Read on Twitter
1/58
I recently turned 33, and I have not written much about business.
I use my twitter account for plenty of other things besides just work.
It's an outlet and I have deeper strategic plans for power here beyond business.
But gotta follow demand so here's what I've learned:
I recently turned 33, and I have not written much about business.
I use my twitter account for plenty of other things besides just work.
It's an outlet and I have deeper strategic plans for power here beyond business.
But gotta follow demand so here's what I've learned:
2/58
I jumped right into entrepreneurship after getting my engineering PhD at 26.
I said screw working for the man.
I refuse to do things any other way than my way.
I was cocky and failed over and over again. I loved it!
I jumped right into entrepreneurship after getting my engineering PhD at 26.
I said screw working for the man.
I refuse to do things any other way than my way.
I was cocky and failed over and over again. I loved it!
3/58
But really I hated it. Unless you've been in truly dire straights before, you have no idea about the feelings of dread in the pit of your stomach.
You're putting in hours of intellectually challenging effort, year after year, with seemingly no return for your labors.
But really I hated it. Unless you've been in truly dire straights before, you have no idea about the feelings of dread in the pit of your stomach.
You're putting in hours of intellectually challenging effort, year after year, with seemingly no return for your labors.
4/58
That shit wears you down, no matter how many ecourses from toughguys you read on mental resilience.
For some inspiring quotes, check out this thread here: https://twitter.com/DeeperThrill/status/1262166467753250817?s=20
That shit wears you down, no matter how many ecourses from toughguys you read on mental resilience.
For some inspiring quotes, check out this thread here: https://twitter.com/DeeperThrill/status/1262166467753250817?s=20
5/58
You are straight up choosing to be broke for a while.
Like legit broke.
Like choosing between groceries and gas broke.
And those around you cannot understand why you'd intentionally give yourself hardship.
You are straight up choosing to be broke for a while.
Like legit broke.
Like choosing between groceries and gas broke.
And those around you cannot understand why you'd intentionally give yourself hardship.
6/58
They also secretly want you to fail (crabs in a bucket) because if your risky venture succeeds, they'd have to take a good hard look at their safe path, and wonder if they should have taken a bit more risks, or embraced a bit more ambition.
They also secretly want you to fail (crabs in a bucket) because if your risky venture succeeds, they'd have to take a good hard look at their safe path, and wonder if they should have taken a bit more risks, or embraced a bit more ambition.
7/58
So they pretend to care (and some will actually care) but they likely won't actually be supportive.
They'll be worried.
For you and for themselves - because who wants to reflect on their own choices?
So they pretend to care (and some will actually care) but they likely won't actually be supportive.
They'll be worried.
For you and for themselves - because who wants to reflect on their own choices?
8/58
Now that's for people who jump into entrepreneurship with no safety net.
Would I recommend it?
Probably not - no rational person would do it that way.
Build a nest egg first and then use that to dabble in entrepreneurship when you can.
Now that's for people who jump into entrepreneurship with no safety net.
Would I recommend it?
Probably not - no rational person would do it that way.
Build a nest egg first and then use that to dabble in entrepreneurship when you can.
9/58
But a real entrepreneur, in my opinion, doesn't have a choice. They can't dabble.
Once they've been indoctrinated into the 9-5, they've already lost the fire.
As Felix Dennis said in our @kibookclub summary of How To Get Rich, a regular paycheck is as addicting as heroin.
But a real entrepreneur, in my opinion, doesn't have a choice. They can't dabble.
Once they've been indoctrinated into the 9-5, they've already lost the fire.
As Felix Dennis said in our @kibookclub summary of How To Get Rich, a regular paycheck is as addicting as heroin.
10/58
Entrepreneurship is a calling and you simply must do it. There's a fire that cannot be extinguished, damned by the consequences. Your anger and passion and frustration and drive know no bounds.
