Founder’s Dance with George Levin #12

Yesterday, I stayed up until 1:30 am—four hours later than usual—caught up in a board game called Power Grid. It’s like Catan but with extra layers of strategy and tension. The competition ramps up with each turn, and as a naturally competitive person, I couldn’t stop until the game ended. We left far later than planned, which is rare for me. Usually, I’m the first to leave gatherings to prioritize sleep and discipline.

Though I had fun, on the ride home I felt a pang of regret, knowing I’d likely skip my Sunday long run and delay my newsletter writing.

Reflecting on it, I realized this small detour from routine highlighted a deeper issue: I have very little room for spontaneity and almost no tolerance for “mistakes” or deviations from my usual habits.

I’m working on self-acceptance, but the deeper I go, the more complicated it feels. Lack of self-acceptance doesn’t just affect how we see ourselves—it limits how we accept others and even life itself. Instead, we try to fix everything, which drains so much energy. Embracing ourselves as we are is more than a cliché from a self-help book; it’s the door to a fulfilling life.

But it raises an interesting question: Where’s the line between self-improvement and self-acceptance? If this question resonates, check out this conversation between Tim Ferriss and Dr. Brené Brown.

Startup Hacks: Iteration Speed Is Everything

For an early-stage startup, iteration speed is everything—it’s the key to finding product-market fit. Anything that slows this down can be deadly.

Here are five counterintuitive mistakes that can hinder your startup’s pace:

Hiring too soon. Every new team member adds a “communication tax,” slowing the team by 10–20%. Keep as few people as possible before reaching PMF.

Raising money prematurely. Funding often leads to a push for more hiring and reduces urgency. While cash is essential when scaling, it can slow you down when you’re still searching for product-market fit.

Skipping thorough communication. The impulse to dive in quickly with a “let’s go” attitude often leads to miscommunication. Triple-check that everyone understands what to do, why you’re doing it, and what “done” means to avoid costly mistakes.

Overloaded backlog. At this stage, the best task is often the one you don’t start. Cultivate a culture where every addition to the backlog is carefully considered; otherwise, you’ll be bogged down with prioritizing endless tasks.

Lack of focus. Pursuing new features and quick wins is tempting, but testing a single product hypothesis thoroughly demands focus. Without it, you’ll struggle to pinpoint what draws users to your product.

Product Spotlight: Riverside

This week’s spotlight is on Riverside, a podcasting tool I recently started using. I’ve been experimenting with podcasts in both Russian and English, recording solo episodes on my iPhone and using Zoom for interviews. However, Zoom’s quality left much to be desired.

After several recommendations, I tried Riverside, initially thinking it was just an upgraded Zoom recorder. But it turned out to be a full production studio with impressive tools and AI features. Riverside allows you to create AI-generated voice intros and outros, design animated captions, clean up audio, and—my favorite—generate short, social media-ready clips from your podcast.

As I delve further into YouTube and handle production on my own, Riverside has been a valuable time-saver.

Culture Corner: Tribal Leadership

This week’s book is Tribal Leadership, a powerful exploration of workplace dynamics. I read it years ago, and it made a lasting impression. Recently, I came across it again on my shelf and decided to dive back in.

Tribal Leadership outlines four primary types of employees:

• “Life sucks” – These employees feel the world is unfair, expect others to cater to them, and often sabotage work or do the bare minimum, blaming others.

• “My life sucks” – These employees feel less talented or lucky than their colleagues, envy others, and lack self-belief, despite trying to work hard.

• “I’m great, and you’re not” – These employees see themselves as experts, often viewing teammates as lazy or lacking ambition. They feel their biggest obstacle is the lack of capable colleagues and resources.

• “We’re great, and they’re not” – Here, employees realize the value of teamwork. They understand they need strong relationships and trust to achieve more together.

Each stage has a specific “enemy”:

• Stage 1 (“Life sucks”): The enemy is life itself.

• Stage 2 (“My life sucks”): The enemy is the boss.

• Stage 3 (“I’m great, and you’re not”): The enemy is slower, less motivated colleagues.

• Stage 4 (“We’re great, and they’re not”): The enemy is competitors and the market.

Only about 2% of people reach the final stage, Stage 5 – where “Life is great,” and there are no real enemies, just a drive to do great work for its own sake. It’s impossible to skip stages, and most professionals operate in Stage 3, where individual victories and personal status are prioritized.

According to the author, you can’t skip the “I’m great, and you’re not” phase. Many leaders—including myself—have tried to jump straight to being a “team player,” hoping to avoid the “lone warrior” stage. But to truly become a team player, you first have to reach the limits of working alone and realize that solo victories aren’t enough. Only then can you understand what it takes to lead effectively.

Life Snippets: The Simpler, The Better

My main productivity motto is "the simpler, the better!" I’ve noticed that people often use productivity tools as a way to avoid truly important tasks. When procrastination hits, it’s easy to get lost in finding a new calendar app or task manager. Yet, some of the most efficient people I know stick to just a paper notebook and Google Calendar.

Another key insight: it’s probably a prioritization issue if you're always busy. What you do matters more than how you do it. I’ve come to this conclusion after years of trying to get more done faster. Today, YouTube recommended a video that perfectly sums up my perspective on this in just 8 minutes.

Have a great week ahead!

Speak soon,

George

November 10, 2024. Brooklyn Heights.

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