Alex Lieberman, co-founder of Morning Brew, talks with host Robert Glazer about his journey in building the popular daily email newsletter. They discuss creating a quiet space for reflection, the importance of rewarding based on values, and the challenges of transitioning after partnering with another company. They also explore the negative impacts of seeking validation on social media.
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Quick takeaways
Creating great content and building an engaged audience is key to scaling a media brand like Morning Brew.
Utilizing ambassadors and referral programs can drive organic growth by incentivizing a passionate community.
Finding purpose and fulfillment beyond external validation is crucial, even in the face of significant changes and transitions.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Morning Brew and Building a Business
Alex Lieberman, co-founder and CEO of Morning Brew, shares the journey of building the popular daily email newsletter that condenses business news for a younger audience. From starting as a college student with a vision, to growing the subscriber base to over 3 million, Lieberman discusses the importance of creating great content, acquiring an audience, and monetizing that audience through advertising. He also explores the challenges of transitioning from a newsletter company to a media brand and consumer brand. While he is currently in a transition phase, Lieberman continues to learn and explore new passions in his quest for fulfillment.
The Power of Ambassadors and Referral Programs
Lieberman highlights the role of ambassadors and referral programs in the growth of Morning Brew. He discusses the initial strategy of personally pitching Morning Brew in classes on his college campus and expanding to other schools through student ambassadors. The introduction of a referral program further fueled growth, offering rewards such as swag, exclusive content, and community access to enthusiastic readers. Lieberman emphasizes the importance of finding the right incentives and building a passionate community to drive organic growth.
The Decision to Sell and the Next Chapter
Lieberman shares the challenging decision of selling a majority stake in Morning Brew to Business Insider. He explains the motivations behind the decision, including the opportunity to partner with a company that could provide resources, knowledge, and allow them to build without interference. Additionally, the financial aspect offered increased optionality and security for himself and his family. While the transition is a significant change for him personally, Lieberman reflects on the importance of finding purpose and fulfillment beyond external validation, as he continues to explore new passions and opportunities.
Challenges of Measuring Happiness Based on Validation
Lieberman opens up about a recurring personal struggle of measuring his happiness based on validation from others. He discusses how this tendency can be amplified by social media and the importance of finding fulfillment in intrinsic factors rather than external recognition. While recognizing that it is a difficult transition, he aims to learn and grow by being a voracious consumer of knowledge and expanding his surface area of learning, allowing him to find new passions and avenues for fulfillment.
The Journey of Growth and the Importance of Mental Health and Well-being
Throughout the podcast, Lieberman reflects on the journey of building Morning Brew and the importance of mental health and well-being in the startup space. He acknowledges the progress made in understanding the significance of mental health but highlights the need for increased practice in implementing mindfulness and self-awareness. Lieberman emphasizes the importance of finding balance, stepping away from transactional validation, and focusing on personal growth and fulfillment.
Alex Lieberman is the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew, a daily email newsletter that condenses business news into more accessible, entertaining content. Alex started Morning Brew as a college student in 2015 and has grown it to over 3 million subscribers. Alex is also the host of the popular podcast Founder’s Journal, which offers a glimpse behind the scenes of Morning Brew.
Alex joined host Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to talk about creating Morning Brew, scaling it into a nine-figure media brand, dealing with impostor syndrome and much more.