Why I Post, Experimenting, & Naval Wisdom

What I Learned at School this Week

Hello Friends,

[Disclaimer] Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse any typos.

I got married last weekend (a great decision!) and therefore, didn’t post this past week — the first time I skipped a Friday in almost a year.

And I’ll be short today, because I’m currently on a tiny island in the Maldives, for my honeymoon.

Below are five quick things I’m pondering, and thought were worth sharing…

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1. Why Do I Write This Newsletter?

   I’ve mentioned Austin Kleon on this Newsletter, several times before. Last week he published a blog about why he writes. And it summed up my thoughts so perfectly, that I think you should read it, in its entirety, below. I think everyone who publicly puts things into the world can probably relate.

   15 years of blogging (and 3 reasons I keep going)

   TLDR:

   1. To leave a trace.

   2. To figure out what I have to say.

   3. Because I like it

2. Experimenting
   As a “Type Six” on the Enneagram, I’m often making decisions out of fear. This makes taking big risks difficult for me. Even though I logically know that risks, in many situations, are good.

   I have enjoyed writing this Newsletter, but it needs to evolve if it’s going to continue.

   I don’t want to report on tech news — Morning Brew, The Hustle, and Robinhood Snacks have that covered. I don’t want to report on #VCTwitter — Twitter has that covered. And I don’t want to write about B2B SaaS Sales — that’s what LinkedIn, forums like Modern Sales Pros, and my workday hours are dedicated to.

   So what is this little corner of my world going to be?

   I’m not sure yet. But I want to experiment more with it. Putting aside any (typically irrational) fears.

   PS - I’m all ears for suggestions. Truly.

3. Pods

   Two podcasts I’ve enjoyed this week.

   • Dan Shipper and Nathan Baschez’s, “Talk Therapy”.

     They talk about experimentation on episode #21. But there are lots of other good episodes to nibble on too.

   • Tim Ferriss’ latest podcast, in his words:

     Tim Ferriss @tferriss

     For me, this is the most important podcast episode I’ve ever published. In it, I describe the most life-shaping, certainly the most difficult, and certainly the most transformative journey of my 43 years on this planet. I’ve never shared it before.

     

     tim.blogMy Healing Journey After Childhood Abuse (Includes Extensive Resource List)For me, this is the most important podcast episode I’ve ever published. In it, I describe the most life-shaping, certainly the most difficult, and certainly the most transformative journey of my 43…

4. Naval, and His Growing Cult

   I have been told I put Naval on a pedestal. But even prefacing with that statement, I don’t think I could overstate the wisdom I believe he creates (probably a sign of my adoration of him).

   Eric Jorgensen put together a free ebook (download the pdf in 3 clicks below) with a ton of Naval gold.
   And Eric might actually be even more obsessed with Naval:

   All brilliance in this book is Naval’s; any mistakes are mine.

   In any case, it’s super worth reading even just the table of contents, if nothing else:

   Eric Jorgenson 🛠📈😂 @EricJorgenson

   The Almanack of @naval Ravikant is now available! - Read/download for free on Navalmanack.com - Purchase on Kindle, Paperback, or Hardcover on Amazon: amzn.to/3gz3btY

   

5. ICYMI — Tech News

   • Snowflake had the biggest IPO in history, doubling on day 1 to get them to $70B. It dropped 10% the following day — boohoo, amirite?

   • Roam Research raised $9m on a $200m valuation, putting their multiple at 50x revenue, higher than Zoom’s multiple (at 47x).

     This is an incredible analysis of Roam, and overall business strategy around network effects — Roam’s Road Ahead: How the tool for networked thought can grow into its $200m valuation.

Until next week.

Cheers,

Brendan J Short