The hottest Strategy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

The Jeff Bezos Playbook

The Generalist • 1080 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Be customer-obsessed, going above and beyond to meet their needs can lead to long-term benefits, even if it means sacrificing short-term profits.
  2. Always be willing to innovate and don't fear failure; it’s a crucial part of success in business.
  3. Sometimes, it's smart to work with your competitors for mutual benefit, as this can set you up for future advantages against them.

Having a Conversation With Myself: 2025

Investing 101 • 55 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Writing is primarily a tool for thinking and self-reflection, and doing it consistently compounds the creator even more than it grows an audience.
  2. Venture capital and startup culture have become noisy and scale-obsessed, so what’s needed are conviction-led or “adventure” investors and builders who focus on durable, mission-driven companies rather than chasing hype.
  3. In a hyperlegible, attention-driven world, embracing nuance, forming independent beliefs, and understanding interdependencies are essential to avoid being programmed by trends and to build things worth building.

You need to neglect mostly everything to win big

Play Permissionless • 319 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. To win big, you only need to get a small number of things right and can afford to mess up everything else. This applies to both companies and individuals.
  2. Winning big often requires unlearning traditional schooling strategies and focusing on doing a great job at a few key aspects while neglecting the rest.
  3. Removing non-essential tasks and focusing solely on what helps deliver better and faster results can lead to significant improvements and ultimately winning big.

#1 Question You Need to Crush Your Niche

VERY GOOD PRODUCTIZED GUIDES • 99 implied HN points • 25 Jun 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Success takes time and effort; it doesn't happen overnight. Jim Carrey's journey shows that hard work is key to reaching your goals.
  2. Understanding your audience is crucial. Asking 'What do they want?' can help you create something they truly value.
  3. Don't just settle for the surface; dig deeper to find unique insights. This can set you apart in a crowded market.

Speed Is Never Just Speed

Fish Food for Thought • 29 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Speed is an outcome, not an order — it only appears when focus, collaboration, deliberate transformation, and psychological safety all work together.
  2. Earn the right to move fast by doing the hard basics first — narrow priorities, secure fundamentals, and only then expand into optionality.
  3. Make speed durable by designing systems and a culture of trust — rehearse decision-making under pressure and treat mistakes as learning so people can act without fear.
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On Rules and Rulers.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 46 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. True leadership comes from competence, realism, integrity, empathy, vulnerability and the ability to inspire — it’s about influence, not just a title. Rulers may have formal power but often rely on intimidation, inheritance or fear instead of those leadership behaviors.
  2. People use different internal rulers to measure success (money, family, creativity, peace, etc.), so understanding someone’s incentives helps predict and align behavior. Asking how they define success, how they’re evaluated, and how you can help makes cooperation easier.
  3. A few simple, enduring rules cover most of a good life: sleep and move, spend less than you earn and invest for the long term, find mentors and keep learning, and be grateful and true to your word. The real challenge is doing these consistently.

Progress is not automatic

Play Permissionless • 239 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Progress is not automatic, you can't expect different outcomes by doing the same thing over and over.
  2. Sticking to what you know can lead to stagnation; sometimes a radical change in approach is needed to see significant growth.
  3. To achieve a 10x improvement, you often have to stop doing most of the things you're currently doing and embrace new strategies.

Eight Theories of How Agents Strangle SaaS

Pratik’s Pakodas 🍿 • 12 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. AI agents are becoming the main interface, orchestrating actions across apps via APIs so users rarely open the original SaaS UIs, which makes those products interchangeable and squeezes their margins.
  2. AI collapses the cost and time to build, enabling many small competitors to unbundle and replicate core features, eroding incumbents' moats and turning premium bundles into commodity pieces.
  3. The business model is shifting: per-seat pricing and predictable valuations are under threat, outcome- and data-focused models gain value, and investor uncertainty about long-term economics is driving repricing.