Entrepreneurship is a calling and you simply must do it. There's a fire that cannot be extinguished, damned by the consequences. Your anger and passion and frustration and drive know no bounds.
11/58
People like @mcclay_roman know the feeling doing things fully your way, damned be the consequences.
It's not some cutesie thing to talk about - it's legitimately scary, necessary, inevitable, and dangerous.
Your way will buck society and you might truly fall flat.
People like @mcclay_roman know the feeling doing things fully your way, damned be the consequences.
It's not some cutesie thing to talk about - it's legitimately scary, necessary, inevitable, and dangerous.
Your way will buck society and you might truly fall flat.
12/58
So how do you stay sane?
I don't have any fancy guru tips besides the typical meditation, diet, exercise, walks (which do work!) But those are so goddamned boring and everyone talks about it.
Low hanging fruit and I'm not a low-hanging fruit guy. https://twitter.com/DeeperThrill/status/1178776623174356995?s=20
So how do you stay sane?
I don't have any fancy guru tips besides the typical meditation, diet, exercise, walks (which do work!) But those are so goddamned boring and everyone talks about it.
Low hanging fruit and I'm not a low-hanging fruit guy. https://twitter.com/DeeperThrill/status/1178776623174356995?s=20
13/58
No, what you need is simple: WHITEBOARDING!
Every little thing on your mind goes onto the whiteboard.
Take a picture. Modify it. Take a picture. Keep modifying.
The structure and systems EMERGE after every little tiny thing stressing you is dumped onto a whiteboard.
No, what you need is simple: WHITEBOARDING!
Every little thing on your mind goes onto the whiteboard.
Take a picture. Modify it. Take a picture. Keep modifying.
The structure and systems EMERGE after every little tiny thing stressing you is dumped onto a whiteboard.
14/58
Use colored markers. Use boxes. Draw lines. Go wild. Whatever.
Just keep massaging it.
Then order emerges from the chaos. Interconnections will surprise you, such as relating the taxes you owe and the new product feature you're considering and the software bug you have.
Use colored markers. Use boxes. Draw lines. Go wild. Whatever.
Just keep massaging it.
Then order emerges from the chaos. Interconnections will surprise you, such as relating the taxes you owe and the new product feature you're considering and the software bug you have.
15/58
Itâs all interrelated and the whiteboard gets them out of your head.
When it's no longer in your head, when that stressful firing of neurons is not just a line on the whiteboard, your mind becomes clear to be creative and strategic.
I whiteboard thrice a week.
Itâs all interrelated and the whiteboard gets them out of your head.
When it's no longer in your head, when that stressful firing of neurons is not just a line on the whiteboard, your mind becomes clear to be creative and strategic.
I whiteboard thrice a week.
16/58
Nothing helps me more than whiteboarding.
It frees my mind.
I don't just do it for business - it's how to escape the matrix, but that's for another day, another thread.
Nothing helps me more than whiteboarding.
It frees my mind.
I don't just do it for business - it's how to escape the matrix, but that's for another day, another thread.
17/58
Your process is crucial.
Don't get sucked into the calm rational pragmatic advice of your well-intentioned eternal lieutenants.
They are smart and likely rich, but don't have the spark.
Listen to them, but remember you're the one taking the risk. You're the top cog.
Your process is crucial.
Don't get sucked into the calm rational pragmatic advice of your well-intentioned eternal lieutenants.
They are smart and likely rich, but don't have the spark.
Listen to them, but remember you're the one taking the risk. You're the top cog.
18/58
Professional investors, whether small angel investors (investing $5k-$100k) larger angel investors ($100k-$1M), small VC's ($1M-$5M), or large VC's ($5M-$50M) do actually get it.
But they're very wary of volatile visionary entrepreneurs who are hard to coach.
Professional investors, whether small angel investors (investing $5k-$100k) larger angel investors ($100k-$1M), small VC's ($1M-$5M), or large VC's ($5M-$50M) do actually get it.
