I take full responsibility for not being able to tell the story well back then.
It’s my responsibility more than it is Rob’s.
It was January 2012. I was still learning how to coach the story out of my interviewees. I’ve done a lot of personal work over the last decade to get better and better at that.
I appreciate that Rob trusted me with such a vulnerable story back then. Rob, if you’re reading this thank you.
My listeners should never feel guilty about skipping ads.
If my ads aren't interesting or don't improve your life, you owe it to yourself to skip.
I keep working to improve my ads. Most recently: I hired a copywriter (Neville Medhora) to go over my ad reads. And today I recorded interviews with 10-second ads, instead of 3-minute ones.
I've been a happy customer for years (first in DC and now SF), but ever since they removed their electric bikes, their docks have been empty so often that I can't count on using them any more.
As a client, I love working with them. I never thought I'd say that about a payment processor.
I get pitched lower rates by their competitors all the time, but their software sucks. Giving a refund on Authorize.net feels like I'm being forced to travel back to the 1990s web.
Stripe's site is intuitive, their rates are good, they integrate easily with every software I use and their customer service speaks to me like humans. (Plus they have patio11)
The problem I see with the Lean Startup is that Eric Ries isn’t actively promoting, defending and explaining it.
On Mixergy, I interview founders who try to make their bones or get attention for their messages by disagreeing with the Lean approach.
Eric doesn’t debate, correct or engage with them. So they get to make statements without anyone credible taking them on.
Listen to my latest interview it’s Rand Fishkin and you’ll see what I mean. He’s not anti-Lean, but he’s disagreeing with it his book to make get attention for his message. With a bit of pushback from me, he admits as much.
Each one of these mini-attacks from accomplished entrepreneurs hurts Lean’s credibility.
Only Eric has the credibility and social grace to disagree and explain in a way that builds up The Lean Startup.
I’d love to see him step into the conversation more. He and pg defined how to run a successful startup more than any two people I know.
I read a few commenters here talk about how expensive Audible is. Not only does this eliminate the cost, but I’ve found that when I have unlimited access, it leads me to try audiobooks I never would have considered before.
The one possible downside is that you need to walk into your library for a moment and get a library card. But it’s easy.
And if you don’t live in the US it might not be available, which is always painful
I can see how it'd be helpful for times when I know what I want to say but not how to say it.
Just ramble and it turns it into polished writing.