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First things first: such a great round-up - it's been a real treat these past few days to read about your first year on Substack, and to get the chance in this latest post to meet - thanks to your links - some key members of your community on this fabulous platform. And wow, I'm really touched at your honourable mention of my own 'Stack - thank you so much! In fact you were one of the first people I found on Substack to subscribe to (I was nervously trying to get to grips with my first 'Office Hours' at the time... and there you were!). Proud to be a H.A.T.T.E.R.!

From zero to over 1,030 subscribers in twelve months - and it has not escaped my attention that this has been due to organic growth - is tremendous. I know it's not all about the numbers - it's about the writing, the research, the sheer fun of putting pen to notebook paper - but at the same time it's such a heartening metric by which to measure the impact of one's words. Kudos!

Winning the Leuchtturm notebook is the absolutely icing on the cake - that's made my day! THANK YOU! Sending you an e-mail right away. Utterly thrilled. 🙌

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No, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I can’t think of a more deserving winner! I’m just imagining all the gorgeous notes & drawings you’ll put in your new notebook!

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Awwwww, thanks, Jillian! 😊😊😊

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Im so, so happy for you Mark! As you know, you were one of the first substackers to find Noted & comment on it. I had 10 subscribers (all friends) at that point, so it meant the world to me!

I love how when one of us does well, the rest of us profit. So happy that my recent burst in subscriptions has benefitted YOU!

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Thanks Jillian, looking forward to the future!

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Congratulations on your first year! It's great that you got to your goal of 1,000 subscribers.

I'm still trying to break into the 3 number category. I might have to subscribe to Noted if that's where you're getting these people from. Of course, I don't do much marketing as I should.

I can't wait to see what you do next. I know I can expect interesting topics each time you post.

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Thank you kindly!

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What a year it has been, Mark. I’ve really enjoyed learning from you over the past year and getting the “inside baseball” view of the newsletter’s growth and functioning. And, how you’ve adjusted the format and production in response to life. It’ll keep growing into whatever it’s meant to be for the next phase of the HATTERverse. 🎩

Then you go with a lovely note AND tell me I’m a winner of a beautiful notebook!! Yay!! I never win things 😅

Thank you so much, for the book, but more importantly the camaraderie as we all learn this space 💜

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That is so kind of you to say, Mark. Thank you! (And an honour to be listed in such company, so I'm doubly grateful.)

Huge congratulations on this subscriber milestone. It's a testament to your dedication and your good instincts. So glad to see you're building and thriving. You clearly know what you're doing here, and I hope you never forget it.

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Thanks Mike!

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Congrats on your first year! Over 1000 in a year is fantastic! 💜

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Thanks Sue!

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Many congratulations on the 1 year mark, Mr. Dykeman. Your work has been a fresh breath of air to the chaos that’s posted on the internet. Here’s to year 2 and many more!

Hope to be joining the 1 year mark clan next month myself.

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Back at you, Mark! It’s been great to get to know one another on and now off Twitter, and write together and apart. Drinks some time for sure! (We’ll need to do some planning with Bryn)

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Congrats! I think I found your newsletter from Noted's reccomendation list. I love journals and notebooks so I'm hoping to read your past posts when I get some time!

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Welcome, great to have you here!

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Congrats on a great year! I'm so glad we did our letters thing. It was a fun start to 2023. Here's to Year Two!

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Cheers for the mention, mate. I’m stoked to see your subscriber success, as your work is always a great part of the week.

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Thanks Ryan!

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Great round-up, Mark and glad to see you came out of your beginning of the year slump. I was at the same place you were, only I'm still there....lol. Hopefully, inspiration will visit again and I can hop back on the Substack Express.

Nice to see you growing and keep it up!

Thanks for the mention :)

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Congrats on the 1 year anniversary and also on crossing 1000 subscribers. Woohoo I hope your 2nd year is even more successful!

Yes, I read every issue, sometimes a little late, like this last week. Thanks for the shoutout.

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