SMI #018: What this newsletter will be when it grows up

Remixing biz ideas, concepts, metrics, and models...to steal

Welcome to our new subscribers this week, especially my mother, who finally joined after 17 issues (I like to imagine her evaluating from afar before unnecessarily burdening her Yahoo inbox).

With this prestigious addition to the fold, it got me thinking “what does this newsletter want to be when it grows up?”

At the outset I dubbed SMI “my idea dojo,” fully admitting that some of the workouts wouldn’t look pretty (see: Teach Prisoners Account Based Marketing…Yikes, CJ). Dumpster fires aside, I still contend that trying out new ideas is better than not hitting the gym at all.

So, my vision is to have different “categories” of posts. This will allow me to vary the content, produce more of it, and keep people engaged.

1. Business ideas - potential market opportunities supported by robust fictional analysis (headwinds, tailwinds, TAMs, competitive landscapes, unit economics)

2. Business concepts - reflections on some of my favorite quotes and remixes of lessons I’ve learned from smarter people

3. Business metrics [coming soon] - signals startups should pay attention to, and what they mean (CAC payback, customer segmentation, Rule of 40, Burn Ratio etc.)

4. Business models [coming soon] - Profiling companies with fascinating business models and breaking down why they may be worth keeping an eye on

5. TBD…we’ll leave the door open. But mostly adding this line because I think lists look better in 3’s and 5’s. Sidebar - what’s the deal with Mount Rushmore? Like who ran that selection process and thought to stop at 4?

People may say, these topics don’t go together. Well, I think they do. And they said the same thing about fried chicken and waffles until one reckless individual decided to give it a whirl.

And everything I mentioned are things you can steal (or print and use as kindling during those cold Nor’easters). Speaking of stealing,

I personally interpret “stealing” as taking a useful concept and repurposing it into something unique to you and your craft. You elevate it and turn it into something differentiated and better (for you). When done right, it honors the original source and can even push the concept forward.

-Mike from nongaap investing

And, finally, if you’re out there, dad. I’m still waiting for you to join the subscriber list. I told you like ten times, it’s FREE.