Hi Mate 👋,

this is the first time I’m trying out this new format.

It might still be a bit rough around the edges, but it’s gonna get better with your feedback & time.

The newsletter consists of 3 sections:

1. What’s new (what happened in the last 7 days)

2. One core insight from these 7 days that you can apply

3. The learning machine (What I’m currently learning / insights from learning)

Please respond to this email which sections you think are good/bad/ugly, I would love to fix them.

What’s new

Last week was the first week after coming back from vacation.

I struggled a bit to get back on the horse, as I was sick and lacking external pressure to move forward. Let me explain…

See, in the last 4 weeks of 2024, I worked on projects with external stakeholders. This was to build up the runway for my holding.

This means that external stakeholders "pressure" you to perform. There are deadlines to meet. So, you move forward without asking too many questions.

This led to working 60 hours a week for most of December, more or less neglecting the product side of things.

Balance is hard...

The good news is that I still made money; SEO ensures there is a constant flow of sales coming in on autopilot.

2025 started with little activity; most SMBs that we work with are still on vacation.

This left me hanging in the air for most of the week, trying to rediscover my inner drive to build products. (my actual focus lol)

In product building, there is a fallacy.

There is no direct external pressure.

But there is. It comes from the market, not stakeholders.

From the time running out.

Windows of opportunity closing.

So I spent this first work week of 2024 doing as much as “possible” while also taking the time to recover.

This leads me to this week’s insight. 👇

Insight

The Learning Machine

Currently, I’m learning about strategy.

It's the most interesting part of my work. But, I spend little time on it and know almost nothing about it.

In the age of AI, execution is cheap again. We should focus on ideas and leverage.

It means that your work is more important than your effort. You must use your strengths and weaknesses to overcome obstacles.

How to spot windows of opportunity and how unique insights can give you an edge.

Let me know if you want a deep dive on this, resources that I develop along the way etc.

Talk Soon,
Stefan