Tools for progress #13
Reading is a superpower, advice from Linear on team design, the value of team dinners
We (humans) read hundreds of articles on company building, angel investing, and self-management and curate the best ones into a weekly summary—helping founders and operators stay on the top of their game.
Better thinking
10 Charts That Capture How the World Is Changing Part II (6 minute read)
The latest exploration of trends by Rex Salisbury reveals challenges in venture capital, changing living arrangements for young Americans, a decline in church attendance, the impact of Apple’s ATT on mobile gaming spend, and AI’s disruptive effect on the freelance economy. These shifts offer product insights for navigating today’s dynamic landscape.
The Creativity Faucet (2 minute read)
Master world-class writing by first generating bad ideas, as revealed through Ed Sheeran and Neil Gaiman’s creative processes. Embrace the "Creativity Faucet" model—empty your initial "wastewater" to clear the path for valuable ideas. Iteration leads to originality; don’t fear the journey of creation. It’s all about simply starting.
The Reading Obsession (10 minute read)
“I just sit in my office and read all day”, a quote attributed to Buffett, oversimplifies his approach to investing and business.While Buffett’s reading appetite helped him accumulate significant knowledge early in his career, he understood the importance of building networks, seeking out experts, and gaining real-world experience in addition to book knowledge; from visiting GEICO’s offices as a student to learn about the company to his regular trip to NYC. Obsessing solely on reading without understanding the importance of social networks and real-world experiences misses a critical aspect of Buffett's success.
Operational tactics
Advice from Linear on How Heirloom Tomatoes Should Inspire Team Design (20 minute read)
Nan Yu, Head of Product at Linear, has advised dozens of startups of all stages and sizes. He unpacks why founders should be suspicious of symmetry in their team structure, and offers a three-part framework on how to optimize for an “heirloom tomato” org chart.
Weekly/Monthly Exec Team Dinners (2 minute read)
If you want to keep your leadership team aligned as your company grows, then take a page from Starbucks founder Howard Schultz's playbook: schedule regular, unstructured dinners with your key leaders. These long conversations allow for alignment, disagreement, commitment, and a "mind meld" among operators, especially on topics of long-term interest. Leave the regular tactical items to be addressed in daily or weekly meetings, and establish regular dinners or offsites to debate important issues and make strategic decisions.
4 Ways ‘Office Hours’ Maximizes C-Suite Decision-Making and Performance (4 minute read)
Carilu Dietrich talks about how executives can wield 'office hours' as a tool to enhance their impact and effectiveness in large organizations. The approach comes in two flavors: "Ask Me Anything" sessions for open dialogue, and "Decision-Driving" meetings for rapid problem-solving. For instance, Hank Taylor, former Head of Marketing at Vercel, implemented a highly structured system based on 10-minute slots organized around "develop, preview, and ship" themes. These sessions enabled Hank to approve content, teach company processes, and build personal connections with employees - all while managing his time more effectively.
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Angel investing
Balderton's $1.3B Fundraise and Conviction Investing (8 minute read)
In many industries, we’ve seen a bifurcation into niche and sprawl. Into depth and breadth. We’re seeing the same thing in venture. You’re either an artisan smaller fund, or a mega fund—anything in the middle, and you’re dead. General Catalyst, a16z capture 44% of US VC fundraising in 2024—and now we’re seeing something similar in the UK, with Balderton completing a huge $1.3bn fundraise.
One Simple Thing an Investor Can Do to Improve Their Performance (2 minute read)
VCs typically only write memos for investments they make, but what about the hundreds they pass on? Learn how a simple scorecard system can help you put in more "reps" and become a better investor.
How to Create a Winning Pitch Deck (8 minute read)
The Sequoia pitch deck template might be doing more harm than good to startups. Find out why cookie-cutter market sizing approaches fail and how to craft a more realistic and strategic plan for a business. Share this with founders in your network who are looking to fundraise, or use this framework as a proxy for “good” when you look at your next deck.
Managing your career
How the Fear of "Unknown" is Blocking your Growth (3 minute read)
Fear of the unknown stems from the fear of failure, which can restrain us from taking risks and exploring the unknown. Only when we face our fears can we truly grow, both personally and professionally. What helped Raviraj was labeling his fear, reminding himself of past successes where he overcame similar fears, and breaking down the challenge into achievable steps. To quote the sci-fi blockbuster Dune: "I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer... I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass through me... Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." Frank Herbert's words couldn't be more timeless, and Raviraj's post couldn't be more actionable.
How to Ask for Help Without Making Yourself Look Bad (4 minute read)
Many people hesitate to ask for help, fearing it will make them appear incompetent. But it’s about how you do it. Start strong, be specific, and show you've done your homework. Highlight others' expertise without putting yourself down and frame requests as seeking advice to tap into people's desire to feel knowledgeable. The reality is that thoughtful help-seeking can actually boost others’ perception of your competence and improve problem-solving skills. Next time you’re stuck, don’t hesitate to reach out - just do it with confidence and purpose.
The Hidden Message You’re Communicating (5 minute read)
Your body speaks louder than your words. From presidential debates to workplace meetings, non-verbal cues shape perceptions more than you might think. The next time you interact with someone, ask yourself: What message is your body language sending? Are you making eye contact? Do you nod along to what they’re saying? Do you keep checking your phone? We perform so many of these small gestures every day, without even thinking, and each one sends a message.
Miscellaneous reads
Why Meta & Google may win Consumer AI, before ChatGPT does (8 minute read)
The billion-user club in AI may be more exclusive than you think. Find out why engagement ratios and retention curves suggest a surprising twist in the future of consumer AI adoption.
Consistency is a superpower (1 minute read)
A photography class experiment reveals a counterintuitive truth: quantity leads to quality. This principle applies to everything from coding to product development in the tech world.
A Deep Dive on AI Inference Startups (9 minute read)
As AI inference platforms converge on developer experience and performance, the path to victory becomes increasingly capital-intensive. Learn why this market might become a game reserved only for megafunds and tech giants.
UK's elite hardware talent is being wasted (3 minute read)
Imperial, Oxford, and Cambridge produce world-class engineers. Yet post-graduation, their trajectory is an economic tragedy - and a hidden arbitrage opportunity.