Sometimes, It’s Just in the Numbers
by: Chris Goldby ∣ Hickory Algorithm
I woke up at 2:22 this morning.
You know how it goes—when you’re stumbling out of bed in the middle of the night, the first thing you do is check the clock. You just hope it’s at a time that gives you a little grace.
2:22 is a good number. That’s the kind of time you can curl back under the covers and drift off in seconds, knowing you’ve got a couple hours left before the day really begins. That realization alone gives you a little dopamine boost the gift of extra sleep.
But the opposite happens too. Sometimes you check the time and it’s just fifteen minutes before the alarm. You lay there, fighting to fall back asleep, but your mind keeps racing. You don’t drift off. You just start the day frustrated.
2:22
Later, my wife called me while I was at the WHKY offices. Without me telling her anything about my night, the first words out of her mouth were:
“It’s 2:22, honey.”
It was.Coincidence? Maybe. But it wasn’t the only number following me this week.
At our monthly Members Only seat-exclusive group this week, I finally brought a guest I’d been inviting for months.
Now, seven is a number that has been part of my life in some way. Back at my grocery store job, I’d joke with coworkers about a Dave Chappelle skit where he played craps. If you’ve ever played craps, you know that seven can either be the best or the worst number, it all depends on the moment. That line—“I once rolled seventy-seven sevens in a row”—became a running joke at work. We said it almost daily, laughing and quoting back and forth.
Then, in our Members Only book club, the first book we read together was Seven Communication Frequencies. Again, seven.
Of course, I grew up in Pittsburgh, where the number seven is legendary thanks to a quarterback I followed my entire childhood. My wife’s family has their own thing with sevens too. With birthdays, anniversaries, tied to that number.
And at first, I didn’t think much of it.
When I started this newsletter in December of 2024, I had no idea what would come of it. I didn’t expect it to contribute to my income. I just knew I had to write #fortheloveofthegame.
Family supported. Friends supported. Even an old gaming buddy I hadn’t spoken to in years jumped in to help me with website advice. Every gesture meant the world.
But one day, I saw something different. Buried in the mess of SEO spam and endless notifications was a small donation. Not from someone I knew well. Not from family or a close friend. Just someone who wanted to support the work.
The amount?
Seven dollars.
That $7 hit harder than anything else. Because it meant the work mattered to someone I hadn’t even expected to reach.
During that Members Only meeting at WHKY,
I looked down at the handout in front of me,
counted the number of members
and then across the table at my guest.
The same person that sent me that 7 dollars.
I smiled and said:
“We have six members. You’d be the seventh.”
I’m not a numerology guy. I wouldn’t call myself a hippie. But there are moments when you can’t ignore the patterns. When the universe—or God, or karma, however you frame it—seems to line things up in a way that makes you stop and think.
2:22.
7.
A reminder that support can come from unexpected places, like your being pushed in a certain direction for a reason.
Keep going.
Sometimes it’s just in the numbers.
#fortheloveofthegame
last week in the Hickory Algorithm Newsletter
#fortheloveofthegame
The foundation is laid. My strengths are seen. So are my weaknesses. Eight months into the Hickory Algorithm, the question now is:
How do we grow?
Events:
📆 September 27th - 🚍
Tickets Available Here
Hickory Algorithm is a reader-supported publication. #fortheloveofthegame spread the word to help feed these 3 teenage boys!
📆Oktober 10th through 12th - 🍻
Link to Facebook Event Page
The 37th Hickory Oktoberfest is a three-day, outdoor festival on the second weekend in October! Having been co-founded by a German, Adolphus “Dolph” Shuford, Hickory has a long, proud German heritage. Home to the United States headquarters for several German companies and sharing a region-to-region partnership between Altenburger Land, Germany, and the four Greater Hickory Metro counties of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba, our connection to Germany has never left us.
Come see your boy at the WHKY table.
📆 October 18th - 🧙♂️
Link to Facebook Event Page Here
Moonjoy Meadery Presents: The Fellowship of the Ring Hobbit Party!
This one is selfish because I’m hoping to attend.
Embark on an epic quest through Downtown Lenoir on Saturday, October 18th, from 1 PM to 6PM, as Moonjoy Meadery hosts a "Fellowship of the Ring" Hobbit Party!
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Things I use:
Google Workplace 🕸️
Looking to start a new workspace? I’ve been using google workplace for the last 5 months. If you are looking to have a business email and not use your personal email? I’ve been there, believe me. A new email like you@your-company.com to help you stay organized in the workplace. Link above with my Google Workplace, you get 10%, business email, and a 14 day trial.
Oura Ring 💍
I’ve been using Oura ring for the last 2 years. If you’re looking to take control of your sleep, recovery, and daily energy, the Oura Ring might be the smartest wearable out there. It’s a sleek, lightweight ring that tracks your heart rate, sleep quality, readiness, and activity all without the bulk of a smartwatch. Here is link to 10% off.
