What I learned this weekend - 7.29.24

Founders failures to learn from, a smorgasbord of people to follow, articles on AI, Venture Capital, and NFL coaches you'll want to check out, a video of Google's origin story, Steve Jobs' advice on focusing, and a beautiful way to think of grief.

Eimri Bar ?? , (former) Co-founder at Bloom, a company that set out to transform teams into value-first micro-influencers by redefining the way they engage, sell, and truly connect with their audience online.

On Sunday, Eimri shared on LinkedIn that he shutting down Bloom, his 2nd startup in 3 years.

Not the opening you'd think would make me save the post, but there's something about the vulnerability, honesty, and growth mindset of some founders that should be celebrated and can be learned from.

Bar continued to share 5 lessons and reflections. Not that I agree with all of them, There's still what to be learned

?? Don't start with your back against the wall.

?? Co-founder compatibility is everything.

?? Beware who you take advice from.

?? Generate revenue from day 0.

?? Hire slow, fire fast.

Then Jon Nordmark Co-founder, CEO at Iterate.ai and of eBags (acquired by Samsonite) added additional tidbits from his experiences.

Here are some of my favorites:

"if you raise VC, know 70% of those fail ... employees and founders make $0 in those"

"know that common sense is better than a college degree"

"know that a profitless startup is just an adventure ... it's not "a business" until it's profitable"

"to an entrepreneur or employee, you're all in (all or nothing) at your startup, it HAS TO work"

"Think hard before turning down a good offer. We did that at eBags, because the VC wanted 2X the offer. A VC on your board may look at an offer differently than a founder."

One of Jon's coworkers, Dave Jenkins, shared Eimri's article with him. I'm hoping sharing it here will benefit someone else.

Kaitlyn Arford , Newsletter Founder, Freelance Writer, and "Dog Writer" for Hire shared 40ish job boards, newsletters, and resources to consult if you're job hunting for full-time or #freelance roles.

Check it out!

Here I share who I recently followed this past week or the top previous profiles I've followed.

? zo? hartsfield - Sr. Manager, Evangelism & Influencer Marketing at Apollo.io . Zoe is killing it with her video content. (For the life of me, I do not know how to get those two dots above her name! ??)

? Elana Gold Dickman - Partner at Red Beard Ventures | Angel Investor | Forbes 30 Under 30 | Host of TheGirlsTable Podcast - I've been adding more early-stage VCs and investors lately to my network and LinkedIn feed. There's something about those who get in early and help founders at the early stages navigate the murky waters as they begin to grow and eventually scale. Elana seems like the kind of person you can easily become freinds with whether or not you get an investment. Her recent post got me ideating with my son on a new name as she relaunches her weekly newsletter. One question Elana.... Substack , beehiiv , or LinkedIn?

? ????♂? Scott Leese - GTM Advisor | 12 ??s | 11 exits | 6x Sales Leader | 4x Founder | 3x Author | Helping founders and revenue leaders beat the odds - Scott's profile and content is what I'd call well-groomed. I first entered "Scott's world" via the Salesforce Sales Blazers Slack Channel and began observing his posts and slowly engaging with him. Though not a surfer, I see the uniqueness of sales leaders in attending a different kind of conference and learning differently. Maybe someday. If you're in sales management, specifically in a VP of Sales role, you can learn a lot from following him.

? Jack Kuveke - Startup fundraising coach | GP @ Jabroni Capital | Adam Neumann Look-alike | Ex-Child | Effective egoist - At first I thought this profile was a mythical but still hilarious profile. Upon the little bit of research I did, Jack is real. Just take the tagline for Jabroni Capital. "Disappointing founders & burning LP money." Today's post was this:

This is the toilet I make my interns use at our office.

If you REALLY want a bathroom break, you have to work for it.

This has increased productivity by 60% because people are desperate to get work done just so they can go home.

You’ll never guess what the women’s restroom looks like.

De-influencing effectively sways 69% of U.S. social media users. by Joe Berkowitz at Fast Company .

