of hours every week to find, quality check, to create your favourite weekly newsletter. About My Work: I am on a mission to fix the broken world of work with Focus. I have spent two decades in Marketing and Growth leadership, from before Google dominated search and Facebook controlled ‘Social’. I am a former JustGiving Exec & currently, I am an interim CMO and companies advisor. Happily email me for consultancy.