@justinmckelvey.bsky.social
A founder told me last week: "We're building fast. We'll figure out what customers want later."
I asked: "How do you know you're building the right thing?"
"We have experience. We've built products before."
Here's the problem: Experience tells you how to build.
I asked: "How do you know you're building the right thing?"
"We have experience. We've built products before."
Here's the problem: Experience tells you how to build.
November 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM
A founder told me last week: "We're building fast. We'll figure out what customers want later."
I asked: "How do you know you're building the right thing?"
"We have experience. We've built products before."
Here's the problem: Experience tells you how to build.
I asked: "How do you know you're building the right thing?"
"We have experience. We've built products before."
Here's the problem: Experience tells you how to build.
Howard Schultz didn't build Starbucks by selling better coffee.
He sold a "third place" between work and home.
A place to belong. To connect. To feel part of something.
The coffee was just the vehicle.
He sold a "third place" between work and home.
A place to belong. To connect. To feel part of something.
The coffee was just the vehicle.
November 9, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Howard Schultz didn't build Starbucks by selling better coffee.
He sold a "third place" between work and home.
A place to belong. To connect. To feel part of something.
The coffee was just the vehicle.
He sold a "third place" between work and home.
A place to belong. To connect. To feel part of something.
The coffee was just the vehicle.
Planning my first snowboard trip of the season.
Checking gear. Booking flights. Getting excited.
I spent 12 years in the snowboard industry.
Checking gear. Booking flights. Getting excited.
I spent 12 years in the snowboard industry.
November 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Planning my first snowboard trip of the season.
Checking gear. Booking flights. Getting excited.
I spent 12 years in the snowboard industry.
Checking gear. Booking flights. Getting excited.
I spent 12 years in the snowboard industry.
I workout every single day.
No excuses. No negotiation.
How do I you stay motivated?
I don't.
No excuses. No negotiation.
How do I you stay motivated?
I don't.
November 7, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I workout every single day.
No excuses. No negotiation.
How do I you stay motivated?
I don't.
No excuses. No negotiation.
How do I you stay motivated?
I don't.
A client called me last month: "We need to hire 3 more support reps."
I asked: "What are they spending most of their time on?"
"Answering the same 10 questions over and over."
We didn't hire anyone.
I asked: "What are they spending most of their time on?"
"Answering the same 10 questions over and over."
We didn't hire anyone.
November 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
A client called me last month: "We need to hire 3 more support reps."
I asked: "What are they spending most of their time on?"
"Answering the same 10 questions over and over."
We didn't hire anyone.
I asked: "What are they spending most of their time on?"
"Answering the same 10 questions over and over."
We didn't hire anyone.
Tuesday morning. 6am. Austin's Hill Country.
I'm on my mountain bike climbing a steep section. Legs burning. Breathing hard. Can't see the top.
I'm on my mountain bike climbing a steep section. Legs burning. Breathing hard. Can't see the top.
November 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Tuesday morning. 6am. Austin's Hill Country.
I'm on my mountain bike climbing a steep section. Legs burning. Breathing hard. Can't see the top.
I'm on my mountain bike climbing a steep section. Legs burning. Breathing hard. Can't see the top.
I was spending 2 hours every Sunday planning my week.
Reviewing calendar. Prioritizing tasks. Moving things around.
Reviewing calendar. Prioritizing tasks. Moving things around.
November 4, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I was spending 2 hours every Sunday planning my week.
Reviewing calendar. Prioritizing tasks. Moving things around.
Reviewing calendar. Prioritizing tasks. Moving things around.
I spent 12 years fitting people for ski boots in Vail.
Most customers wanted the cheapest boots possible.
Most customers wanted the cheapest boots possible.
November 3, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I spent 12 years fitting people for ski boots in Vail.
Most customers wanted the cheapest boots possible.
Most customers wanted the cheapest boots possible.
I read 10 pages every single day.
October 31, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I read 10 pages every single day.
