Working Theorys

Working Theorys explores consumer technology, startup strategies, and personal ambition, focusing on innovative thoughts within startup culture. It delves into the psychological aspects of status and ambition, strategies for startup success, and evolving trends in consumer tech and social interaction, with a particular emphasis on creating meaningful content and products.

Consumer Technology Startup Strategies Personal Ambition Social Media Trends Entrepreneurial Mindset Market Dynamics Content Creation Product Development Work-Life Balance Social Structures

The hottest Substack posts of Working Theorys

And their main takeaways

Aesthetic Warfare (and the Power of Coining an Aesthetic)

141 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Art Fashion Politics Identity Aesthetics
  1. Culture fights are more about looks and feelings than simply ideas. Aesthetics are how people connect and relate to those ideas.
  2. Aesthetic authorship is really important today. Anyone can create and share new styles, which can change how people see themselves and their values.
  3. Art needs a human touch. While AI can create amazing visuals, it lacks the deeper meaning and intent that only a human artist can bring to their work.

Untitled Future, 1

86 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
⚔ Fiction Science fiction Dystopian Speculative Narrative Short Stories
  1. In the future, there are special areas called Aicres that are important for survival and status. If you own an Aicre, it means you have power and wealth.
  2. The government is running a bidding process for Aicres, but many believe it's unfair and favors the rich. People are worried about getting left out.
  3. Some hope for a Universal Basic Aicreage to help everyone, but it would still leave most with very little. There’s a lot of tension between the rich and those struggling to survive.

Digital tug-of-war

72 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
💼 Business Economics Entrepreneurship Corporate Governance Education
  1. The debate over banning TikTok is making people more aware of digital trade. It shows how important it is in the economy, making up a big part of global trade now.
  2. Business schools, especially MBA programs, are facing criticism for not preparing students for job markets well. They're seen more as a time to learn and network rather than just a pathway to a job.
  3. Many CEOs who step down often come back, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives. This trend shows how important past experiences can be in reshaping a company's vision.

Writing Wrapped

148 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
📚 Literature Writing Essays Philosophy Creativity Expression
  1. Writing regularly can help you find your voice and improve your skills over time. Even when life gets busy, making writing a priority can yield great results.
  2. Experimenting with different forms of expression and creativity is important. It's good to refresh your approach and try new things to keep your work interesting.
  3. Sharing personal reflections and insights can connect you with others. Writing about your journey and experiences makes your work relatable and engaging.

Two Shticks

160 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Personal Branding Social media Influencers Identity Authenticity
  1. Everyone should have two main traits or skills that define them. The first one makes you stand out, while the second adds depth and keeps things interesting.
  2. Having two distinct sides makes you more relatable and allows you to connect with various people. It’s better than being seen as just one thing.
  3. While having multiple traits can sound appealing, it's usually best to stick with two to avoid confusion. The key is to let them complement each other for a fuller identity.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Thoughts For Sale

195 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Intellectualism Media Content creation Consumer behavior
  1. Substack is trying to become a platform for not just writers but all kinds of creators. They want to grow beyond just newsletters and include videos and podcasts, making it a one-stop shop for creative content.
  2. The platform is seen as a way to support and connect with writers while also offering subscribers a chance to show their intellectual tastes. It’s becoming a symbol of belonging to a specific community or culture.
  3. As Substack grows, it faces a challenge of maintaining quality while expanding its audience. There's a risk that it might lose its special intellectual vibe as it tries to attract more users and different types of content.

Invisible Duels

152 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Social Behavior Identity Competition Mental health Philosophy
  1. Invisible duels happen when we compare ourselves to others, even if we never agreed to compete. We end up feeling threatened by their success, which harms our self-worth.
  2. These duels are often fueled by social media, where we constantly see others' achievements and feel pressured to measure up. This can lead to anxiety and distraction from our own goals.
  3. To escape these invisible duels, we need to focus on ourselves and what we truly want. Making others less significant and finding our own direction is key to breaking free.

Pursuits that can’t scale

211 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Entrepreneurship Personal Growth Creativity Self-reflection Hobbies
  1. Chasing things that scale may lead to burnout, and pursuing things that can't scale can be therapeutic.
  2. After achieving success in large-scale ventures, many people turn to pursuing activities that have clear limits, like hobbies or local businesses.
  3. Dreams of scaling often give way to the satisfaction of pursuing things at a smaller, more human scale, which can provide a sense of completion and fulfillment.

Great Products Have Great Premises

86 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
💼 Business Products User Behavior Startups Entrepreneurship Monetization
  1. A great premise gives context and comfort for users to engage in actions they might otherwise find challenging
  2. Great premises are the foundation of successful products and brands, normalizing behaviors or beliefs that were previously not accepted or considered mainstream
  3. Powerful premises lead to strong identities for products and businesses, shaping brand decisions and marketing strategies

Love the Mission or Love the Game

76 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Founders Narrative Momentum
  1. There are two types of true entrepreneurs: those who love the mission they're obsessed with and those who love the game of entrepreneurship itself.
  2. The entrepreneurial type you are, whether Type I or Type II, can significantly impact how you approach ideas, your role, and your long-term success.
  3. Identifying whether you are driven by the love for a mission or the game of entrepreneurship can help you understand your motivations, make better decisions, and potentially find more fulfillment in your entrepreneurial journey.

