Michael’s Newsletter

Michael's Newsletter offers actionable insights on entrepreneurship, engineering, and personal development with a focus on consulting, branding, life lessons, and leveraging technology. It emphasizes the value of consulting over startups, personal growth through diverse experiences, and practical advice on advancing engineering careers and entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship Engineering Personal Development Consulting Branding Technology Career Advancement Life Lessons

The hottest Substack posts of Michael’s Newsletter

And their main takeaways

Stop Building Startups. Start Consulting Instead.

707 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Consulting Networking Marketing Income Streams
  1. Consider starting a consultancy business instead of a startup as it is more manageable and helps avoid common mistakes.
  2. Consulting allows you to solve real problems, start faster, and serves as a stepping stone to product development.
  3. Leverage your existing network for consulting opportunities, including past clients, recruiters, and real-life communities.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Is a Weak Positioning Statement Hurting Your Consultancy?

196 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
💼 Business Consulting Marketing Lead Generation Entrepreneurship
  1. A strong positioning statement is crucial for any consultancy as it forms the foundation of your business strategy.
  2. A good positioning statement should clearly communicate your target audience, the problem you solve, and your uniqueness.
  3. Testing your positioning statement against criteria like the Conference Test and Thank God Test can help ensure its effectiveness.

Upwork is More Than a Freelancer Marketplace. Here's How You Should Use It Instead.

196 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Freelancing Marketplaces Startups Talent Management
  1. Upwork is not just for freelancers, but also a place where entrepreneurs can validate startup ideas and leverage talent across platforms.
  2. It's important for all entrepreneurs to learn how to use Upwork for scaling their business.
  3. By using Upwork strategically, like getting paid to build a prototype or arbitraging talent, you can accelerate your business growth.

Everyone Should Start a Newsletter. Yes, That Means You!

235 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Content creation SEO Monetization
  1. Newsletters are better than software businesses in many ways, like being faster to write and cheaper to operate.
  2. Newsletters can be profitable, even surpassing million-dollar incomes, with examples like 'Pragmatic Engineer' making $2.7 million a year.
  3. To start a successful newsletter, focus on topics you can talk endlessly about, curate content, and answer people's questions for valuable content.

My Review of Daniel Vassallo’s Class "A Portfolio of Small Bets"

235 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Community Courses Digital Products
  1. Daniel Vassallo promotes a 'portfolio approach' to entrepreneurship, suggesting small bets over going all-in on a startup.
  2. Taking smaller, manageable steps in projects can lead to eventual success, similar to leveling up in a video game.
  3. Joining a supportive community, like the one in Vassallo's class, can provide valuable networking and learning opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Why I Quit a $450k Engineering Job at Netflix

648 implied HN points • 28 Feb 22
  1. Playing it safe is the riskiest choice of all.
  2. Golden handcuffs can make you stay at a job you don't enjoy just for the money.
  3. Assessing and prioritizing your life goals, especially during challenging times, is crucial for personal fulfillment.

Reflections on Turning 30 - 3 Profound Life Lessons from My 20's

235 implied HN points • 06 Dec 22
  1. Letting balls roll down hills can make life easier. Focus on finding paths of least resistance.
  2. Recognize the unique opportunities each life season offers. Seize them before they pass.
  3. Enjoy the present and don't sacrifice too much for the future. Collect good days to live a fulfilling life.

I Attended a $4,000 Relationship Workshop. It Was Worth Every Cent.

176 implied HN points • 07 Feb 23
  1. The importance of examining the stories we tell ourselves and letting go of those that don't serve us.
  2. Seeking new perspectives to widen our perception can help us reclaim power in different aspects of our lives.
  3. Healthy relationships can be nurtured by learning new relationship skills and handling difficult conversations in a healthier way.

How to Craft a Compelling Offer That Buyers Can't Say No To

98 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23
💼 Business Sales Value Effort
  1. Craft a compelling offer that speaks to the customer's dream result, provides certainty, reduces time to value, and minimizes effort needed.
  2. The way you position your offer can significantly impact buyer response and lead to higher close rates.
  3. Creating a grand-slam offer involves addressing the dream result, certainty, time to value, and effort or cost for the customer.

Build Your Brand, Not Your Business

491 implied HN points • 13 Apr 22
  1. Start by building a distribution channel instead of a product.
  2. Build your brand first before your business because your brand is a valuable distribution channel.
  3. Focus on creating valuable content to grow your audience before monetizing.

Week 1 Recap at Vixul

78 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
💼 Business Consulting Entrepreneurship Professional development
  1. Vixul is an accelerator for tech services businesses aiming to provide resources similar to SaaS founders.
  2. Quarterly planning is crucial for solopreneurs to make progress on business goals and reduce firefighting.
  3. Founders should account for personal time as a business cost to accurately assess profit margins.

Start Here

78 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Engineering Writing Newsletter Career development
  1. Michael Lin is an entrepreneur and writer, sharing insights on entrepreneurship, engineering, and life.
  2. He offers a free e-book on writing and provides actionable articles every Tuesday for subscribers.
  3. His popular essays cover topics like career growth, personal branding, and luck in your career.