👋 Hi! I'm Dan. I help makers, artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives find the clarity and motivation to get their work out into the world. If that sounds good, let's go! 🚀

Hi Reader,

I've been busy with some things that are coming your way shortly. Stay tuned!

Today, we have a short lesson I learned the hard way (as usual...), our first ever SPONSOR (!!!) and then some favorite things — from YOU! Readers! And a few from me.

Let's get into it!

Lessons Learned

I left the c-suite to build my dream business.
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It worked, but had a lethal flaw.
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In 2019, I started a software venture studio.
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A "venture studio" is a core team that shares resource and launches multiple projects.
I didn’t have a name for it.
Our MO was build fast, launch, and iterate.
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I had a core team of 12 members — all contractors.
We went from $0 to low seven figures in top-line revenue, totally bootstrapped.
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It was incredible.
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I had one secret weapon:
Partnerships.
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I had two partners in the studio.
We were aligned and complemented each other.
One led sales.
The other was our CTO.
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My role: bring everyone together.
Keep everyone together.
And keep us rowing in the same direction.
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I did it well. Until I didn't.
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We grew through partnerships.
We worked with affiliates to launch and scale.
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Everything was going well until…
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Our CTO was invited to join a project with a mentor.
It was her passion. And it paid great.
She was generous in her exit.
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We tried to replace her with another partner.
I thought it would be like it was before.
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That was my blind spot.
I was wrong.
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We weren’t aligned.
I put in blood and sweat.
I put in my network and name.
The only skin they had in the game was their investment.
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We were there to build value.
They were there to extract it.
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I spent a year on that project.
I was the face of the company.
And will never see anything from it.
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I’m convinced now more than ever:
Partnerships are the fastest way to grow a business.
AND partnerships are the fastest way to kill one.
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The real trick is knowing which you’re getting.
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Align values.
Align incentives.
Protect your downside.

Your Turn:

Have thoughts? Hit reply. I'd love to hear them.

SPONSORED BY MATT GIARO

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85% of people dislike or even hate what they’re doing for a living.

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It’s through online courses…especially with Matt’s unique ‘create & launch’ method that makes courses easier, faster, and more profitable.

Record them once, sell them for years to come!

He just released just released a free case study you can grab within the next 48 hours to:

→ Find a profitable course idea (even if you have no idea where to begin)

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​Click here to get instant access to this free case study​

In Case You Missed it:

A few recent posts and articles across platforms

From LinkedIn:

📰 Better decisions = better outcomes. Fix these 8 decision-making problems to improve your life.

📰 I had to fire a team member, and couldn’t do it. I’d reached burnout, and didn’t know it yet.

From the Newsletter:

✉️ I turned 42. Eight mid-life lessons I'm reluctantly learning.​

✉️ The Next Version of Yourself 💪​

Favorites!

I love sharing what I'm into. And I love hearing what you're into as well!

Here's some of mine and one of yours:

🎸 Noah Gundersen's Counting Crows Cover

I've seen and heard Noah Gundersen play a few times. He's local to the PNW. He's great. But not in my usual music rotation.

Until now. Until this.

He covered Round Here by the Counting Crows and I have goosebumps just thinking about it.

I'm a sucker for covers. I have a playlist of some of my favorites.

Gundersen doesn't just cover this song. He embodies it. It's moving. It's so beautiful. I can't get enough:

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📚 Ryan Holiday's Books

I'm a huge fan of Ryan Holiday's work. Turns out some of you are too! Joey S. shared this:
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🎙️ People in Transition Podcast

I had the fun chance to be on Bob Gerst's People in Transition podcast. It was fun to dig into the wild transition I've been in over the past few years.

I share about depression, leaving ministry, becoming an entrepreneur, testing career hypothesis, and more.

Would love for you to give it a listen: https://www.buzzsprout.com/803141/10459661​

Your turn

Anything great you've been enjoying? Hit reply and send it along! I'd love to know. Seriously.

8,000+ people are getting this email, and I can count on one hand how many responses I usually get. You have the chance to change that! Hit reply. Tell me what's good!

Yours in meaning making,