The business of business
The first step of any meaningful pursuit is to severely underestimate its difficulty.
Sara Hooker • Tweet
It’s simple. Stay on the bus. Stay on the f*cking bus.Why, because if you do, in time you will begin to see a difference.
Arno Rafael Minkkinen • Arno Rafael Minkkinen: 'Stay on the bus. Stay on the f*cking bus', Finding Your Own Vision, New England School of Photography - 2004 — Speakola
If you’re efficient, you’re doing it the wrong way. The right way is the hard way. The show was successful because I micromanaged it—every word, every line, every take, every edit, every casting. That’s my way of life.
Daniel McGinn • Jerry Seinfeld: Comedian, Innovator, Micromanager
This Colorado food writer came up with a novel way to monetize his content
Simon Owensopen.substack.com
Food blogger built his business with only 12 advertisers. Over indexes on benefits:
All 12 advertisers get a logo in every issue
4 of them receive ads in the weekly post (all school listing type eg pub quiz Tues, earlybird thurs etc). He does 3 posts per week so every advertiser receives 1 mention per year
1 big feature piece or 1 podcast episode per year
Partnership opportunities between each other
Asks them for viewpoints/opinions in his think pieces (opportunity to comment)
Charges $500-$1000/month per advertiser.
The secret to life is doing the thing again. And again.
Instead of trying to copy other people’s success stories, here's what I think works better:
Study patterns, not paths.
Look at multiple examples of success in your field. Find the common principles, patterns, and tactics that show up, regardless of someone's advantages.
And don’t forget to pay attention to failures. When someone fails doing exactly... See more
Study patterns, not paths.
Look at multiple examples of success in your field. Find the common principles, patterns, and tactics that show up, regardless of someone's advantages.
And don’t forget to pay attention to failures. When someone fails doing exactly... See more
Do you ever feel like your business standards are lower than they should be?
If so, identify the three most important aspects of your business — maybe it's your product, your customer service, and your team (if you have one). Write down the current standard for each category. And then write down what excellence actually looks like.
The gap between... See more
If so, identify the three most important aspects of your business — maybe it's your product, your customer service, and your team (if you have one). Write down the current standard for each category. And then write down what excellence actually looks like.
The gap between... See more
The truly great entrepreneurs — the ones who build lasting companies — refuse to tolerate mediocrity. They don't accept sloppy work because "the client won't notice." They play until the whistle blows every single time.
Again, it’s not about perfectionism. It's about having the courage to be honest about what's excellent and what isn't. It’s about... See more
Again, it’s not about perfectionism. It's about having the courage to be honest about what's excellent and what isn't. It’s about... See more
Shipping, because it doesn’t count if you don’t share it. Creative, because you’re not a cog in the system. You’re a creator, a problem solver, a generous leader who is making things better by producing a new way forward. Work, because it’s not a hobby. You might not get paid for it, not today, but you approach it as a professional. The muse is not
... See more