TL;DR:

A study by Harris Poll for Intuit Credit Karma reveals that 69% of American social media users have avoided purchasing items promoted on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This "de-influencing" trend, which began in 2023, stems from distrust in influencers and products, as well as concerns about overconsumption. The movement has particularly resonated with Gen Z, with 88% reporting being "de-influenced." As a result, new trends like "underconsumption core" are emerging, focusing on sustainability and mindful consumption.

AI could enhance almost two-thirds of British jobs, claims Google - Research commissioned by Google estimates 31% of jobs would be insulated from AI and 61% radically transformed by it. By The Guardian

TL;DR:

谷歌 -commissioned research by Public First suggests that AI could enhance 61% of British jobs, with only 31% being "insulated" from AI impact. Very few jobs are expected to be fully phased out. Google is partnering with various organizations to introduce AI in workplaces effectively. The study estimates potential economic gains of over ￡400bn for the UK if AI is fully adopted over the next six years. However, current AI uptake in workplaces is low, and Google emphasizes the need to increase usage and confidence in AI tools among workers.

Generative AI Leads McKinsey’s Tech Trends as Interest, Investment Soar - New McKinsey report highlights generative AI is driving job growth and investments. By Ben Wodecki at AI Business .

TL;DR:

McKinsey & Company latest Technology Trends Outlook 2024 Report. highlights generative AI as the standout tech trend, with soaring interest and investments. Google searches for generative AI increased by 700% from 2022 to 2023, and investments saw a sevenfold increase compared to other technologies. Despite an overall 26% decrease in tech job postings from 2021 to 2023, generative AI-related job listings maintained or increased, reflecting strong demand. The report also notes that 65% of business leaders surveyed regularly use generative AI, up from one-third last year.

Snoozing or losing: Why some NFL coaches are rethinking their sleep habits - Stephen Holder at ESPN

TL;DR:

NFL coaches, including Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams , are rethinking their sleep habits and work schedules. Many are recognizing the importance of proper rest for decision-making, critical thinking, and overall performance. Some coaches are implementing changes like working from home, shortening staff meetings, and leaving the office earlier. The shift is driven by scientific research on sleep's impact on cognitive function and performance. Coaches like Dave Canales and Raheem Morris are adopting more balanced approaches, aiming for efficiency while maintaining work-life balance. This trend reflects a broader change in NFL culture towards embracing sports science and prioritizing wellness.

Inside Iconiq Growth, one of Silicon Valley’s most mysterious venture capital funds that just closed a $5.8B startup war chest- by Jessica Mathews at Fortune .

TL;DR:

ICONIQ Capital ,( ICONIQ Growth ) a secretive wealth management firm and venture capital fund, is opening up about its operations. Founded by Divesh Makan , Iconiq manages $60 billion for fewer than 300 wealthy families and has invested in successful tech companies like Snowflake and Figma . The firm's success is attributed to its extensive network of high-profile clients and its approach to "uncommon care" for founders. Iconiq recently raised a $5.75 billion fund and is focusing on AI investments. The firm is breaking its silence to build its brand in the competitive VC landscape, despite some clients preferring its previous low-profile approach.

Instagram Find - In 1998, Google was valued at $10 million - The origin story of Google. By ProductivityGames

From The Today Show, AriZona Beverage Co. Owner Don Vultaggio sits down with Savannah Sellers (@watchsavannah) for an interview and their Iced Tea is notoriously still only 99 cents, despite rising prices across the food and drink industry. He explains why he is so adamant about the price staying under a dollar, and if that will change in the foreseeable future.

Steve Jobs explains what real focus is all about. EntrepreneursIG shares this game-changing piece of wisdom

As someone who lives with grief every day since losing my father when I was 20, I can appreciate how Jay Shetty on his Instagram account shares a beautiful way to think about our grief. I hope it helps someone... but for me, that rock is as heavy if not heavier today, since he passed away.

Speaking of my Dad, one of his greatest sayings was:

"It's the little things, that make the biggest difference"

If you have, please let me know in the comments.

If you have someone to follow, posts you found interesting, articles you've read, or found something you enjoyed from social media this past week, share it in the comments.

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