Growth Ritual #12
📋 IN THIS ISSUE: Alive 24 & “One Man Billion Dollar Company” ✨ The First Technology to Steal Power from Humanity ✨ “A Bunch of A**hole Entrepreneurs” ✨ The Honest Conflict
🎙️ AUDIO DEEP DIVE OF THIS ISSUE:
Sammy & Mila offer in-depth analysis on each newsletter issue. Subscribe to their podcast on Spotify or any other podcast platform.
Alive 24 & “One Man Billion Dollar Company”
Brick Institute is hosting the Alive 24 Product & Design Conference on May 30th. Over thirty industry experts will share their knowledge and experiences in two concurrent sessions.
I'm excited to be one of the speakers. My presentation, “One Man Billion Dollar Company” is inspired by a Sam Altman quote I shared in our third issue.
I'll delve into high-revenue mobile applications, examining how we built these products as a team and how you can replicate similar success with the power of artificial intelligence.
And here’s a little secret: this is the first time I’m mentioning it in this newsletter, but I have a surprise for conference attendees. A brand new book is launching in just one month!
As some of you know, my previous book, “The Product Growth Playbook” explored global product creation and growth. It was fortunate enough to become a bestseller in multiple Amazon categories.
With fifteen years in digital product development, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating closely with two groups: Product Owners and Software Developers.
We've faced challenges, made mistakes, and learned invaluable lessons while growing products together—experiences captured in “The Product Growth Playbook”.
Now, I'm thrilled to share a new book that focuses on the future of software development. Shaped by our experiences with dedicated software developer colleagues, “Recode Your Future” will be available on Amazon in a month.
For now, I'm excited to unveil the book cover. Stay tuned for more details in upcoming issue. And as a special treat, conference attendees will be the first to receive a free ebook copy.
📊 TRENDS, RESEARCH & REPORTS:
The First Technology to Steal Power from Humanity
In 2004's “I, Robot” Will Smith's character, Del Spooner, entered on a thrilling adventure to expose a crime committed by an artificially intelligent robot. I gave the film an 8 out of 10 and believe it remains highly relevant today.
There's a classic scene where Smith challenges the idea that AI can replace humans: “Can a robot write a symphony or create a masterpiece?” Well, fast forward twenty years, and AI is doing just that.
But it’s the robot's question back to us that really sticks: “Can you?”
Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens, highlights two crucial AI capabilities that set it apart from previous technologies:
Idea generation and
Independent decision-making.
This combination, according to Harari, marks a historical turning point.
Unlike past inventions which amplified human power and control, AI has the potential to steal it.
AI systems could soon be generating original ideas, implementing them, and deciding their own course of action – all without human oversight. It’s a terrifying prospect, especially when you consider the implications for autonomous weapons.
Harari’s warnings are a wake-up call. While humanity has overcome challenges in the past, AI presents a unique threat. I hope we’ll rise to meet it.
📱 NEXT BIG APPS:
AI Tools Speed Up Design & Development
AI is streamlining creative and coding processes.
Designers can now use tools like Logo AI to quickly generate multiple logo concepts based on simple inputs. This saves time and sparks creativity.
Coders benefit from platforms such as Durable, which automate website framework creation. By inputting basic business details, developers can focus on unique features rather than building from scratch.
🧙♂️ TIPS & TRICKS:
“A Bunch of A**hole Entrepreneurs”
Let's be real: most of us have had a boss from hell at some startup.
You know the type – they’re like ticking time bombs, ready to explode with stubbornness, perfectionism, and a passion that borders on obsession.
It’s a recipe for disaster, folks. Their drive to succeed can turn them into demanding, heartless, selfish, manipulative jerks.
I mean, just think about Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. You know, the ones we all love to hate?
Well, apparently, venture capitalists in Silicon Valley are totally into that kind of thing. According to this article, “The Right Kind of Asshole”, by Evan Armstrong, investors actually like founders with these negative traits. They say it's a “plus”.
Can you believe it? They want entrepreneurs who are, and I quote, “Be an asshole but the right kind”. I guess being a bit of a scumbag can actually help you raise money. It's a crazy world.
I mean, the guy who created the chill-out app Calm is also the mastermind behind sneaky idea “The Million Dollar Homepage”. Talk about personality split! It just goes to show that you can be a total douche and still make a killing.
I’ve talked about this before – VCs are all about picking the right startup. And guess what? Research shows that the most important factor is the founder and the team. So, yeah, they really do want those asshole entrepreneurs.
Long story short, if you're looking for a chill, understanding startup boss, you're probably out of luck. Seems like the real winners are the ones who are cutthroat, flexible, and ready to adapt. It's a tough world out there.
💡 INSPIRING IDEAS:
The Honest Conflict
At 4play, the company I was once a partner in, we prided ourselves on being adaptable, flexible, and understanding partners.
Our company culture was built on kindness, something we cherished deeply.
However, despite our achievements — rapid growth, award-winning businesses, and substantial revenue — we hit a plateau.
Our excitement waned, and we found ourselves adrift, uncertain of our next steps. That's when Erhan Feridun became our guiding light. Many of the core beliefs I hold today stem from those pivotal meetings.
Erhan attempted to unify our disparate views on success, but we were locked in a stalemate. Frustrated, he introduced us to Cem Mumcu, a psychiatrist with a remarkable ability to understand and articulate human complexities. Cem believed in the power of authenticity and it had been instrumental in my personal growth.
When Cem joined us, we were initially puzzled by his unconventional, psychology-focused questions.
Our business-minded brains were unprepared for such personal inquiries. I struggled to provide honest, direct answers.
Then, Cem delivered a life-altering statement:
“This isn't real. Your affection is either excessive or feigned. I sense underlying resentment beneath your brotherly facade and polite exchanges. You need to let go of this anger to move forward. Kindness is essential, but it can't replace honest conflict. You must defend your beliefs, even at the risk of disagreement. That's the path to true success.”