Alex Lieberman Podcast on Infinite Loops
One podcast, 2 newsletters
3 Things to start your week:
Alex Lieberman on Infinite Loops Podcast. Alex founded the Morning Brew Newsletter and sold it for lots of money.
New FinTech Fusion Newsletter by Harry Harrison
I wrote a guest post for Heather at After 21 Club
1. Alex: Short Bio
Alex Lieberman, the visionary behind the immensely successful Morning Brew newsletter, started his entrepreneurial journey alongside a friend, Austin Rief, while still in college in 2015. Together, they crafted a newsletter focused on delivering engaging business and finance news with a refreshing twist. The podcast walks you through the growth, and tough times. Through relentless dedication and innovation, they nurtured Morning Brew into a powerhouse, captivating millions of subscribers with daily updates and distinctive insights into the business world.
In a landmark move in 2020, Lieberman orchestrated the sale of Morning Brew to Business Insider for a reported sum ranging between $75 to $100 million. This transaction reverberated across industries, symbolizing the incredible value built within the brand. The acquisition validated Morning Brew's position as a trailblazer in the media landscape and marked a pivotal moment in Lieberman's entrepreneurial trajectory, showcasing his exceptional vision and business acumen.
Something for us newsletter writers to aspire to…
Unicorns and Intrinsic Motivation: The Alex Lieberman Story
Introduction:
Join Jim’s podcast, as they dive into the fascinating journey of Alex Lieberman, the co-founder of Morning Brew, and uncover the secrets behind finding unicorns, embracing intrinsic motivation, and thriving in the entrepreneurial world.
The Quest for Unicorns
In an ocean of applications, the unique qualities of 'unicorns' are the key to success for businesses. Alex Lieberman's experience exemplifies the importance of self-awareness and specific lived experiences in standing out among thousands of applicants. Origin stories can often become blurred with repetition, but the exceptional stand out.
From New Jersey to Wall Street: The Origin Story
Alex Lieberman's journey from New Jersey to the University of Michigan and his ambition to work on Wall Street laid the foundation for his remarkable career. Initially starting a daily business newsletter out of personal interest in college, he nurtured it into the renowned Morning Brew, morphing it to appeal to the modern audience.
The Art of Writing with Voice and Organic Growth
The evolution of Morning Brew's writing style focused on writing like speaking, driven by genuine interest rather than the pursuit of startup success. It involved a meticulous process of finding writers with a unique voice and great writing chops, emphasizing the importance of high specificity in storytelling.
The Essence of Exceptional Writing
Exceptional writing demands innate qualities such as insatiable curiosity, high specificity, and a deep understanding of cultural references. It should be simple enough for anyone to understand, coupled with the author's unique experiences that make it irreplaceable.
Embracing Intrinsic Motivation and Authenticity
In the realm of writing and entrepreneurship, Alex stresses the significance of creating content driven by one's authentic voice and intrinsic motivation. He encourages others to prioritize aligning with what energizes them, thus pushing aside conventional norms of extrinsic motivation.
Conscious Leadership and Limiting Beliefs
Alex delves into the 15 commitments of conscious leadership, advocating the significance of shifting from fear-based to growth-based motivation. He emphasizes the need to challenge limiting beliefs about self-worth and capabilities, highlighting the profound impact it can have on personal and professional aspects of one's life.
Finding Your Zone of Genius
Alex walks you through - how to find your own “Zone of Genuis” which are:
the skills or activities you spend time on, you are exceptional at, and time melts away. (1:12:00 timestamp in podcast)
Identifying one's 'Zone of Genius' involves reflecting on past experiences and uncovering hidden talents and passions. By recognizing and embracing natural strengths, individuals can achieve personal and professional fulfillment, avoiding unrealistically assessing themselves against others.
Navigating Short-Form Video and Business Ventures
Apart from his success with Morning Brew, Alex ventured into short-form video agencies and content matchmaking services. His innovative approach and keen insights have paved the way for intriguing entrepreneurial ventures, successfully engaging and monetizing audiences.
Encouraging Self-Love and Love for Others
Alex advocates the transformational power of self-love and its cascading impact on creating a better world. His commitment to encouraging others to embrace love and self-worth underscores the depth of his passion and commitment beyond entrepreneurship.
Conclusion:
Alex Lieberman's remarkable journey encapsulates the essence of finding unicorns, embracing intrinsic motivation, and challenging conventional norms. His insights and experiences serve as a guiding light for aspiring entrepreneurs and individuals seeking personal and professional fulfillment.
Books Mentioned:
What Works on Wall Street, Fourth Edition: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy
The Adweek Copywriting Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Advertising and Marketing Copy from One of America's Top Copywriters; by Joseph Sugarman
The Tao Te Ching; by Laozi
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success; by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman & Kaley Klemp
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human, and How To Tell Them Better; by Will Storr
Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind; by Andy Dunn
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A recommendation from Deplatformable Newsletter. Check out this new FinTech Fusion Newsletter by Harry Harrison at:
What’s It About?
The newsletter focuses on the latest technology and finance-related news.
When Is It Released?
The newsletter is released every Monday at 8 am GMT.
Why Should I Subscribe?
Subscribing is completely free, and means you’ll get all newsletters delivered straight to your inbox. If you’re interested in what’s happening in the world of technology and finance, then this is the newsletter for you!
The newsletter is always a work in progress, and I plan to add new features throughout 2024.
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Another recommendation from Deplatformable Newsletter.
Check out this guest post I made for Heather at After 21 Club:
What is the After 21 Club?
Hi. I’m Heather Brebaugh, a retired higher education consultant, now living in mile high Prescott, Arizona. You might know me as the Founder of the Kindness Magnet newsletter, which explores the scientific benefits of practicing daily kindness habits, currently with readers in 57 countries.
After 21 Club is a generational lifestyle newsletter. I like to call it a sweet retreat where Friday meets you on the way to life's little pleasures.
It includes all generations, young, old and in between where we share recommendations and reviews and ponder the lives we lead.
Bring your curiosity and your creative spirit as we explore recipes, books, movies, travel, music,🎵 style, culture, work, where to live, kindness and more….all through the lens of generations.
Why Subscribe?
In After 21 Club, I hope to combine the thoughts and ideas of generations, to create a richness of culture, experience, and wisdom. I hope readers will look forward to the sharing of ideas and the beauty of connections.
Subscriptions are Free
All content is free 🆓 for all subscribers. You receive all newsletters. You have access to all comments and discussions, all interviews and podcasts 🎧 (as they are added) and all archived material.
If, in the future, donations are accepted, everyone will still have access to all the content.
Thanks to all!
Thanks Paul, the Lieberman podcast sounds excellent. I look forward to checking it out.
God, I love the concept of '"Zone of Genius." Brilliant. Thanks Paul. See you Friday!