Tools for progress #18
Tools for progress #18
A New Approach to Meetings, Sales Tax Strategies for SaaS, Lessons From 100+ Angel Investments
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
How Dating Apps Contribute to the Demographic Crisis (12 minute read)
Dating apps, once heralded as the future of romance, now face a crisis as user engagement drops and stock prices plummet. This decline mirrors broader societal trends of delayed partnerships and a looming demographic crisis. As apps struggle to balance profitability with user satisfaction, their evolving business models raise questions about the future of digital matchmaking and its impact on relationships in an aging population.
How a Startup Feels (8 minute read)
Startups are complex machines with countless, poorly-labeled controls, that challenge founders to navigate uncertainty. Success hinges on configuring these "money-printing" machines effectively, but the process is more about dealing with ambiguity than sheer effort. The most successful founders are often those who can confidently make decisions amid chaos, balancing intuition with thoughtful experiments in order to overcome the unknown.
Welcome to the Age of the Inventor Economy (2 minute read)
As AI masters existing knowledge, we must all pivot our energy towards solving truly novel problems. AI is great at refactoring and combining existing information–but it can’t yet create something new, it can simply generate an output based on a set of inputs. To go beyond what AI is capable of, we have to solve new things, write code that doesn’t exist, and write text that has never been written. This shift demands a Renaissance-like approach. We need to become inventors, not just builders.
Operational tactics
Changing My Approach to Meetings to Take Back Control of My Attention (3 minute read)
Meetings hijack our time. Albert Wenger shares his strategy to reclaim focus by drastically reducing one-on-one and standing meetings, prioritizing written communication, and reserving in-person interactions for emotionally charged discussions and creative brainstorming. This approach aims to balance the need for collaboration with the crucial time required for deep thinking and strategic decision-making in the fast-paced startup ecosystem.
Why Products Don't Succeed: The 7 Biases of Product Teams (2 minute read)
Ever wonder why brilliant teams sometimes create lackluster products? Shreyas Doshi reveals the biases that derail even the best product managers. From shortsighted decisions to ignoring catastrophic risks, these 7 biases lead to flawed strategies. Recognize these traps, discuss them openly, and foster a culture of awareness and accountability. Leaders must drive this change for better, wiser product development. Aim for wisdom, not just execution. Build better.
Sales Tax for SaaS Companies (8 minute read)
Sales tax compliance has become a critical issue for startups post-Wayfair, a US-ruling that requires startups to pay Sales Tax for each state they have sales within over a certain threshold. Mismanagement can lead to significant financial and legal risks. As companies grow globally, VAT considerations also come into play. Proactive sales tax management is now a crucial aspect of financial strategy and risk mitigation for scaling startups–so, here’s a guide on everything you need to know if you’re a software company selling in the US.
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Angel investing
Fundraising Tactics (1 minute read)
From Fred at Stride VC—Founders are often advised to boldly proclaim their greatness and the market opportunity. By making it obvious, you remove the need for the listener to think for themselves. A more effective approach is to create space for investors to realize the potential themselves. The “Ikea effect” of pitching, in other words, an investor needs to build their own understanding of value, rather than have it built for them, creates a different relationship with the opportunity for the investor. Share this with your portfolio founders looking to raise.
Today's Era of AI Investing Reminds Me of 2000 Internet Investing (4 minute read)
AI's current trajectory echoes the dot-com boom, promising transformative potential but facing implementation hurdles. For angel investors, the AI landscape presents unique challenges: skipped pre-seed rounds, questionable moats, and overestimated short-term impact. Investors should balance optimism with patience, recognizing the long-term nature of AI's business integration and value creation.
Investing in Public: Non-Obvious Lessons from 100+ Angel Investments (17 minute read)
Angel investing isn’t just about returns; it’s about learning and gratitude. Tod Sacerdoti’s 100+ investments, from AppLovin to Ropping, show that being in a bull market helps, but understanding your constraints, trusting your experience, and investing in your customer frustrations are timeless strategies. The most important lesson? Always say thank you - it’s the hallmark of a truly smart investor.
Managing your career
Poor Communication Blocking Promo? You need these tips (3 minute read)
Miscommunications can easily occur in common situations. Slipping a deadline? Disagree with a design? Your project estimates are off? Misalignment on project scope? Your manager thinks your work is easy when it’s really not? Here are some tips to prevent miscommunications.
Intellectual Honesty (7 minute read)
We’ve all worked with that person who will never admit they’re wrong. They’re always able to defend their positioning in some way, or use something as a scapegoat. It’s perhaps the hardest trait to work with productively. But intellectual honesty is crucial for personal and professional growth. By seeking truth, admitting mistakes, and challenging our own thinking, we become sharper leaders and more effective collaborators. Understanding your limits is the foundation of a growth mindset.
Don't Try To Step-Function Everyone All At Once (5 minute read)
The career growth paradox: Trying to elevate everyone simultaneously often elevates no one. Adopt a cohort-based, high-intensity growth model. Handpick 2-3 team members, craft laser-focused 6-month plans, and commit to unwavering follow-through. This method not only accelerates individual growth but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement. The secret? Work-based growth, not extracurriculars.