Articles
Read on for what one founder called “the best startup content on the planet.” Or, sign up to get an article in your inbox each week as a part of the No Whisper Ideas newsletter.
What's a Whisper Idea? More on that here.
FILTER BY:
Tag
- "Sell the Position"
- Anti-Marketing
- CEO Tasks
- Cold Emails
- Cold Outreach
- Company Examples
- Concierge MVPs
- Copywriting
- Decision-making
- Fast Company
- Favorite
- Feedback Loops
- First Customers
- Founder Discipline
- Good Questions
- Happiness
- Imposter Syndrome
- Jobs To Be Done
- Long Form
- Media
- North Star
- Organic Growth
- Picking a Customer
- Pricing
- Problems and Opportunities
- Productivity
- Quotes
- Readwise
- Risk
- Startup Wedge
- Stories
- Tactics
- Three Questions
- Uncomfortable Stuff
- Weekly Report
- Weekly System
- Writing a Book
- culture
The ERP Rubric - How to Gauge Your Idea’s Potential
An editable template that’ll help you gauge the potential of your idea at the earliest stage.
The Vacuum Strategy - Letting Go To Move Forward
A new strategy needs space - the only way to create that space is through a vacuum. But they’re disappearing. Here’s how to keep them in your life.
The Good Bad Box
A better alternative to the Eisenhower Box for figuring out what you should work on in a given day.
A Startup Misogi
How to anchor your year with a Misogi - a challenge so demanding and transformative that it leaves a permanent mark, like a boulder dropping on the hood of an old Cadillac.
Your In-Person Growth Strategy
For early growth, in-person hustle beats digital scale. Here’s how to make it count.
What Would a Customer Pay You $10k For?
A provocative prompt to clarify your real value—and pressure-test whether your offer is strong enough.
Attention Pie (Therefore or But)
Your customer’s attention is finite — this helps you frame your messaging so it earns its slice.
The Two Types of Decisions (Thoughts from the “Dad Couch”)
Some decisions are reversible, some aren’t. Knowing the difference helps you move faster and worry less.
It’ll Happen on the Way
You won’t figure it all out upfront — momentum and clarity come from doing, not planning.
The Goldfish and The Elephant
A metaphor for customer memory and emotion — and how to use both to shape better experiences.
Using The Lindy Effect for Picking Startup Problems
If a problem has existed for a long time, it’s likely to stick around — here’s how to use that to your advantage.
A System for 5, 10, and 15 Minutes
A modular time management tool for staying productive even when your schedule has lots of small gaps.
In-Person Brute Force
When in doubt, go see your customers in person — nothing replaces the clarity and momentum it creates.
The 25th Mile Rule: Which Customers to Help
In the marathon of life, don’t over-invest in beginners — help the pros who are struggling to cross the finish line.
Change Only Comes After Disproportionate Pain
If your customer isn’t deeply uncomfortable, they won’t change. This is how to spot the ones who will.
Easy Things Get Done
How to break down the tasks in front of you so they feel obvious and executable — and as easy as possible.
The Wildly Undervalued Expert Interview
Talking to a niche expert can shortcut months of research — if you know how to ask the right questions.
Two Types of Customers: Survive and Grow
Customers either want to stop the bleeding or unlock growth. Knowing which thing you help them do changes everything.
The Job of Your First Customer and Some (More) Love for Delta 4
Your first customer isn’t just a buyer — they’re a co-creator. This reframes how to find and serve them well.