Tools for progress #14
Useful feedback hurts, Big tech's guide to M&A, You don't have to be a manager
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
Time Span of Discretion (2 minute read)
At Nodes, we often talk about behaving in a way that guarantees success in the long run, rather than offering a chance of success in the short term. Elliott Jaques' "Time Span of Discretion" concept highlights how individuals operate within varying time horizons. The most successful organizations are aware of this concept, and allocate their talent accordingly. If everyone is optimizing for the short term (like an election window, or closing the quarter), you’ll never build something truly enduring. This concept is arguably the most revealing tool for understanding our modern social structure.
The Most Useful Feedback Hurts (4 minute read)
Feedback in areas we know we’re not strong doesn’t really hurt. We define it as a useful confirmation of our existing thoughts. However, when we’re given feedback that shocks us, we behave a little differently. If you deeply think you’re an excellent storyteller, and someone critiques your storytelling abilities, our response is to reject the feedback because it conflicts too strongly with our view of self. In reality, it’s often the feedback we reject, the feedback that hurts us and makes us question our identity, that we really need to listen to in order to take our craft to the next level.
Everything That Turned Out Well in My Life Followed the Same Design Process (11 minute read)
When designing something, be it a career, essay, or relationship, lean into unfolding. Pay close attention to what lights you up, hang out with fascinating people and collaborate on interesting projects, and keep iterating by observing context. Your context is smarter than you think – work with it, not against it. After a decade of this, you'll look up and realize your life fits you perfectly, even if it looks nothing like you imagined. It's like hacking reality, but for your career and relationships. The best part? You don't need to remember how you got there. The form does.
Operational tactics
How to Hire a CTO (15 minute read)
If you don’t have the talent in your founding team, hiring a CTO is critical.A strong CTO can significantly enhance growth and drive innovation in your organization, and a poor hire can stifle everything. This step-by-step guide from Khosla Ventures breaks down the entire process–from how to source, to running effective interviews, and negotiating on the offer.
Things that Used to be Impossible, but are Now Really Hard (2 minute read)
AI is transforming business economics by making previously impossible sales scenarios feasible. By enhancing sales productivity, it allows for lower contract values and improves conversion rates. Embracing AI can serve as a competitive edge, enabling startups to capture untapped market segments, or test new GTM motions.
What I Learned Working For Mark Zuckerberg (4 minute read)
A former early employee at Facebook shares valuable lessons learned from working under Mark Zuckerberg, such as focusing on a single goal, moving fast, and hiring top talent. These insights, gained from a challenging but rewarding experience, later helped the employee build a successful company of his own.
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Angel investing
It’s Not Just B2C Vc B2B Anymore (12 minute read)
Investors (and by virtue, founders) like to slap labels on startups. B2B and B2C are perhaps two of the most stalwart of labels, often included right at the start of your elevator pitch. Have these labels caused harm? After initially targeting B2B for their podcast platform, Transistor found broader success by embracing diverse customers, including hobbyists and prosumers. This "B2Many" strategy boosted growth and reduced churn, proving that the lines between B2B and B2C are increasingly blurred. Is it OK to be a venture business AND target consumers?
Big Tech's Guide to "M&A" in AI ‘(6 minute read)
Big tech is dodging antitrust issues by hiring founders and key employees from AI startups and licensing their technology instead of outright acquisitions. Recent examples include Microsoft with Inflection, Amazon with Adept, and Google with Character.ai. This strategy boosts tech firms' AI capabilities while leaving startups as shells and sidestepping regulatory hurdles. Are we going to see more high value “acquihires” as the AI/software industry begins to aggregate?
Why Silicon Valley Falls Prey to ‘Charisma Distortion’ (5 minute read)
Charismatic founders are great storytellers.They can create illusions of control, and visions of grandeur, leading to "charisma distortion" that risks misleading investors. While charisma can boost valuations, true substance requires verification. Ultimately, authenticity outlasts charm in the long run. Founders, be authentic, investors, see through the BS.
Managing your career
You Don’t Have to be a Manager (8 minute read)
Stepping into management isn’t just the next phase in your career–it’s an entirely new muscle you need to develop, and many don’t. Many talented individual contributors struggle in managerial roles simply because they don’t adapt, or invest the time required to build their EQ. Moving into management should be a conscious decision. Ultimately, if you decide it’s not for you, there’s plenty of alternative pathways.
Reducing time to value is crucial for career and business success. By proactively delivering value early, showcasing abilities, and measuring progress, you can enhance your impact and marketability. Whenever you switch roles, sign a partner, or get introduced to a valuable contact–focus on delivering value quickly, it sets the tone moving forward.
Learning to Give a Damn (3 minute read)
Forget the VC hype about “passion” – let’s talk about giving a damn. The author, an ex-Army officer turned VC, cuts through the “passion” buzzword with hard-earned wisdom. The real investment in tech investing isn’t about flowery pitches, but about “giving a damn” at the granular level, like inspecting trucks at midnight or checking on guards in the rain. For VCs, this means building companies for the long haul, not just the next exit. It’s about responsible capitalization, deep-diving into business, and nurturing talent rather than seeking quick fixes. Though tech isn’t life-or-death like the military, the principle holds: success comes from obsessing over details and making tough calls and “giving a damn”.