But doesn't explain why I've been executing on shit ideas 💩
I need to answer "What should I work on next?" confidently. So I'm doing some research...
I wanted to synthesise what successful founders said about picking the right idea to work on.
It's been interesting - there is no definitive answer, of course.
But there seem to be a pattern.
Sep 19, 2020 • 16 tweets • 4 min read
Why do people subscribe to / pay for newsletters?
1. Curation. 2. Insight. 3. Trust.
A.I. will do a better job of the first 2... (thread)
Curation is basically search and filter: find interesting sources, and share interesting content.
Software can do a better job: it's quicker, and it can personalise "interesting".
One important item I wanted to tick off as early as possible for @markfolder is backups.
Markfolder's users have entrusted me with their data and I want that to be fully respected.
Making sure they never lose their data is the least I can do (followed by security of their data and their privacy, which I'll continually work on).
Aug 25, 2020 • 6 tweets • 5 min read
What I’ve learned in the last 3 years of trying to start/survive new businesses:
Old rules: Make, then sell, then grow.
New rules: Grow, then sell, then make.
GROW your audience/following.
By creating useful content, building something publicly, or just being helpful to your community.
Use newsletters, social media, video channels, podcasts, live channels.
Talk to them regularly. Give. Then ask.
Aug 1, 2020 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
Lockdown has doubled my productivity and my body fat.
Before lockdown: 15%. Now: 25% (ok not quite doubled but close).
Aug 1, 2020 • 33 tweets • 8 min read
I’m building my side hustle @markfolder in the open here. Here are the different related topic threads for you to follow...
IDEA VALIDATION
Jul 31, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Today's task: font and colour scheme for @markfolder. This is going to be fun.
I see a lot of 80s-inspired design from solo makers. Flat designs are still here but more colours thrown in. More background patterns.
Looking through @siteinspire for inspiration...
Jul 29, 2020 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Trying to work out a SaaS pricing plan for @markfolder. I was wondering whether it's wise to do this before launch. Should I just launch the free tier, and then work out how to price it? But I'm glad I did it now, because... 1/5
Working on pricing early forces you to think hard about the problem you're solving. It made me reframe the problem I'm solving in terms of monetary value. "How much would a @markfolder user pay to have their bookmarking problem solved"? 2/5
Jul 22, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
If you're lucky enough to be a nomad, and find yourself in Bali, I highly recommend doing a freediving course.
This was me somewhere deep off Amed. 👇🏽
What I learned on this course (thread): 1. Anyone can learn to breathe-hold to 2+ minutes in just one day.
2. Breathing reflex kicks in even when you have over 90% O2 in your blood. It kicks in due to CO2 buildup, not lack of O2.
3. Freediving is about staying very very calm. Brain activity uses up 20% of your O2.
Jul 16, 2020 • 14 tweets • 5 min read
@peterthiel reputedly asked job interviewees the following:
“What important truth do very few people agree with you on?”
Read on for why I think this in itself is a useful thought experiment (long thread)...
@peterthiel Thiel believes that in order to get as close as possible to predicting the future, we must look at what’s true today and how that truth will change (or what new truth will emerge) in future. That's why he recommends entrepreneurs ask this question.
Jul 15, 2020 • 14 tweets • 5 min read
@peterthiel reputedly asked job interviewees the following:
“What important truth do very few people agree with you on?”
Read on for why I think this in itself is a useful thought experiment (long thread)...
@peterthiel Thiel believes that in order to get as close as possible to predicting the future, we must look at what’s true today and how that truth will change (or what new truth will emerge) in future. That's why he recommends entrepreneurs ask this question.
Jul 8, 2020 • 8 tweets • 1 min read
A morning routine that works for me:
1. Wake up before sunrise. Starting the day before the day even starts itself makes me feel I'm already ahead. And I love the pre-dawn calmness.
2. Have a glass of water. Rehydrate your body. Hydration improves mood.
Jul 7, 2020 • 7 tweets • 1 min read
Living in a city is like living inside a kettle. You don’t realise it but slowly over the years limescale accumulates on you. The longer you stay in the city the thicker that layer of limescale becomes, slowly desensitising you to anything external to you.
If you were born in the city and lived in one your whole life, you will think this is normal. You think having thick layers of limescale is normal and part of being an adult. Empathy feels like something to learn rather than something that should come naturally.
Jun 25, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Burnout again. I've been trying to split each day doing audience-building work in the morning, then development in the afternoon/evening. I also find myself getting sucked into Twitter again before bedtime, ...
I think because that's when the US timezone tweets start filling my feed (I'm in Malaysia). I do feel the consistent audience building work is paying off, but I think the daily context switching is quite taxing for me.
Jun 23, 2020 • 7 tweets • 4 min read
Just had some time to actually browse all of hey.com's features. It is much much more than what I had thought or seen (more than what @jasonfried covered in his demo video).
1/7@jasonfried It is clear that the creators spent some serious time and grey cells on every aspect of email use today. It's not just about features. It's about going down to the WHYs of email use, and rethinking its user experience for the many use cases out there.
2/7
Jun 23, 2020 • 26 tweets • 11 min read
I'll be building my first browser extension for @markfolder and tweeting each step here, tagging it #extdev.
(I'm building this on Chrome/macOS Catalina)
A browser extension is just another webpage that you can load and run with a button. HTML + Javascript.
Jun 23, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
I suck at drawing, but I love my Apple Pencil + iPad.
So recently I found a way to actually enjoy drawing while still sucking at it, by tracing photos! Here's how I've been doing it...
1/3 👇🏽
1. Download a note-taking or drawing app. I'm using @Procreate (highly recommended). 2. In the app, open a photo that you'd like to draw over. 3. Add a transparent layer, and start tracing the lines in the photo. 4. Now colour it in. 5. When done, hide the photo.
2/3
Jun 14, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Difficult things that get easier with practice:
Focus
Writing
Building
Public speaking
Saying NO
Regular exercise
Cutting out sugar
Waking up earlier
Seeing patterns in data
Customer development
Making things people want
Personal finance
Juggling
#selfcare
But don’t try to improve it all at once. Pick one or two, work on it until it’s a habit, then pick the next one. This worked for me.
