Books

Become What You Think

We hear the Internet is a big deal. Drew Harden is a web development wayfinder, author, and culture-building leader at Blue Compass. After some rich thoughts on creating significance within a company’s culture, we dive into the world of web development. Ben was in web development for 8 years back in the day, so this was a fun chance to hear how web design and development continues to evolve. Ben and Drew chat about key things for different types of websites. After BEN BOT suggested an average cost to have a web development company create a website, we talk about budgeting for web design projects, but also remember that it’s never one size fits all. Before the break, we run through content creation and the marathon of search engine optimization.

After the break, we double click on SEO (here’s a link to the Blue Compass SEO Guide), but stay plugged in! Drew and Ben shift into a great chat on writing and publishing your first book. Hear Drew share stories from his book writing quest that led to RETAIN: How to Create an Incredible Company Culture that No One Wants to Leave. Ben and Drew then have fun reflecting on narrating your own audiobook. In fact, let’s extend the fun! Use an Audible credit to enjoy Drew’s audiobook here and Ben’s audiobook here. If writing a book keeps you up at night, this is a fun listen. Drew then closes with a neat moment, which inspired the poetic title.

LISTEN on APPLE PODCASTS
LISTEN on SPOTIFY

By Ben McDougal, ago

Threaded Thoughts

Let’s talk tactics. Here is a simple technique to absorb, translate, and share the (audio)books you read.

Start with one tweet, then reply to that same tweet over and over again. The result is a thread (sometimes called a tweetstorm) that combines your key takeaways and gives you a single link to share your collective thoughts.

Here are a few examples…
Tribes – Seth Godin
We Are All Weird – Seth Godin
This Is Marketing – Seth Godin
Free Prize Inside – Seth Godin (ideal for intrapreneurs)
The Icarus Deception – Seth Godin (great for students)
Startup Community Way – Brad Feld & Ian Hathaway
Think Like A Freak – Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner
The Hard Things About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz
Angel – Jason Calacanis
Think Again – Adam Grant
Entrepreneurs’ Weekly Nietzsche – Dave Jilk & Brad Feld
The Almanack of Naval Revikant
BONUS THREAD – Big Thoughts in Little Tweets

Why is this helpful? If you’re thirsty to learn from (audio)books, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed as authors bombard you with knowledge. Passively enjoying (audio)books is fine, but this organizational exercise forces you to slow down, which reduces the numbing effect. In short, crafting concise tweets that are all connected forces you to feel the experience.

Another benefit to sharing threaded thoughts, is that each public post draws out more focused contemplation. I’ve found this technique makes me think deeper, use words carefully, and has actually made me a better writer. Such value is compounded when the entire thread can be retrieved with one link.

Lastly, this exercise generates accountability. When this exercise becomes a habit, you spend extra time with that first tweet, knowing it may become be the foundation for a neat collection of thoughts. As the thread expands, you’ll feel momentum that keeps you listening/reading. If progress stalls, the lingering sense of an incomplete project may bring you back to finish the literary journey. If you must get through something quickly, just craft a smaller thread, but include one post that lists the page numbers for areas that caught your attention. Such a hack is still better than nothing.

To be clear, this exercise is not about pirating content or echoing knowledge like a parrot that sounds smart. It’s about sharing a meaning narrative while leaning into what resonates for you, knowing you’re creating a relic for others (including your future self) to enjoy as well.

Extra Shot

Tag me on Twitter if you try this! I’d love to follow along and will definitely chime in if you experiment using You Don’t Need This Book.

By Ben McDougal, ago

Table of Contents

We’re only one week from the official April 1st launch of You Don’t Need This Book!

Special thanks to ALL who have locked in their preorders. To celebrate the book release, here’s a sneak peek at the Table of Contents for You Don’t Need This Book: Entrepreneurship in the Connected Era.

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE ∞ IDEATION
– Train Your Brain
– Find Problems
– Broaden the Horizon
– Listen
– Early Moves
– Talk
– Idea Burnout
– Die Empty

CHAPTER TWO ∞ COMMUNITY
– Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
– Communities of Practice
– Plug In
– Be Yourself
– Show Up
– Break Ice
– #givefirst
– Stand Out
– Follow Up
– Coworking
– Lead
– Event Management
– Connectors Become Connected
– Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Builders
– Career Nirvana

CHAPTER THREE ∞ TEAM
– Lone Wolf
– Co-Founders
– Friends
– Family
– Mentors
– Advisors
– Investors
– Acquiring Talent

CHAPTER FOUR ∞ SIDE HUSTLES
– Balance
– Transparency
– Patience
– Be Realistic
– The Headline Trap
– Intrapreneurship

CHAPTER FIVE ∞ RESEARCH
– Lightweight
– Middleweight
– Heavyweight
– Reflections

CHAPTER SIX ∞ TESTING
– Early Adopters
– Stealth Mode
– What to Test
– Pivoting
– Incubators
– Accelerators
– Stay Curious
– Pure WonderCHAPTER SEVEN ∞ MARKETING
– Name It
– Logo Design
– Branding
– Content Creation
– Skill #1 – Writing
– Skill #2 – Photography
– Skill #3 – Videography
– Skill #4 – Graphic Design
– Skill #5 – Creativity
– Skill #6 – Organization
– Web Development
– Email Marketing
– Social Media
– Print
– Word of Mouth

CHAPTER EIGHT ∞ SALES
– Launch
– Early Action
– Don’t Sell
– Slow Down
– Stay Committed
– Travel
– Trade Shows
– Pitch Competitions
– Grants > Loans
– Jet Fuel

CHAPTER NINE ∞ RESULTS
– Milestones
– Celebrate
– Tweak
– Expand
– Exit
– Hobbies That Pay

CHAPTER TEN ∞ PERSISTENCE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

RESOURCES

By Ben McDougal, ago