I'm a designer who turned into a writer who turned into a startup CEO. My mission is to help creators earn a living. Subscribe for essays on building an audience and earning a living as a creator.
What would need to be true?
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Hey Reader, If you regularly read this newsletter, you’re probably ambitious. You have dreams, goals, and aspirations. But sometimes those dreams can feel lofty or unclear.
How long is it going to take you to get there? How are you going to do it? What stands in the way? These questions can be hard to answer. Often things feels so overwhelming, you just kick the can down the road. “I’ll figure it out later.” A question I really like, and use a lot in my company, is: What would need to be true? This question helps immediately identify what’s standing in the way so you can recognize obstacles and clarify action steps.
Take your time here. Spend a while really thinking about the question. In many cases, the answer ends up being simpler than you thought. All of the nebulous reasons for why you can’t become a few manageable tasks. That’s what I like: this question turns ambitions into todo lists. Instead of coming up with why we can’t, we start to think through how we can. This doesn’t mean that every time you ask the question you have to do whatever it takes no matter what. Sometimes the question illuminates legitimate reasons for why you shouldn’t do something—or at least not right now. It’s important to use this question as yet another tool in your toolkit as opposed to the one hammer that turns every situation into a nail. For instance, while it can be a useful question in a professional environment for getting your team to break through initial resistance and think creatively, you shouldn't use it as a bulldozer. Use the question to find out what something would take and, once you know, evaluate:
Try it out by yourself or with a team the next time you’re in a mental fog. What would need to be true? PODCASTWe’re Scaling Ali Abdaal’s Business to $10 Million (Here’s How)In this episode, I coach Ali Abdaal, the internet’s leading productivity expert, on how to scale his business from $5M to $10M. We explore the shift from a creator-focused model to a sustainable business, the pivotal role of the creator as a guide, and how to set measurable goals that drive growth. We cover:
Watch or listen to episode » From 50k → 120k email subscribersWhat does it take to grow an email newsletter to over 100,000 subscribers? You may know Tiago Forte for helping people build a “Second Brain”. His Marketing Director at Forte Labs, Julia Saxena, recently did an AMA on Reddit talking all about newsletters, online business, and marketing. Questions she answered include:
BOOKRunning Down a DreamMy friend, Tim Grahl, wrote a compelling book for anyone looking to turn their dreams into reality. In it he shares a personal journey of overcoming doubt and offers actionable steps along the way for how to combat fear in the pursuit of your goals. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or someone just starting out on their journey, you’ll find wisdom and encouragement for breaking free from self doubt. Have a great week! —Nathan |
Nathan Barry
I'm a designer who turned into a writer who turned into a startup CEO. My mission is to help creators earn a living. Subscribe for essays on building an audience and earning a living as a creator.
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