Brent Beshore is a friend, a mentor, and an outstanding interview guest.
I've studied Brent's ideas very closely. Here's are my favorite takeaways...
The most important lesson: "Boring is beautiful. The sexier the problem space, the more competition."
(All errors are my own)
I've studied Brent's ideas very closely. Here's are my favorite takeaways...
The most important lesson: "Boring is beautiful. The sexier the problem space, the more competition."
(All errors are my own)
Serving vs. Served
"The great paradox of life is self-sacrificial service. More I give, with no expectation of reciprocity, the better life goes for others and me. Counterintuitive and countercultural."
"The great paradox of life is self-sacrificial service. More I give, with no expectation of reciprocity, the better life goes for others and me. Counterintuitive and countercultural."
Always, always invert.
1. It's easier to avoid failure than trying to be successful.
2. Understand predictable points of failure (probability + magnitude) and plan against them.
Oh, and don't worry... failure will still come. Often.
1. It's easier to avoid failure than trying to be successful.
2. Understand predictable points of failure (probability + magnitude) and plan against them.
Oh, and don't worry... failure will still come. Often.
The most important thing Brent learned in his 20s: "Learning to assume it’s all my fault, always."
As Charlie Munger said: "If you just take the attitude that however bad it is in anyway, it’s always your fault and you just fix it as best you can … I think that really works."
As Charlie Munger said: "If you just take the attitude that however bad it is in anyway, it’s always your fault and you just fix it as best you can … I think that really works."
Study incentives.
Anytime you see a system you want to ask what incentives are at play.
An ounce of incentives is worth a pound of good intentions.
Anytime you see a system you want to ask what incentives are at play.
An ounce of incentives is worth a pound of good intentions.
Innovation does not always lead to profit. Study the capture mechanism! 
Brent's sweet spot:
1. Little competition.
2. Lots of value created.
3. Lots of value available to capture.
"I don’t want to try to outcompete smart, and hard working people. I want to find the lowest bar to jump over and then get good at pole vaulting."
💯
1. Little competition.
2. Lots of value created.
3. Lots of value available to capture.
"I don’t want to try to outcompete smart, and hard working people. I want to find the lowest bar to jump over and then get good at pole vaulting."
💯
If you can't do the deal on the back of a napkin, the deal is a pass.
Appearance risk: “The avoidance of probabilistically wise decisions out of fear for the appearance of stupidity, and resulting consequences.”
On the downside, it prevents us from innovating and capitalizing on opportunities.
On the upside, it keeps us in line with the herd.
On the downside, it prevents us from innovating and capitalizing on opportunities.
On the upside, it keeps us in line with the herd.
The mechanics of marketing work identically in every business, although the application varies wildly:
1) Find customers.
2) Educate them on your value proposition.
3) Build trust.
4) Deliver for them.
5) Ask them to tell their friends.
perell.com/blog/brent-bes…
1) Find customers.
2) Educate them on your value proposition.
3) Build trust.
4) Deliver for them.
5) Ask them to tell their friends.
perell.com/blog/brent-bes…
Brent's investment checklist.
"Picking your field is arguably more important to your success than your current skill and future capacity.
It’s a base rate analysis.
Assume you’re only going to be mediocre, then explore what business and life look like if that’s true."
It’s a base rate analysis.
Assume you’re only going to be mediocre, then explore what business and life look like if that’s true."
The internet shapes Brent's marketing philosophy in 3 ways:
1. Teach, don't shout.
2. Let people educate themselves.
3. Create useful content to attract the right people, repel the wrong ones, and save everyone time.
1. Teach, don't shout.
2. Let people educate themselves.
3. Create useful content to attract the right people, repel the wrong ones, and save everyone time.
