Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 1, 2026

Genuine Leaders, LLC, operating Steve Schlafman’s website and Field Notes (“we,” “us,” or “our”), respects your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and disclose information when you visit steveschlafman.com, schlaf.co, or fieldnotes.steveschlafman.com, subscribe to our newsletter, request a resource, or contact us through these sites.

For privacy questions or requests, email s@schlaf.co.

This policy covers the website and related communications. Any additional handling of coaching client records will be explained separately as part of the coaching relationship.

Information you provide

Newsletter subscriptions. When you subscribe to Field Notes, we collect your email address and, if you provide it, your name. Ghost maintains your member record, subscription preferences, signup date, and information about the source of your signup.

Contact messages. Our contact form asks for your full name, email address, and message. We receive the information you submit and any additional information you choose to share in subsequent correspondence. We use it to respond to your questions, discuss coaching or collaborations, and keep track of our conversation. Please avoid including sensitive personal information that is unnecessary for your inquiry.

Resources. If you request a guide or another resource through an email form, we collect your email address and any newsletter preference you submit so we can provide the requested resource and manage that preference.

Comments. If you use commenting features on Field Notes, Ghost processes your member identity and comment. Comments and the associated display name can be visible to other readers. Please share only information you are comfortable making public.

Website analytics and technical information

We use Framer’s built-in analytics to understand how people use the main website. It provides statistics such as page views, visitor counts, referral sources, approximate country, device and browser categories, and engagement with pages or forms. Framer describes this service as cookie-free and designed not to collect information that identifies individual visitors. We do not use Google Analytics.

Field Notes also uses Ghost’s built-in web analytics. Ghost counts visits without analytics cookies or persistent browser storage for identifying visitors across sessions. When you are signed in as a Ghost member, activity on the Ghost site can be associated with your member ID, including which posts you view.

Our hosting and delivery providers also process technical information necessary to serve pages, deliver content, and protect the services. This can include your IP address, browser information, and request or security logs. Cookie-free analytics does not mean that no technical information is processed.

Newsletter delivery and engagement

We use Ghost to manage Field Notes subscriptions and send emails. Newsletter delivery and engagement records can include which emails were sent to you, delivery failures, subscription changes, recorded opens, and links clicked.

Email-open measurement uses a small image in the email, and click measurement uses tracked links. These records can be associated with your subscriber profile; they are separate from Framer’s website analytics. They help us understand readership, improve the newsletter, and manage delivery. Email privacy features and automated scanners can affect the accuracy of these measurements.

You can unsubscribe using the link in a newsletter email or contact us for help. Unsubscribing stops newsletter emails but does not necessarily delete your Ghost member account or every historical record. To request deletion, email us.

Submitting a contact inquiry is not, by itself, a request to receive the newsletter.

How we use information

We use information to:

Send newsletters you request and manage your subscription.
Provide guides or resources you request.
Respond to inquiries and communicate about possible services or collaborations.
Operate membership and commenting features.
Understand readership and improve our content and website.
Prevent spam, maintain security, troubleshoot problems, and meet legal obligations.

Where European or UK data protection law applies, our legal basis depends on the purpose. We rely on consent for newsletter marketing where required; steps taken at your request before entering a contract for relevant service inquiries; legitimate interests in responding to general correspondence, operating and securing the services, and improving our content, subject to your rights; and legal obligations where applicable. Any consent required for email tracking must be obtained separately where the relevant law requires it.

Who receives information

We use providers to operate the website and communications. These include Framer for website hosting, native forms, and website analytics; Ghost for Field Notes hosting, membership, newsletter delivery, and analytics; and the email services used to receive and respond to correspondence. Their infrastructure and service providers may also process information to provide those functions.

We do not sell personal information or disclose it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

We may disclose information when required by law or reasonably necessary to protect people, security, or legal rights. If the business is transferred or reorganized, relevant records may be transferred as part of that process, subject to applicable law.

Links to external websites take you to services with their own privacy policies. Embedded third-party features, where present, can also receive technical information when they load or when you interact with them. Their practices are distinct from Framer’s built-in analytics.

Cookies and browser storage

Framer’s built-in analytics does not use analytics cookies, and we do not use Google Analytics or advertising cookies for our own website analytics.

Ghost membership features may use cookies or similar storage necessary to keep you signed in and operate your account. Signup-source attribution may also use browser storage. Newsletter tracking images and links are explained above.

You can manage cookies and storage through your browser settings. Blocking storage needed for membership may affect sign-in and account features. Any additional consent requirements depend on the particular feature and applicable law.

How long we keep information

We keep information for as long as reasonably needed for the purposes described in this policy, taking account of the nature of the information, our relationship with you, operational needs, and legal obligations.

Subscriber records are kept while needed to manage your subscription or member account. After an unsubscribe request, we may retain a limited record of your email address and preference to avoid sending unwanted newsletters. Contact correspondence and resource-request records are kept while needed to respond, follow up, and maintain relevant business records. Delivery and engagement information is retained according to our needs and the retention available in the services we use.

Unsubscribing and deleting an account are different actions. You may contact us to request deletion of personal information, subject to any records we must or are otherwise permitted to retain. Backup copies may remain until they are replaced or expire under the relevant provider’s backup cycle.

Your choices and privacy rights

You can choose not to provide information, although we may then be unable to respond to an inquiry, deliver a resource, or create a subscription.

Depending on the law that applies to you, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your personal information; restrict or object to certain uses; and withdraw consent. Withdrawal does not affect processing that was lawful before you withdrew consent.

To make a request, email s@schlaf.co. We may need to verify your identity using information proportionate to the request. We will respond within the time required by applicable law. Where applicable, you can also complain to your local data protection authority, including the UK Information Commissioner’s Office or the relevant authority in the European Economic Area.

Our main website analytics does not use persistent identifiers to track you across unrelated websites. We do not use browser Do Not Track signals to change the operation of these services. Where legally required, applicable opt-out preference signals will be honored.

International processing and security

Our website and communications use providers that may process information in the United States, Europe, or other countries. Privacy laws in those countries may differ from the laws where you live.

Where applicable law requires safeguards for international transfers of personal information, those safeguards must be in place. You can contact us for information about the providers and transfer arrangements relevant to your information.

We use reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect personal information. No website, email system, or storage service can guarantee complete security.

Children and policy updates

The website and newsletter are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact us so we can investigate and take appropriate action.

We may update this policy as our services or practices change. We will post the updated version here and revise the date above. Where required, we will give additional notice or obtain consent before using information in a materially different way.

For questions, contact Genuine Leaders, LLC at s@schlaf.co.

Home

Coaching

Writing

Wall of Love

About

Bookshelf

Podcasts

Connect