#035 - Tyler Denk on Creators, Ambition, Uniqueness, & Choosing the More Difficult Path
Sep 20, 2023
auto_awesome
Tyler Denk, co-founder and CEO of Beehiiv and former second employee at Morning Brew, discusses the importance of newsletters, standing out, and taking the path less traveled. Topics include market insights, supporting creators, problems in podcasting, quality as a moat, owning distribution, being a CEO, passion and luck, authenticity, and issues in the music industry.
Building something impactful and challenging, combining passion and making a difference.
Choosing the unconventional path to meet interesting people and achieve noteworthy accomplishments.
Remaining authentic, connected with users, and making informed decisions based on real-time feedback.
Deep dives
Building Something Impactful and Challenging
One of the main ideas discussed in the podcast is the importance of building something that is impactful and challenging. The speaker emphasizes that spending a significant portion of one's waking hours working should be dedicated to something that is fun, challenging, and makes a difference in the world. They encourage listeners to identify their unique skill set or experience that positions them to do something meaningful, highlighting the infinite spectrum of possibilities. The emphasis is on combining passion and the ability to make a difference in order to pursue projects or ventures that stand out.
Choosing the Path Less Traveled
The podcast episode explores the concept of choosing the unconventional and less traveled path. The guest speaker highlights the importance of pursuing opportunities that may seem underqualified for, but can lead to intriguing experiences and connections. They share personal anecdotes of taking risks and embracing challenges that have resulted in meeting interesting people and achieving noteworthy accomplishments. The speaker encourages listeners to consider the path less traveled, where they can bring their unique skill set and make a difference in their chosen field.
Authenticity and Avoiding Institutionalization
The episode stresses the significance of authenticity in both individuals and companies. The speaker underscores the value of remaining true to oneself and avoiding becoming institutionalized. They discuss the importance of staying connected with users, engaging with customers directly, and understanding the pulse of the industry. By actively participating in day-to-day operations and being in touch with users and the team, companies can retain their authenticity and make informed decisions based on real-time feedback.
Traits of Successful Hires
The podcast delves into the qualities that the speaker looks for in potential hires. They emphasize the importance of grit, enthusiasm, and a willingness to go above and beyond. The guest suggests that these intangible qualities often outweigh impressive credentials and degrees. An individual's passion, determination, and eagerness to learn can have a significant impact on their performance and overall success within a company. The focus is on finding individuals who are genuinely interested in the company's mission and willing to contribute wholeheartedly.
Identifying Opportunities in the Music Industry
The speaker shares their passion for music and their interest in exploring opportunities in the music industry. Although they highlight the challenges associated with the music industry, such as rights and royalties, they express curiosity about solving problems related to music discovery. They reflect on previous endeavors and the potential for developing innovative solutions in the music space. While they currently focus on other ventures, the music industry remains an area of interest where meaningful contributions could be made through the right platform or service.
Tyler Denk is the co-founder and CEO of newsletter platform Beehiiv, and was the second employee at Morning Brew. We talk about newsletters, creators, running a startup, standing out, taking the path less traveled, ambition, authenticity, and uniqueness.
—
(00:46) Why build a newsletter platform & not another Morning Brew-like newsletter
(01:48) VC, bootstrapping, and being able to focus on building
(05:00) Market insights the incumbents didn’t have
(07:35) Biggest problems for creators today across creation, distribution, and monetization
(09:41) Being adaptable in supporting creators
(13:16) The biggest problems in podcasting
(16:53) Quality, trust, entertainment & analysis as a moat for creators in the age of AI
(19:22) Individuals vs institutions
(21:28) Email allows you to own distribution
(25:09) Overlooked or under-appreciated parts of being a CEO
(27:59) Ride the wave of hunger & ambition while you’re young & free
(32:18) Is passion portable & the importance of luck and opportunity
(34:18) Being in over your head & choosing the more difficult path
(38:32) Comfort vs. stress
(41:59) Credentialism vs. proof of work
(45:54) The importance of ignorance & naïveté
(48:15) Retaining authenticity & getting in the weeds
(51:04) Problems in the music industry
(53:08) What are you uniquely positioned to do
