The Deep Cut 005: Summer state of mind

I fucking love summer.

I love the heat. I love the sun. I love that slight sense of lawlessness when it’s too hot to do anything but sit in a body of water and let the world melt. Since I lost weight, I’m always cold, so now I chase summer like it owes me money. My new body was built for this.

Some of my best memories are soaked in SPF and chlorine. I grew up at the swim club, where days lasted forever. Swim team in the morning, candy and ice cream from the snack bar, and running wild and avoiding "adult swim" with friends until the sun disappeared. At night, we played wiffle ball, kickball, and “kick the can,” which—if you’ve never played—is basically hide-and-seek with a tin can and mild chaos. My best memories from childhood are from the cul-de-sac where I played all those games with my neighborhood homies.

Summer always brings a freeing feeling. Stress melts away, and the sun makes me happy. I get giddy when it finally feels like summer is in full swing.

And yet, the older I get, the trickier it is to hold onto that feeling. Getting older means living for the weekend—even when you work for yourself. I’ve tried every alternate work schedule under the sun (Summer Fridays, Wednesday beach days, whatever). None of them stuck. But for a couple of golden years, when my girls were in day camp, I had a good thing going: drop-off, beach, pick-up, pretend like I’d been productive. I’d offer for them to come with me instead of camp (they never did), and I’d get a few hours of ocean, iced coffee, and quiet. It felt illegal. It was bliss.

These days, summer means pool hangs, backyard playlists, and long, slow mornings outside with Bert, our Frenchie. We light candles at night and float around under the stars like we invented leisure. It’s built-in stress relief, right in my backyard. I love it.

Summer isn’t just a season. It’s a permission slip. To do less. To feel more. To remember who you were before you had a calendar.

So if you need me, I’ll be outside (with or without my laptop).

What I’m loving so far this summer...and a professional update

From golden-hour albums and nostalgic playlists to weird documentaries and big-stage moments, here’s what’s filling my summer so far—with a side of speaking gigs, writing wins, and creative momentum I’m actually excited about.

🎵 Listening

Wilco – Summerteeth
Pure summer nostalgia. I saw them live at a local park in New Jersey when this album came out, and it stuck with me. Melancholy yet somehow upbeat, beautiful, and timeless—this one sounds like golden hour and memory lane.

MDW16 Playlist on Spotify
Picture it: Memorial Day Weekend, 2016. A weekend at the beach with kids, dogs, friends, and late-night dance parties for fun-starved parents. This one brings back memories. It's funny how music can do that.

🎹 Spinning (from the vinyl collection)

Charli XCX – Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat
If you didn’t have a brat summer last year, it’s not too late. Charli XCX said it’s no longer brat summer, but that is not stopping me from yelling “SO BRAT” at any car, bike, person, building, utensil, etc. that’s lime green. Plus, this remix album is full of familiar voices and is the perfect soundtrack for a trip to the beach. (Thanks to Sylvie for gifting me this future classic for Christmas. My kids are the best.)

🎥 Watching

Pee-wee as Himself
I lived for Pee-wee’s Playhouse as a kid. The weirdness, the colors, the talking furniture? My mom’s cousin didn’t let us watch because he thought Pee-wee was a weirdo. I thought he was a perfect weirdo. Still do.

Fred again.. | Boiler Room: London
This set sounds like the hottest day of summer turning into the coolest night. It’s sweaty, euphoric, and full of surprises. Dance music for the emotionally well-adjusted. You can also stream it here.

⌨️ Writing

Riding the algorithm, riding the wave
I wrote this article as a way to keep the momentum going with the "Dear agencies" article that took off in a big way on Linkedin. It led to setting up an event about the topic, thanks to Carl Smith at The Bureau.

Side note: I’m publishing all my essays on LinkedIn and brettharned.com now, because I’m looking to connect with new audiences. Feel free to follow, like, comment, and connect!

🎤 Speaking! I’m back on the road this summer and fall! Come say hi:

Harnessing the PM/AM tension (Free webinar!)
June 24, Noon ET, with the Bureau of Digital
This event came out of my "Dear Agencies" post and all the convos it sparked. Let’s talk real team structure.

Agile 2025
July 27–31, Denver
I’m a track chair for "What if they don’t want our help." Helping to shape the future of Agile. I won't be speaking, but I'll be in all of my track's sessions and the social events.

Leading Your Firm’s Growth With Account and Project Management
September 23–24, Atlanta, GA
I was honored to be invited to speak at this event with David C. Baker, the renowned author and consultant known as the “expert’s expert." I’ll be presenting two solo sessions and one with account management expert Jenny Plant. Bonus: it’s in a brewery. 🍻

Leadership Love
September 29–30, Portland, OR
Carl Smith invited me to tell the story behind the viral post that reshaped my voice and work. I'm most excited for this one, because I've got a big story to tell.

PMICIC Professional Development Day 2025
August 6, Indianapolis
Excited to keynote PMI Central Indiana’s conference. My first time in Indy!

Digital PM Summit 2025
October 27–29, Portland, OR
The conference I started. I’ll be hosting + leading a half-day workshop: Navigating Change with Confidence. I'm stoked to make a full return to the conference I started.

TL;DR
I absolutely, unapologetically love summer. (Okay, maybe slightly apologetically—sorry for dropping the F-word, but I meant it.) This one’s a love letter to hot days, childhood memories, and that magical, freeing summer feeling. I’m also sharing the soundtrack, screen time, and creative sparks fueling my season—plus a few speaking adventures that double as my summer travel itinerary. Let’s call it work, but make it summer.