Writing a startup into existence

An interview on the anniversary of quitting my job at Business Insider.

It’s hard to stay grounded in the present when the path behind you keeps asking for attention.

It’s been almost a year since quitting my job at Business Insider to launch Opening Bell Daily. Several hundred newsletters and countless interviews, podcasts and social posts later and the business can almost claim its first anniversary.

I’ve worked to document the journey through these personal letters — around 75 of them since last March — and in doing so I’ve gained clarity on a great deal more than I would have otherwise.

This writing habit has reminded me, again and again, that reflection is not a luxury in the building process but a tool.

Documenting forces understanding.

What’s surprised me most is how many readers are just as curious about the ins and outs of building the business as the journalism itself.

The scaffolding, it turns out, is part of the story.

In any case, it’s easy to romanticize being a founder. But the reality is far more granular. Small repetitive steps and imperceptible progress are not sexy talking points.

I have plenty of days where I send my morning dispatch and wonder who’s actually reading, whether the work is worthwhile, or if I wrote anything foolish.

Even for an exciting new venture, work compounds quietly and with narrow fanfare.

Easier said than done, but I try my best to focus on what I can control — delivering honest and data-based reporting with clarity and consistency.

That in mind, I recently sat down with Creator Spotlight, a show and newsletter that covers the business of independent media.

If you’re curious about what happens behind-the-scenes in a startup, the trade-offs with corporate media, and how I leverage social media in business, I discussed all of this and more.

You can read the profile here, or watch the full podcast interview below.

Thank you, as always, for reading.

Phil Rosen
Co-founder, Editor-in-chief, Opening Bell Daily