But they're very wary of volatile visionary entrepreneurs who are hard to coach.
19/58
Most have been around the block and legitimately want you to succeed.
People like @leoncastilloVC are the real deal.
But keep in mind that unless they've been an entrepreneur, they actually don't understand the spark inside you, the vision that cannot be denied.
Most have been around the block and legitimately want you to succeed.
People like @leoncastilloVC are the real deal.
But keep in mind that unless they've been an entrepreneur, they actually don't understand the spark inside you, the vision that cannot be denied.
20/58
I got called out by plenty of them, saying "Who do you think you are, you're not Steve Jobs!"
You can read a bit more about my frustrations with them here ( https://twitter.com/DeeperThrill/status/1166379472561541120?s=20)
I got called out by plenty of them, saying "Who do you think you are, you're not Steve Jobs!"
You can read a bit more about my frustrations with them here ( https://twitter.com/DeeperThrill/status/1166379472561541120?s=20)
21/58
That said, the right partnerships can make your life a whole hell of a lot easier.
And now I don't share all my weird ideas with investors.
I just put them on my whiteboard and do them instead of talking about them.
That said, the right partnerships can make your life a whole hell of a lot easier.
And now I don't share all my weird ideas with investors.
I just put them on my whiteboard and do them instead of talking about them.
22/58
And there are plenty of ideas that would simply take you too long to bootstrap if you want to capitalize on an opportunity now.
Our @kibookclub summary of The Founder's Dilemma goes into the statistics of taking money from VC's and the decisions you'll have to make.
And there are plenty of ideas that would simply take you too long to bootstrap if you want to capitalize on an opportunity now.
Our @kibookclub summary of The Founder's Dilemma goes into the statistics of taking money from VC's and the decisions you'll have to make.
23/58
I personally chose to take about $100k from small angel investors, and I'm partly glad I did but partly regret it.
But now I'm being contracted to help other startups pitch to VC's because I know their language.
I personally chose to take about $100k from small angel investors, and I'm partly glad I did but partly regret it.
But now I'm being contracted to help other startups pitch to VC's because I know their language.
24/58
Seasoned investors have been around the block and know that a team of smart people of diverse experiences (not diverse skin colors or genders or bs like that - it's truly only about past experiences) is more important than a great product idea.
Seasoned investors have been around the block and know that a team of smart people of diverse experiences (not diverse skin colors or genders or bs like that - it's truly only about past experiences) is more important than a great product idea.
25/58
Your product will be changing. That's a fact.
You will have to adapt and pivot so many times that your final product may look nothing like your original vision. And that's the mathematically, statistically, smart thing to do if you want to maximize profit.
Your product will be changing. That's a fact.
You will have to adapt and pivot so many times that your final product may look nothing like your original vision. And that's the mathematically, statistically, smart thing to do if you want to maximize profit.
26/58
That said, even with entrepreneurship I couldn't do it others' way, so I'm irrationally stubborn with my vision for @kibookclub, sometimes even at the expense of profit.
I think my cofounder was a bit jarred at first, but we're now on the same page and work well together.
That said, even with entrepreneurship I couldn't do it others' way, so I'm irrationally stubborn with my vision for @kibookclub, sometimes even at the expense of profit.
I think my cofounder was a bit jarred at first, but we're now on the same page and work well together.
27/58
On that note, anyone you share equity with, you must see as long-term as a marriage.
You will be in the trenches together and you must figure out how to work well together.
You'll both be stubborn, with different perspectives, and you'll both want the company to succeed.
On that note, anyone you share equity with, you must see as long-term as a marriage.
You will be in the trenches together and you must figure out how to work well together.
You'll both be stubborn, with different perspectives, and you'll both want the company to succeed.
28/58
At this point, I'm no longer the arrogant young hothead desperate to prove himself in the business world by sharing all his quirky genius ideas.
That got me nowhere.
Now they go on the whiteboard, and I calmly emotionlessly focus on positioning myself with connections.
At this point, I'm no longer the arrogant young hothead desperate to prove himself in the business world by sharing all his quirky genius ideas.
That got me nowhere.
Now they go on the whiteboard, and I calmly emotionlessly focus on positioning myself with connections.
29/58
I sit there and actively listen.
I've done business with billionaires, and I've turned down individuals worth $200M+ because I couldn't stand them.
The dynamic of those you work with matter far more than their wallets.
I sit there and actively listen.
I've done business with billionaires, and I've turned down individuals worth $200M+ because I couldn't stand them.
The dynamic of those you work with matter far more than their wallets.
30/58
Get people who are on your wavelength.
Vibe with them.
And then fucking dominate the market by rapidly adapting while staying true to a vision.
A paradox thus exists and needs no explanation.
Get people who are on your wavelength.
Vibe with them.
And then fucking dominate the market by rapidly adapting while staying true to a vision.
A paradox thus exists and needs no explanation.
31/58
When it comes to strategy... well I'm not going to share my strategic thoughts.
Twitter and all of you are part of it, and it's unfolding as you read these words.
Welcome to my world. Some cards I keep close to my chest. But here's a glimpse: https://twitter.com/DeeperThrill/status/1211028130925813760?s=20
When it comes to strategy... well I'm not going to share my strategic thoughts.
Twitter and all of you are part of it, and it's unfolding as you read these words.
Welcome to my world. Some cards I keep close to my chest. But here's a glimpse: https://twitter.com/DeeperThrill/status/1211028130925813760?s=20
32/58
Part of that strategy is the sheer power of delegation.
In our @kibookclub summary of The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster, Richard Branson discusses how most people will never become billionaires as they take on too much.
They should be taking things OFF their plate not on.
Part of that strategy is the sheer power of delegation.
In our @kibookclub summary of The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster, Richard Branson discusses how most people will never become billionaires as they take on too much.
They should be taking things OFF their plate not on.
33/58
I always have one eye on delegation, no matter how much I get caught up in the weeds, in the hurricane of stupid little daily fires to put out.
And that means building systems. Follow @ROGUEWEALTH for more about systems.
I always have one eye on delegation, no matter how much I get caught up in the weeds, in the hurricane of stupid little daily fires to put out.
And that means building systems. Follow @ROGUEWEALTH for more about systems.
34/58
One of the summaries for @kibookclub said that an entrepreneur's primary job is to build self-sufficient systems that make passive income as you sleep.
Not to act like a CEO of a conglomerate, or a manager or an engineer or even a profiteer. Be a system-builder.
One of the summaries for @kibookclub said that an entrepreneur's primary job is to build self-sufficient systems that make passive income as you sleep.
Not to act like a CEO of a conglomerate, or a manager or an engineer or even a profiteer. Be a system-builder.
35/58
I am always moving TOWARDS a fully delegated system, and I'm never actually THERE - it's asymptotic and you're never done.
The system can always be updated and upgraded.
There are always new creative ideas to add new cogs to it.
I am always moving TOWARDS a fully delegated system, and I'm never actually THERE - it's asymptotic and you're never done.
The system can always be updated and upgraded.
There are always new creative ideas to add new cogs to it.
36/58
So when to stop adding pieces?
Never, but always get the system out there churning in the real world asap.
In business, good enough is good enough. This pains me as a perfectionist engineer who wants to build the most beautiful systems and then deploy them for profit.
So when to stop adding pieces?
Never, but always get the system out there churning in the real world asap.
In business, good enough is good enough. This pains me as a perfectionist engineer who wants to build the most beautiful systems and then deploy them for profit.
37/58
But business has a time factor involved.
You want your stuff out there a bit sooner than you anticipate in order for the market to find flaws that you're blind to.
Your 80% solution took 80% of your time. Get it out there and iterate with the world.
But business has a time factor involved.
You want your stuff out there a bit sooner than you anticipate in order for the market to find flaws that you're blind to.
