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I’ve been cracking a new way to start companies this year...
I used to work my face off starting companies. It’s a TON of work.
Now, I have a simple formula
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧮" title="Abacus" aria-label="Emoji: Abacus">
Example: I just launched Mailman ( http://mailmanhq.com"> http://mailmanhq.com )
I spent about 5 hours on ithttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧭" title="Compass" aria-label="Emoji: Compass">
Here’s how I did it...
I used to work my face off starting companies. It’s a TON of work.
Now, I have a simple formula
Example: I just launched Mailman ( http://mailmanhq.com"> http://mailmanhq.com )
I spent about 5 hours on it
Here’s how I did it...
I always start with a problem. In this case, it was that my nightmarish email inbox kept filling up https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤯" title="Explodierender Kopf" aria-label="Emoji: Explodierender Kopf">
As I’d send emails, new ones would constantly stream in and I’d end up spending my entire day in my email instead of focusing on deep workhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😩" title="Mattes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Mattes Gesicht">
I had a eureka moment when...https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💡" title="Elektrische Glühbirne" aria-label="Emoji: Elektrische Glühbirne">
As I’d send emails, new ones would constantly stream in and I’d end up spending my entire day in my email instead of focusing on deep work
I had a eureka moment when...
I asked my Dad “how did you deal with this before email? When all these were letters?”
He responded: “The mailman only came once a day! You just sat down, responded to your letters, then didn’t think about mail for the rest of the day”.
And so the idea for @Mailman_HQ was born
He responded: “The mailman only came once a day! You just sat down, responded to your letters, then didn’t think about mail for the rest of the day”.
And so the idea for @Mailman_HQ was born
I needed to slow my email down https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧘🏼♂️" title="Mann im Lotossitz (mittelheller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Mann im Lotossitz (mittelheller Hautton)">
Calm my inboxhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌀" title="Zyklon" aria-label="Emoji: Zyklon">
Only get email a few times a day—like an old school mailman,
Scratching the itch, I tweeted about it in February: https://twitter.com/awilkinson/status/1229451446082555904">https://twitter.com/awilkinso...
Calm my inbox
Only get email a few times a day—like an old school mailman,
Scratching the itch, I tweeted about it in February: https://twitter.com/awilkinson/status/1229451446082555904">https://twitter.com/awilkinso...
A developer named @mohitmamoria messaged me.
He wanted to build it together.
We quickly emailed and negotiated a deal:
He would become CEO, get a sizeable equity stake, and salary.
I would help ideate and provide all the financial resources and contractors he needed.
He wanted to build it together.
We quickly emailed and negotiated a deal:
He would become CEO, get a sizeable equity stake, and salary.
I would help ideate and provide all the financial resources and contractors he needed.
We never even spoke on the phone.
Here’s what I did next:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen"> Intro’d him to @z1digitalstudio to handle design.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen"> Intro’d him to DoubleUp ( http://doubleup.agency"> http://doubleup.agency ) to handle marketing/launch.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen"> Intro’d him to a Pilothouse ( http://pilothouse.com"> http://pilothouse.com ) to handle PPC.
Here’s what I did next:
Mohit and I would text every few days, as the product evolved.
I was Mailman’s first power user and was constantly sending feedback.
We quickly realized there were a few key Jobs To Be Done:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen"> Slow down the rate of responses to create time for deep work (deliver email less)
I was Mailman’s first power user and was constantly sending feedback.
We quickly realized there were a few key Jobs To Be Done:
From February, when we started building, to our launch last week, I spent about $100,000 funding the company.
I paid for salaries, contractors, advertising, accounting, etc.
I paid for salaries, contractors, advertising, accounting, etc.
Other than my money, my personal time commitment was:
- 4-5 hours giving feedback via iMessage and email
- Tweeting about it
That’s it.
I came up with the idea...
- 4-5 hours giving feedback via iMessage and email
- Tweeting about it
That’s it.
I came up with the idea...
Assembled a great team.
Funded them.
Gave feedback as needed.
They did everything else. From initial beta to launch, I just helped around the edges.
It’s the Pareto approach to starting a business.
20% of the effort for 80% of the result.
Funded them.
Gave feedback as needed.
They did everything else. From initial beta to launch, I just helped around the edges.
It’s the Pareto approach to starting a business.
20% of the effort for 80% of the result.
I did the same thing with @BuyerInc this year too.
Is it as sexy and exciting as being a @Ycombinator founder?
Of course not.
And I wouldn’t have been able to do it without some startup capital + ability to let go/delegate + a good network of trusted contractors...
Is it as sexy and exciting as being a @Ycombinator founder?
Of course not.
And I wouldn’t have been able to do it without some startup capital + ability to let go/delegate + a good network of trusted contractors...
But if you can assemble those things, there’s no reason you can’t start a simple company in 5-10 hours.
It’s a great way to follow-through on an idea without getting distracted from your core business. In my case, acquiring more great internet businesses at Tiny.
It’s a great way to follow-through on an idea without getting distracted from your core business. In my case, acquiring more great internet businesses at Tiny.
