Sahil Bloom: How He Turned Twitter Threads Into 1 Million Followers | How I Write Podcast
Dec 20, 2023
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Former finance worker turned Twitter thread writer with 1 million followers, Sahil Bloom, discusses topics such as writing for oneself, the metaphor of excavation in life, breaking away from consensus thinking, creating space for ideas, managing a growing newsletter, challenges of writing a book, and finding the essence of what to say in writing.
Writing with soul can turn Twitter threads into 1 million followers.
Passion and energy are essential for creating impactful content.
Writing helps gain clarity and make better decisions in various fields.
Deep dives
Writing from Conversation and Constraints
The speaker discusses the importance of writing from conversation and using constraints for creativity. By distilling ideas quickly and concisely, the speaker emphasizes the value of understanding what resonates with others and what doesn't. Constraints are seen as a tool to spark creativity, as exemplified by the limited character count on Twitter. The focus is on creating clear and concise writing that can effectively communicate ideas.
Starting with a Newsletter and Impact
The speaker shares their journey of starting a newsletter by sending book recommendations to friends and family. Over time, the newsletter grew to include insights and ratings on the books, attracting more readers through word-of-mouth recommendations. The speaker highlights the importance of passion and energy in creating content, not knowing at the time that it would become a significant part of their future writing endeavors. The stories of Howard Marks and Warren Buffett are referenced to emphasize the long-term impact of consistent content creation and attracting audiences.
Writing for Clarity and Decision-Making
The speaker discusses the role of writing in gaining clarity and making better decisions. In their experience working in private equity, the speaker found that writing memos to clarify investment theses helped in determining if an investment was sound or not. Twitter's character constraint was highlighted as a tool for distilling thoughts and ideas into concise statements that required clarity of thinking. The speaker shares the shift towards written memos rather than PowerPoint presentations in the startup and fundraising space, noting that more founders are sharing memos rather than pitch decks.
Creativity, Excavation, and Constraints
The speaker explores the relationship between creativity, excavation, and constraints. They discuss the need to create space for ideas to flourish and the role of surprise in creativity. Examples of creative breakthroughs enabled by constraints, such as Dr. Seuss' books and Warren Buffett's annual shareholder letters, are highlighted. The speaker emphasizes the importance of sitting with ideas, trudging through the creative process, and cultivating environments and relationships that foster curiosity and new possibilities.
The Creative Process: Evolving Perspectives and Changing Minds
The podcast episode explores the creative process and the challenges of evolving perspectives and changing minds. The speaker shares personal experiences of writing a book and reflects on how ideas and perspectives can change over time. They emphasize the importance of being open to new information and the sign of intelligence in changing one's mind. The speaker also discusses the unique challenges of writing a book, particularly the absence of immediate feedback and the need for daily motivation. The podcast highlights the importance of writing from personal experiences and finding the essence of ideas in order to create impactful work.
The Path to Publishing and Setting Realistic Expectations
The second part of the podcast episode focuses on the publishing process and setting realistic expectations. The speaker shares their fears and uncertainties about publishing a book and the pressure to create something impactful. They acknowledge that success or failure cannot solely be determined by external metrics, such as sales or engagement. The speaker emphasizes the importance of loving the process of writing and creating, regardless of the book's reception. They highlight the significance of aligning with one's true passions, finding the shiny dime in ideas, and creating genuine connections through writing and sharing ideas with others. The episode concludes with insights on the editing process and the value of brevity in communication.
Sahil Bloom once believed working in finance was the only way to make money; then, he started writing online and proved himself wrong. Come learn how he turned Twitter threads into 1 million followers by writing with soul.
