Tweets

@BFTrick It feels like we need to accept a certain amount of responsibility for what we put out into the world.

I like Patagonia's approach: "We're only leasing our product to our customers. We're responsible for it for life."

@brennandunn this made me lol in my morning coffee

@theleviallen 💸

@nathanallotey What do you mean by this? As in: "folks aren't accepting new friends?"

Are our startups unintentionally (or intentionally!) creating externalities?

If so, what are we going to do about it?

In North America we have a legacy of businesses not wanting to accept social responsibility for the things they make.

- Oil companies don't want to accept responsibility for oil spills.
- Tobacco companies don't want to accept responsibility for cancer.
- App companies?

RT @valoni: @mijustin This is a great question, Justin.

Maybe another question we can ask is: If your product went away, would your custo…

@asmartbear @wpengine What an incredible achievement for you and your team! Congrats Jason!

@DallinCoons It is tricky.

But if we are looking at tobacco companies, the answer is a lot more clear, isn’t it?

@isaacsrda It’s an existential thought exercise. 😉

I’m just taking a hard look at my motivations, and the outcomes of those motivations.

(Btw, I’m really not pointing my finger at anyone. I’m examining my own motivation here more than anything else)

If your mobile app gives your family financial freedom that’s great, but not if it enslaves someone else because it’s addictive.

Ultimately, we makers have to accept responsibility for what we make; the effect our products have on society.

@OlutosinFashusi I sometimes wonder if “addictive apps” are the new tobacco companies.

@OlutosinFashusi Was in a coffee shop the other day, and an unemployed guy turns to me and says: “I’ve spent $1,800 on Clash of Clans.”

One way to test your motivation:

“Would I be doing this if there wasn’t $$ involved?”

- “Would I be excited about Bitcoin if it had no value?”
- “Would I ❤️ building this funnel if I wasn’t getting paid?”
- “Would I build this app if there wasn’t a chance it’d make me rich?”

Technology amplifies your biz decisions.

Think about Apple’s decision to offer “in-app purchases” vs offering upgrade pricing.

They chose in-app purchases, so now people can spend $3,000 on digital gemstones.

https://youtu.be/4Y4YSpF6d6w

@CallRyanHart @Fizzle Define “success” 😂

@mattmedeiros @Sara11D Great video matt!

Another way to look at it:

“Does the world need more Coca-Cola?”

For investors, employees, and owners the answer will alway be “yes!”

But, objectively, the world could probably do with less Coke. 🥤

@lowestdef Yup. And depending on your standards, what’s leftover can get super slim.

@kylefox @ideasasylum Well, fuck.

RT @ideasasylum: @mijustin Especially when we’re told we need to sell on benefits, invest in the customer’s success, etc.

It’s very easy t…

@ideasasylum Yup. Exactly.

(Tweets like this make me feel like I belong in the EU lol)

It's easy to rationalize the ethics of what we're selling when there's $$$ involved.

Difficult question for product folks to answer:

"Ok, your product makes 'people's lives better' but does it *really* make their life better?"

Customers might like the taste of Coca-Cola, but ultimately it's hurting their health.

Really? There's only 4 conferences for bootstrappers?

So far: @microconf, @FemtoConf, @release_notes.

https://mijustin.github.io/2018-conferences/

@AmyKotas what's that from?

RT @NYDrewReynolds: Alright let's start 2018 off right!!!

💡 Working on some tools to make it easier to start appointment-based businesses.…

Emoji in usernames ≠ accessibility

https://twitter.com/SassyOutwater/status/948206049357594624

@AndrewKoppejan Were you just here? Dude! You gotta let me know.

https://justinjackson.ca/coffee/

@AndrewKoppejan I usually go to @ratiovernon – it's 30 seconds from my office!

(They have unbelievable pastries + cakes. Made from scratch, on site.)

RT @gabeshep: We👏 Are 👏 All 👏 Going 👏 To 👏 Die https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/948355557022420992

How do you overcome anxiety and become a public speaker?

https://twitter.com/jmcharnes/status/948345294630146048

Does anyone have any advice on being Canadian, and being a shareholder in an American startup?

Specifically: what are the tax implications?

(Is this something @stripe atlas covers?)

@lowestdef I'd love to see how you've set up your phone.

Is it as simple as revoking notifications?

