Prompt Claude better than 99% of people

In this solo episode, I walk through 10 concrete rules to get way more out of Claude Code and Claude Opus 4.5, based directly on tips Anthropic has shared in their docs and blog posts. I show how to move from vague prompts to architected briefs that use tone, constraints, structure, and power phrases to avoid “AI slop.” I demo examples across writing, research, teaching, and planning so you can see exactly how to apply each rule. By the end, you have a practical playbook for prompting Claude like a teammate and using it as a true thinking partner in your work. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 00:56 – Rule #1: Tone of collaboration 02:16 – Rule #2: Principle of explicitness (action verbs, quantity, audience) 03:20 – Rule #3: Define the boundaries with clear constraints 04:26 – Rule #4: Draft, plan, then act (outline → refine → execute) 06:39 – Rule #5: Demand structured output (tables, formats, schemas) 08:00 – Rule #6: Explain the “why” behind your request 09:05 – Rule #7: Control brevity vs. verbosity (expert, brief, simplifier) 10:21 – Rule #8: Provide a scaffold and templates 11:21 – Rule #9: Use “power phrases” and expert personas 12:28 – Rule #10: Divide and conquer complex projects 14:09 – Putting it all together with an example For founders doing $50k+ MRR+: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/offline-mode Key Points I share 10 specific prompting rules that come directly from how Anthropic suggests people use Claude. I show how friendly, clear, and firm prompts beat either vague or overly polite requests. I demonstrate how explicit constraints (length, style, audience, banned words) create more creative and focused outputs. I use outlines, scaffolds, and structured formats to turn Claude into a planning and synthesis engine instead of a random text generator. I introduce “power phrases” like “think step by step” and “critique your own response” to unlock more advanced reasoning. I wrap everything into a final Stoicism lecture prompt that combines persona, context, constraints, structure, and tone. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

On this episode I sit down with Rob Hoffman, who runs a portfolio of profitable SaaS businesses (Contact, Mentions, Kleo). Rob breaks down six proven customer acquisition playbooks using real examples doing between ~$20K and $300K MRR. The episode walks through concrete strategies like waitlist launches, trend-jacking, language arbitrage, AI search, signal-search, and high-ticket ads. You will learn how to go beyond “vibe coding” and use structured marketing systems to get their first customers, raise prices, and scale more predictably. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 04:16 – 1) Waitlist Strategy: Kleo & Mentions Case Study 19:45 – 2) Wave Surfer Strategy: TrustMRR Case Study 27:54 –3) Language Arbitrage Strategy: Teachizy Case Study 33:53 – 4) AI Search Strategy: Tally Case Study 40:30 – 5) Signal Search Strategy: LocalRank Case Study 50:04 – 6) High Ticket Ad Strategy: MailScale Case Study Key Points Most indie builders can ship products but struggle to get customers; Rob packages his experience into six repeatable acquisition playbooks. The Waitlist Strategy pairs “edgy sales” content with email nurturing, scarcity, and beta cohorts to quickly reach tens of thousands in MRR. Riding an existing wave (like fake-MRR discourse on X) plus product-led virality can generate huge attention, which is better monetized with ads than subscriptions. Language and geo arbitrage—cloning a winning SaaS into another language/market—combined with non-English SEO is “marketing on easy mode.” AI search (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude) is an overpowered channel right now; deep “alternatives/versus/best of” pages are heavily cited and convert far better than Google traffic. Feature-first launches, faceless accounts, and enterprise plans let products like LocalRank and MailScale stack MRR with small audiences, YouTube demos, and high-ticket sales. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND ROB ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/RobHoffman_ Kleo: https://kleo.so

On this episode, I breakdown eight little-known mobile apps that each generate around $50,000+ per month and explain why they work. I walk through specific examples—from AI video generators and Bible note-takers to vinyl pricing tools and AI English tutors—then explain the common patterns behind their success. The second half of the episode is devoted to six clear frameworks for spotting high-potential niches and designing simple, sticky mobile apps around them. I end the episode with a batch of extra startup ideas built on high-intent inputs like photos, videos, and scans so listeners can “vibe code” their own profitable apps in 2026. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 02:02 – App 1: Flashloop: AI Video Generator for Viral Character Clips 03:26 – App 2: Bible Note-Taker & Prayer Recorder for Churchgoers 06:35 – App 3: AI Home Decor Interior Design App and Visualization Pain 08:48 – App 4: Moji Lab: Emoji/Sticker Packs and Expression as a Business 11:43 – App 5: Vinyl Snap: Scanning Vinyl Records for Accurate Pricing 13:51 – App 6: Genora AI: Bundling Multiple LLMs into One Assistant 16:45 – App 7: Logo Maker: AI Generated Logos 18:57 – App 8: Menu Fit: Healthy Eating Recommendations at Any Restaurant 20:44 – App 9: LangLearn: Personal AI English Tutor and Duolingo Comparison 22:37 – App 10: Zozo Fit 3D Body Scanner: Tracking Body Change, Not the Scale 25:04 – The “ 50K MRR App Framework” 31:30 – Bonus Startup Ideas Key Points Profitable mobile apps often do one high-intent, recurring job for a specific identity-based group, then charge a subscription around that behavior. Many breakout apps turn photos, videos, or scans (high-signal inputs) into premium insights like valuations, design plans, or tailored recommendations. Simple, one-screen interfaces with clear before/after transformations make these AI-powered tools feel approachable and addictive to use. The “50K MRR App Framework” combines spending power, repeating problems, visual inputs, accuracy needs, and bad existing tools to guide idea selection. New app ideas can be generated by pairing these frameworks with underserved niches like golf swings, pet health, used cars, or RV layouts. Numbered Section Summaries Why Mobile Apps Are Printing Money in 2026 The host opens by arguing that now is an incredible time to build mobile apps, pointing to new apps that have appeared “out of nowhere” and reached $50K+ per month. He cites a tweet listing 10 such apps launched in the last 180 days and sets the goal of reverse engineering what makes them work so listeners can apply the patterns to their own ideas. The 50K MRR App Framework The “50K MRR App Framework”: find a group that (1) spends money, (2) has a repeating problem, (3) uses photos/videos as inputs, (4) cares deeply about accuracy, and (5) suffers from bad existing tools. He walks through how vinyl collectors fit every criterion and stresses that while the framework is simple, execution still requires great UX, clean UI, and the right niche. The goal is to make idea selection easier by checking all five boxes before committing to an app. Six Supporting Frameworks for Designing Hit Apps I expands into six additional frameworks: start with a “nerve” (identity, urgency, stakes, repetition); solve one job that always must be done; build around a single high-intent input (photo, address, object); use AI to unlock a premium insight (price, diagnosis, summary, design plan); wrap it in a simple, desirable interface (one screen, one button, one transformation); and create a recurring behavior loop that pulls users back daily or weekly. He summarizes these in a conceptual pipeline: high-intent input → AI premium insight → simple interface → recurring loop → $50K MRR. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

On this episode I sit down with indie app builder and designer Chris ****Raroque to walk through his real AI coding workflow. Chris explains how he ships a portfolio of productivity apps doing thousands in MRR by pairing Claude Code and Cursor instead of picking just one tool. He live-demos “vibe coding” an iOS animation, then compares how Claude Code and Cursor’s plan mode tackle the same task. The episode closes with concrete tips on plan mode, MCP servers, AI code review, dictation, and deep research so solo devs can build bigger apps than they could alone. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 03:04 – Which Tools & Models to Use 09:16 – Thoughts on the Vibe Coding Mobile App Landscape 11:14 – Live demo: prompting Claude Code to build an iOS “AI searching” animation 18:07 – Live demo: prompting Cursor with same task 21:02 – Chris’s Best Tips for Vibe Coders Key Points You don’t have to pick one IDE copilot: Chris actively switches between Claude Code and Cursor because they have different strengths. For very complex bug-hunting, he prefers Cursor with plan mode; for big-picture app architecture, he leans on Claude Code with Opus. Non-developers should start on higher-level “vibe coding” platforms like Create Anything for mobile apps before graduating to Claude/Cursor. Plan mode plus detailed, spoken prompts dramatically improves code quality, especially for UI and animation work. MCP servers and AI code review bots let solo developers safely set up infra, enforce security, and catch bugs they’d otherwise miss. Claude’s deep research is a powerful way to choose the right patterns and libraries before handing implementation back to Claude Code or Cursor. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND CHRIS ON SOCIAL Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raroque X/Twitter: https://x.com/raroque Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.raroque/

Join me as I sit down with Jonathan Courtney to host the second annual “Sippy Awards,” the most prestigious award show in tech for the products, games, and tools that shaped 2025. We crown our most-hyped products for 2026, favorite games of the year, best productivity tools, and best products under $100. We also dive into analog tools like Traveler’s Notebook, hi-fi systems, Japanese porcelain, and simple clothing uniforms as ways to make everyday life better and de-fragment your brain. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 03:23 – Most Hyped Product of 2026 14:43 – Game of the Year 2025 19:49 – The Way to Innovate 25:41 – Premium Domains 29:56 – Best Productivity Product 42:02 – Favorite Product of 2025 54:10 – Best products under $100. Key Points The Sippy Awards are a playful but serious way for Greg and Jonathan to highlight the products and games that genuinely improved their lives in 2025. They argue that cult classics (Wind Waker, Pinkerton, Kid A, Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring) come from creators who put the audience last and follow their own taste, even at the risk of initial backlash. Distinctive visual identities and premium dot-com domains are framed as both trust builders for users and commitment devices for founders. Their favorite productivity and lifestyle tools—ChatGPT, Things, Endel, Traveler’s Notebook, YouTube Premium, Japanese porcelain—show how small, well-crafted tools reshape daily workflows and rituals. Analog practices (morning pages, notebooks, hi-fi listening) and simple clothing uniforms are presented as ways to de-fragment your brain, reduce decision fatigue, and focus on what matters. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND JONATHAN ON SOCIAL Unscheduled CEO Podcast: https://www.unscheduledceo.com/  X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jicecream  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-courtney-4510644b/