Why You Should Be A Control Freak

Zwischenzug • 432 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🚌 Education Strategy
  1. Control in chess means knowing what your opponent can do and being ready for it.
  2. Maintaining control is crucial, especially in winning positions.
  3. The engine's evaluation may not reflect the full complexity of a position, so human perspective is key in strategic decisions.

Becoming a Cult Leader

Investing 101 • 36 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Control mindshare: be the obvious voice in your category, deeply knowledgeable and present so people instinctively turn to you.
  2. Command capital: influence without funding can’t move the needle, so find the right forms of capital—VC, revenue, grants, or debt—that let you execute.
  3. Be the standard bearer: combine relentless public leadership and real financial resources to set the market’s rules and pursue your mission no matter what.

A good start

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 239 implied HN points • 10 Apr 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Amorphous consulting is about tackling unclear and emerging problems that organizations face. It's often the first step in consulting even if clients don't recognize it or want to pay for it.
  2. Starting with amorphous consulting is cheaper and quicker than hiring a concrete consultant right away. It avoids the lengthy process of re-scoping a project.
  3. Amorphous consultants ask the 'dumb' questions that uncover hidden problems. This approach is useful when there's uncertainty, helping organizations find solutions they didn't even realize they needed.

Inside Red Bull: The Private Playbook That Built A Global Powerhouse

Huddle Up • 43 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Red Bull began when its founder discovered a Thai energy drink and struck a deal to adapt and sell it globally, with each partner investing $500,000 to launch the company.
  2. The business was built on strict financial conservatism — no debt, self-funded growth, and all expansion paid from profits rather than borrowed money.
  3. Leadership and control were tightly held and private: the founder gave very few interviews, and the original 49/49/2 ownership split kept decision-making concentrated and the Thai family with the decisive share.

Can Arsenal really compete at the top?

Grace on Football • 805 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🎾 Sports Strategy
  1. Arsenal has shown significant improvement under manager Mikel Arteta, achieving better results and attracting better players.
  2. The team's young core and strong defensive foundation provide hope for future success, even if immediate goals are not met.
  3. Key players like Gabriel Jesus and Declan Rice play crucial roles in the team's tactics and overall performance.

Nikki Haley's Only Hope

SHERO • 432 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Strategy
  1. Nikki Haley's main hope to win the Republican nomination may be to amass delegates from smaller states and leverage support from old-guard Republicans.
  2. Even though it's unlikely, one way to stop Trump could be if he is convicted or imprisoned before the election.
  3. Timing is crucial - if Trump is convicted, Nikki Haley might become the last hope for Republicans to field a viable candidate against Biden.

TBM 334: The Capacity Allocation Illusion

The Beautiful Mess • 1031 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Capacity in software development isn't just about how many hours people work. It's more complicated and depends on past investments and the overall work environment.
  2. Oversimplifying capacity can lead to poor decisions. You need to consider many factors, like team dynamics and the quality of work, rather than just time spent on tasks.
  3. When asked about spending, it's better to focus on how investments improve future capacity instead of just breaking down hours. Understanding the bigger picture is key.

#14: Five ideas from the airline business

Bureau of Adventure • 119 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Airlines can use different route models, like hub-and-spoke or point-to-point. Each has its benefits, with point-to-point focusing on direct flights and hub-and-spoke maximizing connections.
  2. Focusing on trip costs rather than unit costs can be more effective. Sometimes a smaller plane with higher costs per seat is better for fewer passengers, rather than trying to fill a large plane.
  3. Using an 'out and back' flying strategy can help airlines run more efficiently. It allows them to keep crew costs low and isolate delays, while also making it easier to cancel unprofitable flights.

Why Growth Requires Discomfort

Gad’s Newsletter • 64 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Real growth comes from leaving your comfort zone; small, controlled discomforts build skill, confidence, and resilience. Don’t aim for constant overwhelm—seek the right amount of challenge so you can improve without burning out.
  2. Organizations that cling to short-term comfort risk stagnation and failure, so they must be willing to take uncomfortable bets and rethink what works. Investing in long-term projects and new ideas, even when they hurt short-term metrics, creates lasting advantage.
  3. Practical habits help: encourage a culture that challenges the status quo, learn from crises, and balance exploiting today’s strengths with exploring future opportunities. Accept some short-term pain and strategic patience to build long-term growth.