I would ❤️ a “mindful mode” on my iPhone.

https://twitter.com/Vivan/status/948086106410676224

RT @delk: @mijustin Agreed. The trouble here is Apple needs a robust app ecosystem, and developers get paid on engagement — it’s the curren…

@devronbaldwin @punkt Yes! The fact that tech like that is gaining traction shows the struggle folks are having with phone addiction.

Apple's strategy with the Watch is: let technology enable you to go and live your life.

I'd like to see a similar philosophy brought to other pieces of tech (namely, our phones and the apps on them).

In this ad, for example, the Watch is a prop. It's not the main event.

https://youtu.be/A9k88sMyiJM

I like the way Apple depicts the Watch:

People doing things, with technology as a silent partner.

(As opposed to obsessively using the tech itself)

https://twitter.com/MattHayashi33/status/948097535960236032

@MattHayashi33 Apple should be "engineering for enjoyment" as opposed to "engineering for engagement."

Ideas:
- make "no notifications" the default setting
- make it easy for people to track usage
- prompt folks to "get off phone" when they go over self-imposed limits

@mike_hasarms Lots of folks are already looking for more mindful alternatives.

Stuff like this is gaining traction:
https://www.producthunt.com/posts/mobile-flow

https://www.nirandfar.com/2013/10/how-to-break-5-soul-sucking-technology-habits.html

Just posted "Year in Review for Makers, 2017" on @producthunt: https://www.producthunt.com/posts/year-in-review-for-makers-2017

@clayhebert I agree.

“Engineered for a better life”

is a way better slogan than

“Engineered to serve your kid more ads on Minecraft videos.”

@Vivan Apple’s revenue isn’t really tied to usage.

FB, Instagram, YouTube are all engineered to be addictive because they’re selling ads.

Apple sells physical objects (similar to cars, record players, cameras).

I use my nice camera once a week, and get a lot of enjoyment from it.

@mike_hasarms But isn't that the case for Apple?

They don't get paid more if you use your iPhone more. They already have your money.

(Aside from their cut from apps, which provides about 3% of their revenue)

Technology doesn't have to monopolize our time and attention.

My meditation app isn't addictive (but it's useful).
My bicycl *is* addictive (but for all the right reasons, and with healthy outcomes).

A lot of products were engineered to be addictive, and make our lives worse.

@BFTrick @sethdrebitko @TheRyanMcRae We barely survived our first tutorial mission. ;)

However, once we got started it was actually a lot of fun.

In 2015, @jasonfried & @dhh introduced the idea of "Work can wait" to the corporate world. The idea was that coworkers shouldn't be able to ping you at all hours.

I'd like to see the same philosophy come to the iPhone: "Your phone can sleep."

Help us limit usage.

The iPhone is the world's most addictive substance.

The way iOS (and the app ecosystem) was engineered is not good for us.

Industrial design in the past wasn't optimized for MORE USAGE.

It was optimized for enjoyment.

I don't want to be addicted to my record player. I want to enjoy the music.

In 2018, mindful products are going to win.

Products that:
- let you rest
- aren't addictive
- decrease anxiety
- don't disturb the peace
- allow you to be present
- improve human relationships
- improve mental & physical health
- turn off when you've had too much

Apple is better poised than Google to make this shift.

Google's biz model depends on engagement. More views = more ads.

Apple makes money selling their physical products. Making those products less addictive, and giving users better mental health, could increase sales.

If Apple is smart, they'll create features that help people use their iPhones LESS.

We know that smartphone addiction is a thing.

People initially loved their phones, but now their devices make them feel overwhelmed.

The new product trend will be engineering for LESS usage.

Great article by @missbikesalot:

“Architected Addiction 📱🤤” @missbikesalot/architected-addiction-6b02e81e48b7?source=twitterShare-a02dd1574d08-1514870988" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://medium.com/@missbikesalot/architected-addiction-6b02e81e48b7?source=twitterShare-a02dd1574d08-1514870988

@sethdrebitko @TheRyanMcRae Yup! It’s our first step into this world. Pretty fun!

Love this idea: live so fully in the next year that it’s like living 10, and everything that came before it is just a footnote.

https://twitter.com/nayyirahwaheed/status/947881338526359552

RT @smithtimmytim: I am looking for a full-time job! Design/Frontend. Remote or Minneapolis. Pls share https://ttimsmith.com

Doing nerd stuff with @stuffmartysaid.

RT @mijustin: If 2017 was hard for solopreneurs, next year is going to be even harder.