Your 80% solution took 80% of your time. Get it out there and iterate with the world.
38/58
Put the system in action in the real world and find holes in it.
Stress-test the system as you work on the "final" 20% (which you'll never reach - a moving target).
The market will point out things you never thought of, requiring course correction. This is how you win.
Put the system in action in the real world and find holes in it.
Stress-test the system as you work on the "final" 20% (which you'll never reach - a moving target).
The market will point out things you never thought of, requiring course correction. This is how you win.
39/58
For example, we pushed our @kibookcluyb iOS app out before the android one was ready.
This was the smart move.
An example of changing direction is when some people said we needed a solid search functionality on our app. Something I never would have dedicated any time to.
For example, we pushed our @kibookcluyb iOS app out before the android one was ready.
This was the smart move.
An example of changing direction is when some people said we needed a solid search functionality on our app. Something I never would have dedicated any time to.
40/58
In our @kibookclub summary of The Lean Startup, you learn that instead of pulling from the market, or pushing a great solution onto the market, you want to do little pushes and A/B split tests.
You want to use limited resources to converge onto something the market wants.
In our @kibookclub summary of The Lean Startup, you learn that instead of pulling from the market, or pushing a great solution onto the market, you want to do little pushes and A/B split tests.
You want to use limited resources to converge onto something the market wants.
41/58
This lets you course-correct along the way.
Your grandiose vision is the compass, but little pushes and split tests create the map.
Immutable compass/vision, adaptable map/path.
This lets you course-correct along the way.
Your grandiose vision is the compass, but little pushes and split tests create the map.
Immutable compass/vision, adaptable map/path.
42/58
This "little push" idea ties nicely into momentum.
One of the most important things is not the actual progress you make, but instead showing regular visible changes.
You want a nice clean foundation of technology/content, but regular progress is what makes them excited.
This "little push" idea ties nicely into momentum.
One of the most important things is not the actual progress you make, but instead showing regular visible changes.
You want a nice clean foundation of technology/content, but regular progress is what makes them excited.
43/58
Visible momentum makes them feel like you're a dynamically moving business.
It makes you seem alive and thus makes them feel alive.
Like they're part of something larger than themselves.
Part of a shared mission.
Visible momentum makes them feel like you're a dynamically moving business.
It makes you seem alive and thus makes them feel alive.
Like they're part of something larger than themselves.
Part of a shared mission.
44/58
For customers, it means small little changes in your product/service/content.
For Ai clients, it means that we do regular weekly check-in meetings and share VISIBLE progress.
Not ideas, not discussions, but small progress they can SEE with their own eyes.
For customers, it means small little changes in your product/service/content.
For Ai clients, it means that we do regular weekly check-in meetings and share VISIBLE progress.
Not ideas, not discussions, but small progress they can SEE with their own eyes.
45/58
Ironically, I have found that my clients sometimes prefer to see fewer changes that incorporate their ideas, than many (or larger) changes that will actually help them.
So be it.
Ironically, I have found that my clients sometimes prefer to see fewer changes that incorporate their ideas, than many (or larger) changes that will actually help them.
So be it.
46/58
And that's another bitter pill to swallow: the market is irrational.
Not just in what they buy, but in what they want. They want to feel involved. They want to feel like they can trust you.
And that's another bitter pill to swallow: the market is irrational.
Not just in what they buy, but in what they want. They want to feel involved. They want to feel like they can trust you.
47/58
They want a great service, sure, but that's not most important to them.
What's most important is to make them feel important.
And the momentum of regular, visible changes achieves that.
They want a great service, sure, but that's not most important to them.
What's most important is to make them feel important.
And the momentum of regular, visible changes achieves that.
48/58
When you write code, write really clean solid foundations, but don't neglect the display layer.
Ethics aside, you can even hold back some changes for next week as a strategy so that you always have a buffer of visible changes to showcase.