Every founder I meet wants to "move fast and break things."
Wrong. Move fast and BUILD things.
Wrong. Move fast and BUILD things.
October 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Every founder I meet wants to "move fast and break things."
Wrong. Move fast and BUILD things.
Wrong. Move fast and BUILD things.
I was a terrible college student for years.
October 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I was a terrible college student for years.
I built a simple AI system for client discovery calls.
Before the call, I feed it:
Before the call, I feed it:
October 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I built a simple AI system for client discovery calls.
Before the call, I feed it:
Before the call, I feed it:
I watched a client panic last week because their competitor launched first.
"We're too late. They beat us to market."
"We're too late. They beat us to market."
October 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I watched a client panic last week because their competitor launched first.
"We're too late. They beat us to market."
"We're too late. They beat us to market."
Love him or hate him, Elon Musk mastered one thing: First principles thinking. Instead of asking How do we make cars better? he asked
October 26, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Love him or hate him, Elon Musk mastered one thing: First principles thinking. Instead of asking How do we make cars better? he asked
Discovered a new trail in Hill Country yesterday. 8 miles. No cell service. Just me, the bike, and the hills. Came back with 3 business ideas and a clear head.
October 25, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Discovered a new trail in Hill Country yesterday. 8 miles. No cell service. Just me, the bike, and the hills. Came back with 3 business ideas and a clear head.
I keep a Learning Log - one thing I learned each day, written in one sentence.
Today: Complex problems usually have simple solutions hiding in plain sight.
Today: Complex problems usually have simple solutions hiding in plain sight.
October 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I keep a Learning Log - one thing I learned each day, written in one sentence.
Today: Complex problems usually have simple solutions hiding in plain sight.
Today: Complex problems usually have simple solutions hiding in plain sight.
I asked 100 business owners: What's your biggest challenge with AI? 95% said the same thing:
October 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I asked 100 business owners: What's your biggest challenge with AI? 95% said the same thing:
I was the GM of the biggest bike shop in TX. Then got let go abruptly. Job gone. Security evaporated. That blindside taught me the most important lesson of my career:
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I was the GM of the biggest bike shop in TX. Then got let go abruptly. Job gone. Security evaporated. That blindside taught me the most important lesson of my career:
I just automated my entire content research process. Claude reads 50 industry articles, finds the top 3 insights, and drafts posts.
October 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I just automated my entire content research process. Claude reads 50 industry articles, finds the top 3 insights, and drafts posts.
I looked at my screen time report last week. 6 hours a day on my phone. That's 42 hours a week. More than a full-time job.
October 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I looked at my screen time report last week. 6 hours a day on my phone. That's 42 hours a week. More than a full-time job.
Sara Blakely turned $5,000 and an idea into Spanx - now worth over $1 billion. Her secret? She asked better questions. While everyone else was asking How do we make pantyhose better?
October 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Sara Blakely turned $5,000 and an idea into Spanx - now worth over $1 billion. Her secret? She asked better questions. While everyone else was asking How do we make pantyhose better?
Spent Saturday morning at Barton Springs. 70 degrees outside, 70 degrees in the water. Perfect Austin moment. Watching people from all walks of life share the same space.
October 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Spent Saturday morning at Barton Springs. 70 degrees outside, 70 degrees in the water. Perfect Austin moment. Watching people from all walks of life share the same space.
I write my power goals on paper. Not in an app. Not on my phone. Actual pen and paper. There's something about the physical act of writing that makes it real.
October 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I write my power goals on paper. Not in an app. Not on my phone. Actual pen and paper. There's something about the physical act of writing that makes it real.
A founder told me yesterday: We're using AI for everything. Red flag. AI for everything means AI for nothing. No focus. No strategy. No results.
October 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A founder told me yesterday: We're using AI for everything. Red flag. AI for everything means AI for nothing. No focus. No strategy. No results.
Most real estate pros are still doing this manually:
October 15, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Most real estate pros are still doing this manually: