Of Course, I Filled Out My Own Survey

Because If I Didn’t Want to Talk About Myself, I Wouldn’t Have Started a Newsletter.

Author

Clay Garrett
September 25th, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

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Hey—it’s Clay.

I’ll skip the dramatic buildup this time and just get to it. 🔥

Of Course, I Filled Out My Own Survey

When I sent out that survey last week, I wasn’t trying to collect “market research.” I was trying to learn who’s really sitting around this campfire with me. Not just job titles or favorite books, but the worries, wins, and quirks that make you who you are.

And it only feels fair that I hold up my end of the deal. If I’m going to ask you to open up about your life, the least I can do is open up about mine. So here goes…

What field do you work in?
Marketing/Creative. I run 1808 Creative and write Campfire Gentleman — both under 1808 Enterprises, which I own.

What best describes your relationship status?
Married almost 15 years, together almost 20. (My wife deserves a medal.)

Do you have kids?
Yep. Two — a 12-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl.

How and when do you typically read the Campfire Gentleman Newsletter?
Seconds after it hits my inbox, at the dining room table, on my laptop. Usually just to reassure myself that I don’t sound like the complete idiot I sometimes think I do.

What problems are you facing right now — the kind that keep you up at night?
Honestly? The fear that I’m not doing enough as a father — and that time to do more is slipping away day by day.

Is there any type of product or service you wish I offered that I don’t?
A surefire way to make a million bucks in a few months. (If I had that, I’d already be using it myself.)

What types of brands, products, or services are you interested in right now?
Headphones that can survive kids dropping them (or spilling V8 on them). Sunglasses that can survive kids playing with them. Basically, dad-proof gear.

Who would you like to see me collaborate with or interview?
I’m going to resist the urge to be super self-indulgent and say every band I love and instead say… Joshua Becker, Mark Manson, Steven Pressfield, Dr. John Delony, Greg Scheinman, Brett McKay. I could go on forever.

What do you most often read, watch, or listen to?
Jack Reacher novels — all of them. Also, fiction books from David Leadbetter and Joseph Finder. Self-development books like Gary Chapman and Steven Pressfield. Cozy British mysteries with my wife. And lots of NFL and NBA — plus the sports show First Things First. The list of music I listen to would be far too long, so I made this YouTube playlist if you’re curious.

Anything else?
Doing this work for Campfire Gentleman is the most fulfilled I’ve ever been from a “work” perspective in my entire life.

That’s me. Not polished. Not pretending I’ve got it all figured out. Just another husband, dad, and human trying to sort through life’s noise and put first things first.

Now it’s your turn again — if you haven’t filled out the survey yet, I’d love to hear from you. I’ll read every single answer you send. The more I know about what matters to you, the more useful (and less noisy) this campfire becomes.

A Music Recommendation You Didn’t Ask For

B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 by Joe Bonamassa

I’ve been streaming B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100, Vol. 1 — a brand-new EP from Joe Bonamassa and a few friends, celebrating what would have been B.B. King’s 100th birthday this year. Look for the full album early next year. 

I’m a big fan of Bonamassa (and the blues in general), so this one was an easy sell for me. The standout track is Let the Good Times Roll, featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Noah Hunt from KWS’s band.

I’ll admit I’m a little biased… Kenny Wayne grew up about 45 minutes from my hometown and was already a regional superstar when he was 17 and I was 13. But bias aside, it’s a fun, soulful listen and a worthy nod to B.B. King’s legacy.

Worth a Listen

The Life Shift Podcast with Matt Gilhooly

I recently had the chance to record an episode of The Life Shift Podcast with host Matt Gilhooly. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s out, but in the meantime, I’d recommend giving his show a listen.

Matt has built something really meaningful — conversations about the moments that shape who we are and where we’re going. There are a lot of great episodes in the archive, but one that stood out to me is his conversation with Brent Perkins: The Power of Letting Go.

It’s honest, vulnerable, and exactly the kind of dialogue we need more of.

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For a while now, I’ve been offering Campfire Sessions—one-on-one coaching conversations built around the five pillars of Campfire Gentleman: Family, Purpose, Growth, Health, and Simplicity.

These aren’t lectures or “10x hustle” blueprints. They’re simple, practical conversations designed to help you sort out what matters, clear away the noise, and take your next step with confidence.

If you’ve been thinking, “I should do this sometime,” maybe that time is now. Pull up a chair at the fire—let’s talk.

👉 Book your Campfire Session here

Until next time—
Keep the fires burning,
— Clay

P.S. I’d rather grow Campfire Gentleman through real connections than algorithms. If something here resonated with you, forward it to one friend who might enjoy it too. That simple act helps more than you know—and keeps me off the social media hamster wheel.

If you like Campfire Gentleman, here are a few other newsletters I actually read.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. I only share products and services I genuinely believe add value and align with the mission of Campfire Gentleman