The old rules don't apply anymore. Things have chan…

@zachobront @delk @patio11 I’m just saying that for solopreneurs, profit should be calculated after they’ve paid themselves a market salary.

@matdrewin @TheIlyaP Deferring personal tax: you keep the cash in the business, and wait until your personal tax rate goes down (retirement)

Goodnight 2017.

RT @ashleyfeinberg: ready for 2018

@TheIlyaP You want more retained earnings in the business so you can:

- invest in growth
- invest in new projects
- build up a cash reserve
- defer tax

@patio11 @markbutlershow Hey Mark, here are my current (un-audited) numbers, plus some modeling.

I'll DM you my full income statement. I'd love to have you take a look.

@patio11 @delk @ThomasSmale I think there's still a good (broader) discussion about what constitutes profit for a solopreneur.

The formula should be:
Revenue - expenses = gross profit - founder salary = net profit

https://twitter.com/MrSimonBennett/status/947558138353520640

@patio11 @delk @ThomasSmale Original thread is here:
https://twitter.com/patio11/status/947247305740054528

Once again, @patio11 (+ @delk, @ThomasSmale) are right.

Increasing revenue seems to be the best lever for increasing profit.

Here are different scenarios (based on my 2nd year as a solopreneur).

@MrSimonBennett Yes. Same in Canada, but many solopreneurs use dividends as personal income (for tax reasons).

The point being, your profit is what's left over *after* you've paid yourself.

@delk @patio11 Are you talking about profit margin before I've paid myself?

When I say "profit" I'm talking about what's left over after what I've taken out of the business.

That's what I'd like to improve.

There seems to be some confusion around what constitutes "profit" for a solopreneur.

For me, it's what's left *after* I've paid myself salary & dividends.

https://twitter.com/delk/status/947269453015760898

@petersuhm I'd love to know what you've learned, and how you improved!

(Maybe post it to https://yearinreview.me?)

@ThomasSmale @delk @patio11 Wasn't @nathanbarry essentially at 0% profit margins until he cut monthly costs?

http://nathanbarry.com/profit/

@patio11 I've (historically) agreed with this perspective.

But @thanhtpham has got me thinking more about how costs affect about profit.

If my profit margin is 5%, doesn't it take a lot more than $200 in revenue to cover a new $200 expense?

@mike_hasarms I KNOW! Business banking in 🇨🇦 sucks.

A few of my regular recurring business expenses.

~$454 per month currently. 💸

How have you reduced your monthly costs? Any tips?

(You can contribute your event as well)

cc @ConvertKit @seanwes @itengelhardt @benediktdeicke @brennandunn @Fizzle

Just created a list of 2018 Bootstrapper Conferences on github:
https://github.com/mijustin/2018-conferences

How do you know if your niche is too small?

On Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Entrepreneur/comments/7myiuz/how_do_you_know_if_your_niche_is_too_small/

On @IndieHackers:
https://www.indiehackers.com/forum/how-do-you-know-if-your-niche-is-too-small-e6eb1ef38b

"Remind yourself, over and over, that feelings are real but they aren’t reality. You can feel like life means nothing. True feeling. Important feeling. TRUE that you feel it, BUT...whether life has meaning? Not up to us. Facts and feelings: equal but different." – @danharmon

RT @RuthanneReid: This is the cutest "nope" I have EVER seen.

@marcoarment wait... defragging your windows pc doesn’t really work?

(childhood ruined)

https://overcast.fm/+CdQP59ws/51:40

Great question from @twigpress:

"Have I reached the maximum potential for my niche within a niche?"

https://carlalexander.ca/2017-in-review/

@kaisdavis Dang!!!!

@cdils @zenfounder This is awesome! You should add it to https://yearinreview.me

@Peasquared Thanks! Are you in Boston now?

Such good advice.

https://twitter.com/sehurlburt/status/946813693056004097

@joshwheaton Oh sweet!

@alex_v_bush these are great! 🙌

@mastermaq happy birthday! 🎈

Yup. “Take away your boss’ pain!”

https://twitter.com/chrislema/status/946582521931640834

@cnagele DO YOU REALLY HAVE THIS DIAL

RT @natalienagele: I think we're being dishonest with all these-big shot entrepreneurs
yelling that they don't work long hrs. We all worked…

Oops! It’s Thursday! I still have 🎄 brain.

RT @AmyKotas: Another great one:

"This is a webpage" by @mijustin ➞ "If you're a web designer, I challenge you to think about the words f…

@mezood 😮 yikes