I sat down with James, the Boring Marketer, to stress-test Claude 4.5 Opus against Gemini 3 Pro for real-world coding and design work. Together we live-build and compare landing pages and clickable prototypes for an “EstateClear” probate-family dashboard, then zoom out into conversion copywriting frameworks, “elevated direct response” brand voice, and ad creative workflows. The episode is a practical walkthrough of how non-technical builders can go from idea → landing page → prototype → ads using modern AI tools without vibe-coded, low-converting sites.  Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 02:00 – Startup Idea: EstateClear 03:17 – Claude Opus 4.5 04:47 – Gemini 3.0 Pro 09:02 – Reviewing Opus’ landing page 11:16 – Reviewing Gemini’s version 12:17 – Comparing the two 17:29 – Reprompting Opus 4.5 and Gemini 19:02 – Google’s vertically integrated stack (AI Studio, Anti-Gravity, TPUs, Workspace) 21:50 – Nano Banana Pro and ad creative experiments 27:35 – Opus 4.5 builds a clickable EstateClear prototype 31:38 – Gemini’s prototype and comparing product depth 36:40 – Anti-Gravity + Nano Banana workflow for mockups and code 44:41 – Claude Skills Workflow and Best Practices 56:41 – Final Thoughts Key Points Claude 4.5 Opus can act like a senior engineer for non-technical builders when paired with a tight skill and tools setup. Conversion wins come more from “elevated direct response” copy and clear page architecture than from fancy visuals alone. Claude’s front-end design skill meaningfully reduces “AI-looking” gradients and vibe-coded layouts, producing cleaner, production-grade UIs. Live tests show Opus 4.5 generates more refined layouts and deeper product thinking, while Gemini often injects clever AI product features. Google’s integration of Anti-Gravity, Nano Banana, and AI Studio points to a powerful end-to-end environment for shipping and promoting products. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND JAMES ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/boringmarketer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jadickerson/

On this episode I sit down with indie app builder and designer Chris Raroque to break down how solo developers can make apps that truly stand out in a world of “vibe-coded” clones. Chris walks through concrete examples from his own products, Ellie (planning), Luna (budgeting), and Amy (calorie tracking), showing how small details in animations, interactions, and haptics dramatically change how an app feels. We dig into mascots and illustrations, iconography and typography, widgets and Apple Watch apps, and the design resources Chris studies to sharpen his eye. The episode is a practical blueprint for turning AI-assisted prototypes into polished, premium-feeling apps that users remember and keep coming back to. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 03:54 – Animation and Interactions 20:50 – Illustrations and Mascots 33:57 – Iconography and Typography 37:28 – Widgets 43:04 – Design Inspiration Resources Key Points In a world where anyone can ship an AI-generated app in 24 hours, polish and interaction design are the real differentiators. Thoughtful animations, micro-interactions, and haptics can be the difference between a tweet that flops and one that goes viral. Mascots and custom illustrations give apps a recognizable personality and can transform empty states and onboarding into memorable moments. Consistent iconography and basic typography choices have outsized impact on perceived quality, yet are often overlooked by “vibe-coded” apps. Home screen, lock screen, and watch widgets act as retention engines by giving apps constant real estate in users’ daily flows. Continuously studying well-designed apps and curated UI libraries sharpens design taste and makes it easier to brief AI tools effectively. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND CHRIS ON SOCIAL Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raroque  X/Twitter: https://x.com/raroque  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.raroque/

