Andy Labis

I can't stop thinking about my lunch with Laura Roeder. She: - makes over 6+ figures profit - traveled the world with her family last year - has 0 employees - discourages people from posting about their personal lives in their Slack - and told me with her business she makes enough. This last part is the one that really stuck with me. So many of us just want to get more growth, more users, if you're not growing, you're dying attitudes. When in reality it's never so dark and the pursuit of more creates a lack of enjoying the overall balance of life. I struggle with this big time. The other parts of what she's doing are very forward thinking: She was adamant to not have any full time employees. But she hires well, her support team are ex 37 Signals (Basecamp). They are extremely autonomous. Her support team is also responsible for driving revenue by hosting monthly sales calls with new signups. As well, they help drive product roadmap by which questions come in to support. Both of these turn a normal cost center into something super powerful. They also do 0 meetings. It's all async. How relieving and inspiring that sounds. Refreshing. 🚿 She discourages family posts not cause she's mean but more her work life is professional. This is going to be a bigger trend as remote became popular we had to over compensate with baby photos, life updates, birthday celebrations etc. When in reality your friends are your friends and you want to like + respect your coworkers but it's okay if they are not your friends. She only focuses on a very niche audience with her product Paperbell. It's to help online coaches run their businesses. The focus of her living in Japan for a few months, living mostly in Brighton, UK and taking her 2 kids with them is such an awesome way of living. The startup world makes me feel at times to make money so you can then make more money. WHen in reality I think about my 2 daughters, living, traveling and finding a healthy balance vs only looking back in my life with followers / money / subscribers or things that don't matter on your death bed. And the final piece was her saying she makes enough. Funny it was in passing but most of my hyper succesful friends are bored or unhappy if they are not growing insanely fast. It's also discouraging in a world where you "should" be at $100M ARR in 3 months. That's not "bad" either but I love and respect Laura for knowing what's enough and getting the most out of life.