#089 David Senra + Mitchell Baldridge #6 : Writing the Founders’ Book, Building Natural-fit Businesses, and Craft
Smart Friends
Intro
This chapter emphasizes the importance of time and effort in the creative process, specifically in writing. The speakers discuss how a greater investment of time can lead to more profound and impactful narratives, contrasting quick reads with those that require deeper thought.
Topics:
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:03:52) - The Founder's book project
(00:04:06) - Effort and building relationships
(00:11:20) - The value of self-publishing
(00:24:00) - Bootstrapping a HoldCo
(00:46:05) - Finding natural fit in business
(00:47:48) - The role of trust in business
(00:49:07) - AI and changing perspectives
(00:50:26) - Daily use of AI tools
(00:55:49) - The value of deep research
(00:57:53) - The future of AI in business
(01:16:35) - Avoiding addictive apps
(01:18:27) - Collecting and using maxims
(01:20:45) - The power of lists
(01:24:40) - Collapsing organizational gaps
(01:28:05) - The role of AI in reducing friction
(01:29:59) - Closing remarks and recommendations
Links:
Andrew Wilkinson — https://twitter.com/awilkinsonDavid Senra — https://twitter.com/founderspodcastEric Jorgenson — https://twitter.com/ericjorgensonMitchell Baldridge — https://twitter.com/baldridgecpaNick Huber — https://twitter.com/sweatystartup
Eric Jorgenson — https://ejorgenson.com
Founders Podcast — https://www.founderspodcast.com
Better Bookkeeping — https://www.betterbookkeeping.comRE Cost Seg — https://www.recostseg.comScribe — https://scribemedia.com
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We discuss:
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How extreme effort and agency created the opportunity to publish the Founders' book.
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The economics, longevity, and cultural value of self-published books.
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Bootstrapping and scaling a HoldCo with multiple service businesses.
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Practical uses of AI for research, productivity, and creative leverage.
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The importance of doing the work for its own sake and loving the process.
Quotes from David:
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“You don’t handle the stress—you like it. Or else you wouldn’t be doing this.”
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“If you want the ups, you have to endure the downs. That’s just a fact.”
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“This is the best version of my life, whether it’s 300 people at a club or 3,000 in a theater.”
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“Most people try to keep things even—no extreme highs or lows. But all the exciting shit is in the variance.”
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“If you have something else you’d rather be doing, then you should go do that.”
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“Books are so valuable because of how long they take to consume.”
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“Effort is universal. Doesn’t matter if it’s a garden or a podcast—people respect work.”
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“AI is going to wipe out the middle. If you’re average, you’re gone.”
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“Sage remembers things I don’t—and that’s priceless.”
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“Don’t rush it. Make something great. A good book can sell for 50 years.”
Quotes from Mitchell:
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“I get frustrated at how long this takes—but I want to build something meaningful.”
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“Turn everything into a car wash. Put the customer into neutral and pull them through.”
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“The tax code is getting more complex, but the systems are getting better.”
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“AI is going to destroy everything below the 95th percentile.”
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“I’m bootstrapping a holdco—and it takes time.”
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“Send me a customer, I’ll give you $1,000. Send me 1,000 and I’ll mortgage my house for you.”
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“I don’t want 25 meetings a month—I want results.”
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