On today’s episode I stress-test Gemini 3.0 in Google AI Studio to see how good it really is as a designer, not just a code generator. Across the episode, I ask Gemini to redesign my personal website in a Windows XP–inspired style, build a restaurant analytics SaaS dashboard, and create a workout mobile app inspired by the “Brain Rot” app. Along the way, I experiment with prompts, visual annotations, and reference images to see how well Gemini takes feedback. By the end, he’s rating each build. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 00:54 – Personal Website 15:48 – SaaS 21:52 – Mobile App 26:35 – AntiGravity 27:17 – Final rating and takeaways Key Points Gemini 3.0 can now generate full, styled web and mobile UIs (not just “purple Tailwind vibe-coded” layouts) when given strong prompts and references. greg-take-02 A Windows XP–themed personal site, built from a screenshot and a short prompt, impresses Greg enough that he considers redoing his actual homepage. greg-take-02 Visual annotation inside Google AI Studio (drawing on the canvas and commenting) is a powerful way to refine icons, backgrounds, and layout without “speaking designer.” greg-take-02 A restaurant analytics SaaS dashboard (“Chef OS”) shows how combining Dribbble shots + Teenage Engineering hardware as references pushes Gemini toward more tactile, “real button” UI. greg-take-02 The “Gains” workout app, modeled on the Brain Rot app, demonstrates that AI can remix an existing product pattern into a new behavior-change app with streaks, goals, and a reactive mascot. greg-take-02 Greg’s big takeaway: good ideas + taste + references + Gemini 3.0 let non-designers ship highly differentiated experiences, raising their odds of standing out. greg-take-02 The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

Get a private, on-screen walkthrough of Google’s new Gemini 3.0 with Logan Kilpatrick. We vibe-code full apps, games, and product UIs in real time. You’ll see how to go from raw idea to working product in a single prompt, then iterate visually with design, features, and AI workflows. They turn an IdeaBrowser concept into a live talent-matching platform, screenshot-clone the IdeaBrowser UI, wire up a “generate tomorrow’s idea” feature grounded in Google Search, and even add co-founder matching on top. If you’re building with AI or still on the fence, this episode shows what’s now possible with Gemini 3.0 Pro in AI Studio. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – What Gemini 3 is and where it lives (Gemini app, AI Studio, API) 03:03 – Vibe Coding 3D games 09:27 – Vibe Coding an idea from IdeaBrowser 25:02 – Screenshot-cloning the IdeaBrowser UI and regenerating it in Gemini Key Points Gemini 3.0 Pro in AI Studio lets you “vibe code” full apps—UI, logic, and AI features—from natural-language prompts, then iteratively refine them. Games and complex simulations are a stress-test and showcase for the model’s capabilities, not just toys. You can paste an entire business idea (like IdeaBrowser’s generational talent-matching concept) into AI Studio and get a working, multi-screen product with AI-powered workflows. Gemini 3.0 Pro is free to use inside AI Studio up to generous limits, and the API is priced at $2 per million input tokens and $12 per million output tokens under 200K input tokens. Screenshot-driven UI cloning plus “add five more features” prompts are powerful loops for product and UX ideation. You can layer social features like co-founder matching directly on top of idea-discovery products with only a few additional prompts. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND LOGAN ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/OfficialLoganK  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoganKilpatrickYT  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logankilpatrick/

Master Your Cashflow (Templates Included): https://startup-ideas-pod.link/money-map On this episode, I share my simple financial operating system that helps me run my business. I share actual workflows that have saved one of my portfolio company from an 11-week runway crisis (when they thought they had 8 months), and the templates behind his 13-week cash tracker, Bear/Base/Bull decision framework, and one-page board report. This is a rare look inside the tactics I use to think about cash flow, dilution strategy, and building companies that don't run out of runway by accident. Bank with Brex: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/brex-sip Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: The whiteboard that saved two companies 02:08 – The Financial Rhythm: Daily, weekly, monthly cadence 03:23 – Rule 1: The 13-Week Cash Flow System 06:10 – Rule 2: Cash vs. Accrual 08:14 – Rule 3: Extend Runway 12:13 – Rule 4: Be Exit Ready 15:06 – Rule 5: Cards and Credit 18:01 – Rule 6: Track 5 Weekly Metrics 20:00 – Rule 7: The Monthly One-Pager 21:12 – Rule 8: Tools and Automation 26:11 – Rule 9: Dilution Mindset 27:59 – How to implement: The weekly rhythm in practice 29:31 – Action plan and closing Key Points Your P&L lies about survival—one portfolio company thought they had 8 months of runway but actually had 11 weeks when mapped to real cash flow The Bear/Base/Bull decision framework prevents emotional spending: if two-plus scenarios say no, wait (a $60K conference booth was rejected in bear case, approved two months later in bull case) Acquisitions happen in 48 hours—keep a 10-file data room updated quarterly so you can respond to Tuesday emails with Wednesday meetings Trust doesn't scale, policy does: weekly corporate card reviews caught an $8K personal ad spend in 7 days instead of 30 The system runs itself once built: 15 minutes Monday + 30 minutes Friday + 4 hours/month replaces heroic monthly scrambles Every dollar raised costs ownership forever—cutting $40K/month burn has the same 12-month runway impact as fundraising but with 0% dilution The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/