What Healthy Boards Look Like

DruGroup • 159 implied HN points • 07 May 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Healthy boards focus on governance, avoiding micromanagement. They concentrate on big-picture decisions rather than getting caught up in daily operations.
  2. Good boards prioritize setting strategic direction over just directing actions. They work on long-term goals instead of getting bogged down in immediate tasks.
  3. Instead of panicking during crises, successful boards take time to think things through. They focus on understanding the situation for lasting solutions rather than quick fixes.

TBM 361: Context, Collaboration, Intent, and Investment

The Beautiful Mess • 476 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Understanding context is important. It helps teams see the bigger picture and how things change over time.
  2. Intent is about setting clear goals for the future. Being specific about what you want to achieve can help guide actions.
  3. Collaboration and investment matter, too. Good teamwork and smart use of resources can drive better results and make projects more successful.

Sphere Entertainment’s New Playbook: Smaller Venues, Less Risk, Bigger Returns

Huddle Up • 26 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Sphere is shifting from one huge $2.3B flagship to smaller, cheaper venues (like a planned 6,000-seat National Harbor) to lower risk and scale the concept.
  2. The Las Vegas Sphere earns money from four pillars—immersive film-like shows, multi-night concert residencies, massive exterior advertising, and corporate/event rentals—so it has multiple revenue streams beyond ticket sales.
  3. Despite strong revenue and big-ticket events, high development and operating costs have produced losses, so smaller, less expensive venues could make the model profitable and more scalable.

Strategic Blindness

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 21 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Strategy
  1. Intelligence often exists but leaders fail to act because they expect certainty, stick to predecided plans, and worry more about political optics than reality.
  2. Institutions that rely on outdated models—the 'Maginot mindset'—become brittle and can’t adapt to new forms of attack or surprise, so material strength alone is not enough.
  3. Weakening alliances, the dollar’s long-term status, and sustained gray‑zone pressure show that hard power used transactionally backfires; democracies need to shift from top‑down control to enabling distributed, adaptive responses.

Moats: How to Build a Scalable Business Competitors Can't Copy

Nail It and Scale It • 59 implied HN points • 08 Jul 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. A business moat is a special advantage that helps a company stand out and protect itself from competitors. Just like a moat around a castle keeps invaders out, a strong business moat helps companies earn big profits over time.
  2. There are different types of moats, like network effects where the value increases as more people use a service, and cost advantages that make switching harder for customers. Companies like Uber and Walmart have used these techniques smartly.
  3. Building a solid brand and having strong cultural values can also create powerful moats. For example, Patagonia builds loyalty by promoting environmentalism, making it harder for customers to switch to other brands.

Should I buy a company after visiting Victoria, BC?

Olshansky's Newsletter • 45 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Buy an existing, revenue-generating business instead of building from scratch to create steady cash flow and buy time and freedom to pursue bigger missions.
  2. Make plans without expectations and show up; building relationships and staying open to serendipity often creates better opportunities than rigid goals.
  3. Prioritize independence and real value creation over constant fundraising, and then fix operational inefficiencies — cut waste, move costly cloud workloads to cheaper infrastructure, automate with AI, and keep teams lean to extract reliable cash flow.

4 Strategies To Elevate Your Communication Style From Engineer To Leader

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 412 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. When communicating with non-technical stakeholders, focus on the impact of your work rather than the technical details. Using clear language helps everyone understand why your projects matter.
  2. Highlight the risks of inaction to motivate decision-makers. Making them aware of potential costs or missed opportunities can encourage them to prioritize your recommendations.
  3. Use analogies relevant to your audience to make complex ideas easier to grasp. Relating technical concepts to familiar ideas can help build understanding and trust.

