?? Thursdays Gold Rush ??

Each week I sift through the noise and share the golden nuggets that matter from LinkedIn—no fluff, just the gold you need to grow your business.

Here's the gold from this week:

?? 1.

“Give yourself permission to let go of the past.”

It’s easier said than done, right? But here’s what I’ve realised: holding onto the past can weigh you down like an anchor. The mistakes, the “should’ve done this differently” moments – they’ll keep you stuck if you let them.

Your past? It’s full of valuable lessons, no question. But don’t get trapped replaying it like a broken record. Every minute spent rehashing old stories is a minute taken away from building what’s next. It’s like running a business while obsessing over last quarter’s numbers. Useful for a second, sure – but not if it keeps you from planning for growth.

So here’s what I’m doing: learning from what happened, taking the good from it, then hitting next. Real progress happens in the now – when you’re focused on what’s ahead.

?? 2.

“Bootstrap or get funded? The real answer might surprise you.”

Look, it’s not a question of good vs. bad; it’s about alignment. What kind of company do you want to build? Because that’s what determines the path.

Bootstrapping? You’re keeping control, building revenue from day one, and focusing on efficiency. It’s slower but builds something that’s yours. Funded companies, on the other hand, move fast. You’re trading equity for speed, assembling a full team quickly, and taking big swings in the market.

Here’s the thing: there’s no “right” way. Some tech giants bootstrapped, raised later, or never raised at all. Others took funding early and dominated. The key is to make sure whichever path you choose aligns with your vision.

So ask yourself:

? How fast do you want to grow?

? What’s your risk tolerance?

? Do you want an exit down the line?

This isn’t just about funding – it’s about building on your terms.

?? 3.

Here’s the thing – we get so wrapped up in chasing financial wealth that we forget why we’re doing it in the first place. If your only focus is stacking cash, you’re missing out on what real wealth feels like.

True wealth? It’s health wealth – staying fit and energised so you can actually enjoy the life you’re building. It’s community wealth, the friends who’ve got your back no matter what. It’s home wealth, those relationships that give you stability and purpose. And it’s time wealth, probably the rarest form – having the freedom to spend your hours on what actually matters to you.

Money’s still important, but it’s just a piece of the puzzle. A good life is about keeping all these forms of wealth in balance. That’s what turns wealth from just numbers on a screen into something you can feel.

?? 4.

An external viewpoint can be a game-changer for CEOs and founders.

Sometimes, you’re so deep in the day-to-day that it’s hard to see the big picture clearly. An outside perspective can help cut through the noise, bring fresh insights, and refocus on what truly matters. It’s not about questioning your vision but sharpening it, making sure every decision aligns with the goals you’re driving toward.

For growing companies, this kind of clarity is invaluable. A well-timed, unbiased view from someone outside the trenches can make all the difference in moving forward with confidence and precision. It has done for myself in the past.

?? 5.

The largest AI cluster in the world, xAI’s “Colossus,” built in 122 days? That’s jaw-dropping.

Think about what this means: 100,000+ GPUs – soon to double. This isn’t just a supercomputer; it’s an innovation engine on a scale we haven’t seen before. Building something this massive and complex in just a few months takes not just money but vision, speed, and some serious operational chops.

This facility isn’t just impressive for its size – it’s a sign of how fast AI is advancing. We’re talking about unprecedented levels of data processing and problem-solving power, all concentrated in one place. The speed and scale of Colossus redefine what’s possible, making it clear that we’re just at the start of a new era in AI-driven innovation.

The implications? They’re limitless. What’s impressive here isn’t just the tech, but the ambition behind it. Colossus is setting a new standard, and everyone else in the AI race just got a wake-up call.

What did you think of today’s edition? Let me know in the comments. Plus follow me for more of my views:

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/andrew-hardman-768a158/

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