Building the Builders

Building the Builders explores the psychology behind ambition, emphasizing the development of a 'builder's mindset' for personal and professional growth. It addresses mental health, intellectual ambition, balancing work and life, the importance of community, and the pursuit of excellence through self-reflection, integrity, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Personal Development Mental Health Entrepreneurship Work-Life Balance Community Building Philosophy Education and Learning Psychological Support Innovation Self-Reflection

The hottest Substack posts of Building the Builders

And their main takeaways

From “walking in the desert” to Escaping Flatland

2 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology Ambition Creativity Writing Personal Growth
  1. Raising your ambition starts with believing in yourself. When you realize you can do more than you think, it opens up new possibilities in all areas of life.
  2. Taking time for self-exploration can boost your creativity. Allowing yourself to write freely without judgment can help overcome writer's block.
  3. Pursuing your goals requires a balance between fun and responsibility. Setting aside time for both exploration and focused work helps you stay productive while enjoying the process.

The sound epistemics behind Boom's breaking of the sound barrier

7 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Innovation Startups Aerospace Leadership
  1. Blake Scholl started from scratch in the aerospace industry. He had no prior experience but was determined to learn everything necessary to build a supersonic jet.
  2. Instead of accepting common reasons why supersonic flight couldn't work, Blake researched thoroughly and found that many of those reasons were outdated or inaccurate.
  3. He embraced his confusion and used it as motivation to improve his understanding. Keeping a 'confusion list' helped him tackle and clarify tough concepts over time.

A dance with serendipity

11 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Community Education Parenting Personal Growth Social Networking
  1. Nicole Ruiz shows how unexpected paths can lead to fulfilling lives. Her journey from VC to homemaking highlights the beauty of adapting to new roles.
  2. Building connections and community can be done in creative ways. Nicole uses a personal 'CRM' to keep track of her neighbors and their interests.
  3. Having a strong intellectual background can shape one's perspective on life. Nicole's education taught her the importance of curiosity and community in living a rich life.

“There’s hidden treasure all over the world”

4 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Innovation Work-life balance Career development
  1. Jesse Genet's journey shows the power of following your own ambitions despite societal pressures. She made tough choices to prioritize what felt right for her life.
  2. Self-honesty has been key for Jesse in her career and personal life. She regularly questions what she truly wants and believes, which helps her make important decisions.
  3. Jesse's experience emphasizes that embracing roles often seen as less ambitious, like motherhood, can be fulfilling and valuable. It's about finding meaning in whatever choice you make.

The courage to be “ordinary”

5 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Personal Development Work Life Life choices Career Paths
  1. It's okay to choose a typical career path and still live a fulfilled life. Many people find joy in ordinary jobs, and that can be just as ambitious as being an entrepreneur.
  2. Setting personal goals based on what you truly want can make your journey special, even if those goals seem ordinary to others. It's about appreciating the work and finding meaning in it.
  3. Taking breaks and exploring different paths can help you discover what you really want to do in life. Sometimes stepping back can lead to better clarity and fulfillment in your career.
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Fantastic Builders and Where to Find Them, 4th Installment

11 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🎶 Music Classical History Artists Composers Therapy
  1. Sergei Rachmaninoff overcame a deep depression, which lasted three years, after a failed performance of his first symphony. His struggle inspired him to create his famous 2nd piano concerto.
  2. Rachmaninoff dedicated his 2nd piano concerto to his therapist, Dr. Nikolai Dahl, who helped him regain confidence through supportive therapy and hypnosis.
  3. Rachmaninoff's experience shows that personal challenges can lead to great achievements. Instead of being stuck in self-doubt, he learned to move forward and create music he loved.

Fantastic Builders and Where to Find Them, 2nd Installment

12 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Startups Leadership Innovation Venture Capital
  1. Esther Crawford made bold choices in her career, like using her own savings to fund her startup. She felt confident doing this because she knew she could always find another job if it didn't work out.
  2. Her honesty with investors about tough decisions helped build trust and support. This showed that being truthful can strengthen relationships in business.
  3. Esther's journey highlights the importance of following your own path and interests rather than just fitting into societal expectations. Her choices were driven by personal goals and values.