The Best of MRR Unlocked 2025

Startup Business Tips 🚀 • 43 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Build a strong GTM foundation before you scale: be clear on one primary ICP, your positioning, and your dominant go-to-market motion so growth is repeatable, not random.
  2. Continuously analyze and refine your ICP and messaging as your product and market evolve, and keep that messaging consistent across website, content, outbound, and demos.
  3. Use founder-led channels like LinkedIn intentionally so content compounds, and focus on one or two high-impact growth channels plus a simple, documented sales process to drive wins, retention, and expansion.

Links - 01/15/2024

Value Investing World • 373 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
💰 Finance Strategy
  1. Investors need a margin of safety when investing in securities to account for human error and market volatility.
  2. Various podcasts and videos are available covering topics like top stocks for 2024, business strategies, and lessons from investors.
  3. Continuously learning and staying informed is crucial in making wise decisions, as wisdom doesn't come by chance.

TBM 370: Dependencies Aren't Your Problem

The Beautiful Mess • 290 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Dependencies become a problem when teams are overwhelmed and lack clear priorities. It's crucial to have open discussions about what should be prioritized rather than just managing tasks.
  2. Many companies use complex tracking systems for dependencies, but they often overlook the real costs involved. Focusing on the value of work is more important than just managing schedules.
  3. To improve workflow, teams need to shift their focus from simply managing dependencies to maximizing the value they can create. This means investing in better processes and capacity allocation.

Issue #6 - Hey Data, Show Me The Money!!!

The Data Ecosystem • 119 implied HN points • 19 May 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Investing in data is a strategic move, not just about spending money. It's important to align data efforts with business goals to see real value.
  2. When pitching for data investment, focus on the benefits it will bring. Clear communication of value can help rebuild trust with leadership.
  3. Measuring the success of data investments through defined KPIs is essential. This helps in making future improvement and investment decisions.

Chess is 99% taking pieces

Zwischenzug • 628 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🎾 Sports Strategy
  1. In chess, 99% of the game is about taking your opponent's pieces and not hanging your own.
  2. For many players, improvement comes from mastering basic concepts like piece safety rather than advanced strategies.
  3. Efficiency matters, so seek out resources that help you practice and improve on keeping your pieces safe in chess.

#47 - Thought Experiment - What if we stop 'fake approving' by humans?

OSS.fund Newsletter • 18 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Human approval chains for low‑value purchases are slow, costly, and often little more than ritualized clicks that add days and overhead without improving outcomes.
  2. AI agents can encode purchasing policy as rules, check budgets, vendors, and contracts in milliseconds, and create auditable logs that cut per‑order cost and cycle time while keeping controls intact.
  3. A practical path is to sample recent small POs, classify which truly need human judgment, then pilot simple auto‑approve rules with identity, logging, and time‑bound tests so people only handle the genuinely ambiguous cases.

TBM 368: Goals Take Practice

The Beautiful Mess • 304 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Setting good goals is tough and takes practice. It's not something you can get right just by trying a few times.
  2. OKRs are just one tool to help with goal setting, but there are many types of goals that matter in different situations.
  3. To really improve at setting goals, practice all the time, not just once a quarter. The more you work on it, the better you'll get.

TBM 331: Strategy & Decisiveness

The Beautiful Mess • 859 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Being strategic involves making choices, but not all strategies are about being decisive. Sometimes, being flexible and open to options can be just as important.
  2. Real-world strategy often faces messy challenges. It's not just about having a perfect plan; it's about navigating the unpredictable nature of business and making practical decisions.
  3. It's okay to admit uncertainty and avoid over-pressuring teams for quick decisions. Some trade-offs and juggling acts are just part of the process.

Different Bests in Different Contexts

Software Design: Tidy First? • 861 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Strategy
  1. Different tasks require different strategies. What works for one situation might not work for another, so it's good to be flexible.
  2. In a project, you might focus on playing around with ideas, then expanding and finally getting results. Each stage has its own challenges and goals.
  3. Understanding the different phases of a project can help guide how you work. It helps avoid mistakes and ensures the right approach for each part.