The Time-Boxed Startup

56 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Startups Time management Entrepreneurship Competition Innovation
  1. Consider time-boxing your startup by setting an end date to focus and make progress efficiently.
  2. Most successful startups reach product-market fit within about 2 years and need sufficient runway for experimentation.
  3. Decide what progress markers would prompt you to continue beyond the set end date, combining founder drive with product-market momentum.

24 Working Theorys for 2024

70 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
💼 Business Startups Lifestyle
  1. Startups are shifting towards profitability over traditional venture funding
  2. Social products are evolving to focus more on utility and specialized communities
  3. Predictions for lifestyle changes include part-time knowledge work and preventive health gaining importance

The Creator Search Fund

48 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
💼 Business Creator Economy Partnerships
  1. Many creators excel in building audience and brand but struggle to create sustainable businesses; the key is to commercialize themselves by developing products and services.
  2. The traditional search fund model focuses on acquiring existing businesses, while the creator search fund seeks to partner with creators to build new product lines together.
  3. In a creator search fund, strategic phases involve funding the search, finding a creator partner, aligning on a commercial strategy, defining roles and ownership, and finally building the product line.

Rabbitholes as Portals

35 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Curiosity Knowledge Learning Purpose Existence
  1. Delving into rabbitholes, or diving deep into random topics out of curiosity, can lead to valuable and unique knowledge.
  2. Rabbitholes can offer unexpected insights and lead you to passionate areas you never knew you cared about.
  3. It's crucial to differentiate between rabbitholes that are traps, focusing on winning a game, and those that are portals to genuine learning experiences.

The 20/20 Workweek

29 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
💼 Business Workplace Trends
  1. The 20/20 Workweek suggests a happy medium between purposeful and flexible work.
  2. Workweek philosophies include the mainstream 40-hour week, the martyr 80-hour week, and the minimizer 4-hour week.
  3. People are questioning traditional workweek norms and seeking a more balanced approach.

Weekend Theorys No. 3

23 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Fashion Social media Reading Writing
  1. People often wear athleisure to appear fit and sporty, but might not actually engage in athletic activities. Similarly, many people want to be seen with books, but may not read them, showcasing a desire to appear well-read.
  2. Substack's 'Notes' feature is akin to Twitter posts, causing issues for writers trying to share links on Twitter. Simply mentioning or sharing Substack links on Twitter can lead to shadow banning.
  3. The desire for image and perception may drive actions like wearing athleisure or displaying books, even if the underlying activity isn't as prevalent. It's about the appearance rather than the actual engagement in the activity.

Weekend Theorys No. 4

21 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
💼 Business Startups Consumer behavior Marketing Innovation Competition
  1. The concept of 'cool' is depreciating faster than ever, leading builders to rethink product longevity. Minimizing time to value and embracing time to lameness are key strategies.
  2. Builders must navigate between the online persona ('netizen self') and real-life persona ('citizen self') to maintain authenticity and relevance in a digital age.
  3. Launching new products in a slow and deliberate manner, focusing on timeless design, and inventing new product categories can help extend the lifespan of a product in a fast-changing market.

Angel Investing

19 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Investing Startups Entrepreneurship Markets Financial
  1. Angel investing is about building connections and expanding knowledge in spaces of interest.
  2. A typical angel portfolio includes 15-20 investments with a focus on consumer startups and small check sizes.
  3. Reasons for angel investing include personal interest in founders, market understanding, analytical development, enjoying the process, and potential financial gains.

Collective Experiences

54 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Social media Community Entertainment
  1. Humans are wired to connect with others through shared context.
  2. Collective experiences create valuable shared context, fostering social connections and community.
  3. Products create collective experiences through actions like making collective action a core feature and turning content into rare events.

The Generational Business Trap

43 implied HN points • 08 May 23
💼 Business Longevity Startups Investing
  1. The article discusses the longevity of businesses and the idea that permanence should not be idolized.
  2. The post is written by Anu Atluru and is available for paid subscribers only.
  3. The article is related to a companion piece about the rise of Silicon Valley small businesses.

Why Are All the Public Intellectuals Men?

19 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Intellectuals Gender Media Public Discourse
  1. Public intellectuals are often men who comment on current affairs and have a big impact on public discourse.
  2. Modern day public intellectuals are not necessarily traditional scholars, but individuals who study the world and share their observations.
  3. The most identifiable public intellectuals are men, especially those who use new media platforms to reach a wide audience.

Create Rituals, Not Habits

68 implied HN points • 25 Apr 22
  1. Rituals are intentional actions done with full focus, while habits are automatic activities.
  2. Rituals are meaningful, participatory, consistent, and have a defined end.
  3. Create social apps that focus on building rituals rather than relying on habitual usage.

Weekend Theorys No. 2

11 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🔮 Crypto
  1. The post is about Weekend Theorys No. 2.
  2. The author discusses crypto social games and work 'trials'.
  3. The post is available for paid subscribers.

Product vs. Production

29 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Product Development UX Design Content creation
  1. Success in live media platforms depends on both building a product and a production.
  2. For live products, there needs to be equal focus on pre-show preparation and live production.
  3. Understanding the difference between product and production is crucial for delivering a great player experience in live media.