Fantastic Builders and Where to Find Them, 5th Installment

6 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Startups Leadership Creator Economy Personal Development
  1. Success looks different for everyone. What may seem like a failure to one person can be a stepping stone to success for another.
  2. It's important to define what success means to you personally, rather than just following society's expectations.
  3. Living your life authentically, without pressure from others, is key to finding happiness and fulfillment in what you do.

Discussion thread #2: Your best examples of the "leaden mean"?

3 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Psychology Philosophy Parenting Social Dynamics Communication
  1. Striking a balance can sometimes lead to a 'leaden mean', which is a situation that creates more problems than it solves. It's better to fully commit to one side or the other rather than trying to do both poorly.
  2. Examples of the 'leaden mean' include awkward hybrid meetings where people are split between in-person and virtual attendance, or relationships where partners hold on to their individual spaces instead of truly coming together.
  3. This phenomenon often happens when we feel indecisive or afraid to commit. Recognizing when we're at risk of choosing the 'leaden mean' can help us make better decisions.

Fantastic Builders and Where to Find Them, 3rd installment

2 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Management Branding
  1. Estée Lauder believed strongly in her products. She felt that to sell beauty, you have to genuinely love and believe in beauty yourself.
  2. Her journey was not just about business; it was a lifelong mission to teach women how to be and feel beautiful. This passion shaped her identity and life choices.
  3. Estée's experiences with beauty began in childhood, leading her to realize that creating beauty could be more than just a hobby; it could be a serious, fulfilling career.

Where Therapists Go for Therapy: Getting Sold on the Power of ChatGPT

5 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Therapy Psychology Self-Improvement
  1. Clarifying core values is important for psychological growth, and using ChatGPT can help with that.
  2. Identifying and examining implicit beliefs can lead to self-discovery and personal growth, and ChatGPT can assist in this process.
  3. ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for introspection, providing insights and perspectives that can enhance reasoning and decision-making.

“Intellectual humility” is a copout

9 implied HN points • 18 May 23
📖 Philosophy Knowledge Truth Virtue
  1. Intellectual humility should not be a way to avoid seeking knowledge and certainty but should push us to strive for deep understanding and confidence.
  2. Being intellectually ambitious involves questioning assumptions, admitting mistakes, and actively seeking wisdom and self-trust.
  3. True intellectual ambition requires the courage to act on well-founded convictions, pursue worthwhile possibilities, and persist through uncertainty.

Israel and Hamas—through a builder’s lens

4 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Israel Hamas Conflict Philosophy Foreign Policy
  1. The author delves into the complex relationship between Israel, Gaza, and personal connections to the conflict.
  2. A podcast conversation with a philosopher and a foreign policy analyst centers around constructive conclusions about the situation in Israel and Gaza.
  3. The author highlights personal connections to Israel, the impact of their products on her life, and the country's significance as a beacon of civilization.

PSA (Public Self-Admonishment)

7 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Parenting
  1. The author is taking a break from creating content to focus on spending quality time with their infant son.
  2. The author acknowledges the struggle of balancing work and parenting responsibilities.
  3. Self-reflection and admitting the need to change behavior patterns are important for personal growth.

Join me for the final Builder's Mindset Book Workshop of 2024

0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🚌 Education Workshops Self-help Personal Growth Life Coaching Mentorship
  1. There's a special workshop happening to help people shape their personal life vision for the new year. It's a chance to reflect on goals and dreams for 2025.
  2. The workshop will be interactive and focused on personal experiences, rather than just a lecture. Participants can expect a more personal touch in this session.
  3. This event marks the end of a year of learning and building together, celebrating the growth and tools shared with the community.

Fantastic Builders and Where to Find Them: Running Catalog

0 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Biography Art Music Entrepreneurship Creativity
  1. The 'builder's mindset' is showcased through different people's life stories. It shows how they think and act like builders in their work and life.
  2. Spotlighting real builders helps inspire others to adopt similar attitudes and work ethics. Seeing their journeys can motivate us to start building ourselves.
  3. This series highlights notable builders across various fields. Each one has a unique approach and story that can teach us valuable lessons.