When you write code, write really clean solid foundations, but don't neglect the display layer.
Ethics aside, you can even hold back some changes for next week as a strategy so that you always have a buffer of visible changes to showcase.
49/58
I build custom Ai systems for detecting diseases like cancer, and I always show clients visible progress.
Learn more about Ai here: https://twitter.com/DeeperThrill/status/1195813974958395393?s=20
I build custom Ai systems for detecting diseases like cancer, and I always show clients visible progress.
Learn more about Ai here: https://twitter.com/DeeperThrill/status/1195813974958395393?s=20
50/58
When it comes to tech, while everyone has slowly moved to the cloud these past few years, I've been forcing myself to only use cloud services for the past decade.
People said I was wasting my time learning the ins and outs of dropbox, gsuite, aws, tableau, video, etc etc.
When it comes to tech, while everyone has slowly moved to the cloud these past few years, I've been forcing myself to only use cloud services for the past decade.
People said I was wasting my time learning the ins and outs of dropbox, gsuite, aws, tableau, video, etc etc.
51/58
This was back in 2008 before it was cool.
Another example of how I did things my way when society wasn't quite there yet.
Fuck societyâs wonderful business wisdom.
This was back in 2008 before it was cool.
Another example of how I did things my way when society wasn't quite there yet.
Fuck societyâs wonderful business wisdom.
52/58
But guess what happened when coronavirus hit and everyone had to scramble to work virtually?
I was already running everything virtually, including investor pitches, managing people, the cutting edge tools.
I'm an expert B2B tool user.
But guess what happened when coronavirus hit and everyone had to scramble to work virtually?
I was already running everything virtually, including investor pitches, managing people, the cutting edge tools.
I'm an expert B2B tool user.
53/58
While most people and businesses did a lot of work on the cloud, I had been doing ALL my work on the cloud for years.
I had zero interruption in my business this year because I did things my way from back in 2008 and later.
While most people and businesses did a lot of work on the cloud, I had been doing ALL my work on the cloud for years.
I had zero interruption in my business this year because I did things my way from back in 2008 and later.
54/58
Even this thread right now is being pre-written on a google drive document, in a neatly organized subfolder so I can refer to it in 2 years when I've probably changed my mind on half this shit, and become even more intransigent on the other half.
Even this thread right now is being pre-written on a google drive document, in a neatly organized subfolder so I can refer to it in 2 years when I've probably changed my mind on half this shit, and become even more intransigent on the other half.
55/58
Learn how to read people both on video chat and in person.
You really want to focus on subtleties in their expressions, which they're not used to being fully on display.
You want to do active listening.
Let them express their emotions, and then study microtwitches.
Learn how to read people both on video chat and in person.
You really want to focus on subtleties in their expressions, which they're not used to being fully on display.
You want to do active listening.
Let them express their emotions, and then study microtwitches.
56/58
You want to calmly, coldly, psychopathically let their emotions wash over you and drill into the truth behind what they're saying.
The sooner you understand them (instead of just blabbing about your own shit which people love to do), the better decisions you'll make.
You want to calmly, coldly, psychopathically let their emotions wash over you and drill into the truth behind what they're saying.
The sooner you understand them (instead of just blabbing about your own shit which people love to do), the better decisions you'll make.
57/58
Deal with the right people, cut out those who are not fully supporting you, and do little pushes or split tests with the market to learn about your niche.
Show visible progress, and whiteboard everything.
Deal with the right people, cut out those who are not fully supporting you, and do little pushes or split tests with the market to learn about your niche.
Show visible progress, and whiteboard everything.
58/58
This barely scratches the surface of all that I've learned, but take with it and run, kings and queens!
It's nearly time to take over the world, ya know? Just a bit longer⊠Patience is a virtue.
This barely scratches the surface of all that I've learned, but take with it and run, kings and queens!
It's nearly time to take over the world, ya know? Just a bit longer⊠Patience is a virtue.
