How I Write

How Writing Helped Jason Fried Build an 8-Figure Business

May 22, 2024

Basecamp CEO Jason Fried challenges Silicon Valley norms with a focus on honest work and sharing ideas freely. He reveals how writing founder letters for new products builds a fanbase and excitement. Fried discusses specific business-writing techniques, finding flow in creativity, embracing imperfections, and the role of memory in writing.

01:31:20

Episode guests

Jason Fried

AI Summary

Highlights

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Founders should share ideas openly to transform businesses.

Business writing should focus on storytelling, structure, and clarity.

Personal storytelling enhances emotional connection in podcast interviews.

Embrace simplicity and authenticity in creative expressions for impactful communication.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Writing Software

Software has evolved from an owned model to a rental service, characterized by routine payments and lack of control. Recurring revenue has surged, benefiting landlords in the church of recurring revenue. Users are paying repeatedly for the same service without ownership. The need to shift from rented to owned services is emphasized.

Authentic Communication Over Corporate Jargon

01:20

Talk it out and communicate authentically in writing

01:21

Navajo Rug Analogy

01:28

Art of Writing: Finding the Hole

01:23

Introduction

3min

Finding Flow in Writing and Creativity

8min

Embracing Imperfections in Writing

21min

The Role of Memory in Writing

4min

The Pitfalls of Bad Business Writing

5min

The Evolution of Software Ownership: From Renting to Owning

9min

Transforming Email Communication with Hey

11min

The Art of Distillation in Writing

23min

Building a Company with a Clear Vision and Original Ideas

3min

10.

Letting Go and Finding Your Own Path

5min

Get ready to swap everything you know about business-writing for an unconventional approach that actually works.

Basecamp CEO Jason Fried is one of the world’s most successful software entrepreneurs. And he’s unique for the way he challenges the tenets of Silicon Valley startups.

He’s bold like Bezos, but relaxed like Buffett. He cares less about “rising-and-grinding” and more about an honest 40-hour work week. He never white-knuckles his ideas, but shares them freely with the world. As a result, he’s transformed how Internet businesses are being built.

And it all starts with — you guessed it — getting his best ideas on the page.

His founder letters stand out (and they’re his favorite thing to write). Whenever he announces a new product, he releases a letter that does three things: builds a devoted fanbase, ramps up excitement, and sheds light on the purpose behind his products. And in this episode, you’ll learn exactly how he does it.

You’ll learn specific business-writing techniques: from storytelling to structure to word choice. You’ll learn how to find your flow, make writing easier, and use writing to start doing things in the world.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Website: https://world.hey.com/jason

Twitter: https://x.com/jasonfried

Medium: https://medium.com/@jasonfried

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002MQ13PQ

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PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470