Decoding Success Strategies Behind Ambitious Startup Giants

Hello Producers,

Lately, I’ve noticed that email newsletters have become a hot topic, not only on LinkedIn. Perhaps it’s been a trend for a long time, and I just didn’t notice. Which isn’t a bad thing! I’m a big fan of newsletters and subscribe to many—maybe too many. Therefore, I was excited to speak with someone who’s been nailing it with his own newsletter. Enjoy today’s lessons from an episode with Sheldon.

Unlocking Business Growth: Proven Tactics for Startup Success | #71: Sheldon Bishop

Sheldon Bishop is a dedicated founder, writer, and content creator, best known for spearheading The Zero to One. With a talent for decoding the strategies behind the world’s leading startups, Sheldon delivers proven growth tactics through his newsletter, which has already gained the attention of top founders from ClickUp, Morning Brew, AppSumo, and more. Each week, he saves his readers countless hours by reverse-engineering the success of high-growth companies. In this episode, Sheldon shares his entrepreneurial journey, insights on founder-led marketing, the power of personal branding, and a glimpse into the vibrant startup scene in South Africa.

Lessons:

• Play the Long Game

• Commit to Quality

• Leverage Your Network

• Love What You Do

• Work Smart, Not Just Hard

Lesson 1 - Be Patient

If you've been listening to the podcast, which I sincerely hope you have, you know my favourite question to ask at the end is for a final piece of advice or some kind of wisdom. That’s where this lesson comes from. It almost felt like a motivational speech—you know those videos on YouTube, right? Anyway, Sheldon perfectly points out that it’s important to think long-term. Whatever it is you’re working on, don’t think in terms of days, weeks, or months, but years! Step by step, build things up and continually improve. It’s not an overnight success but a daily grind that compounds over time and eventually leads to success. It reminds me of the power of compounding, as James Clear talks about in his bestselling book. So, what’s that 1% improvement you can make today?

Lesson 2 - Deliver Quality

Do you know how many hours Sheldon spends each week producing his newsletter? More than twenty! It’s no surprise when you consider how time-consuming it must be to research, study, and dissect all the valuable information he shares. But imagine doing that when you’re just starting out or have only a few subscribers. I think only a few people would still dedicate so much time to it. Yet, that’s what sets Sheldon apart—high-quality content with actionable insights, examples, takeaways, and engagement all rolled into one. I’m sure the hours he puts in are worth it and will be even more rewarding in the future.

Lesson 3 - Maximize Your Network

Do you know who subscribes to Sheldon’s newsletter? Some high-ranking CEOs. And not just from random startups—though don’t get me wrong, every subscriber is highly valuable—but from companies like AppSumo, Morning Brew, and ClickUp. Sheldon, tell us your secrets! He did indeed, thank you. Anyway, if you’ve got social proof like this, you need to be smart and leverage it, and he does that perfectly. Tagging them, mentioning them, and featuring them in his content—that’s so smart, and it would be a shame not to benefit from it. Once Elon subscribes to my newsletter, I’ll do that too!

Lesson 4 - Enjoy Your Work

During our recording, I could feel the passion Sheldon has for his work, whether it’s entrepreneurship or writing. It’s great because it always inspires me and reminds me not to have any excuses. Plus, working on something you enjoy doesn’t really feel like work, right? Which is the ultimate goal. Not to mention other benefits such as learning along the way, broadening your perspectives, or even meeting new people. However, I know not everyone is so lucky to work on what they enjoy and even get paid for it. Therefore, I genuinely hope there’s something you love doing, and by working on it, getting better at it, and ultimately mastering it, you’ll eventually get paid for it and enjoy it even more!

Lesson 5 - Work Smart

And hard as well, but working smart is the key here. Given the number of hours Sheldon spends on his newsletter, it would be a shame to share it only once and then forget about it. That’s where repurposing your content comes in. I like how Sheldon creates more content from his findings and shares it on LinkedIn. Not only is it valuable and high-quality information, but it also helps him build his brand while extending the reach of his newsletter. Plus, he doesn’t have to worry about coming up with new content ideas. So think about how you can repurpose your own content to maximize its impact. Remember, working hard is important, but working smart is essential!

What about you? Are you running your own newsletter? If so, what’s your motivation behind it? If not, are you planning to start one? I’d also be curious to hear what your favourite newsletter is and why. Although I subscribe to many, there’s never enough of the good ones, right? Feel free to hit reply and let me know. I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks, and have a successful week ahead!

Keep producing,
Tommen