G'day mate!
Greetings from Sydney!
๐ฆ๐บ The people of Australia are cheery and upbeat. Sydney is a metropolitan multicultural megalopolis. Early rising. Like Seattle but with no homeless people. It's one of the few cities I'd settle down in.
๐ณ Fun fact: I finally learned how a credit card works. No, itโs not just a checking account but 1% cheaper. The great news is that I will conclude my year of travel (barring a health emergency).
On the Agenda
(Personal Update) World Travel Progress
(Biz Update) What is No-Code?
(Biz Update) Intern Class '23
(Mini-Essay) My Leadership Style
(Surprise) Asking My Crush Out ๐
1. World Travel Progress
Iโm currently in Australia in Month 7 of my #YearOfTravel.
Here is my flight map:
Here are my city rankings so far:
A+ Tier: Cape Town, Buenos Aires
A Tier: Hong Kong, Sydney, Medellรญn, Oaxaca
B Tier: Saigon, Cartagena, Lisbon
C Tier: Bogotรก, Cincinnati (Where My Family Lives), Hanoi, Bali
D Tier: Johannesburg, Porto, Montevideo, Puerto Escondido, Livingstone
F Tier: Durban
2. What is No-Code?
Exactly as it sounds. You can build an entire app without writing a single line of code! All you have to do is drag-and-drop.
But first, what is an โapplicationโ?
Very simple. Itโs a bunch of tables (eg. Excel spreadsheets) with a layer of makeup (aka โUser Interfaceโ). Thatโs it.
Hereโs an example:
The arcade machine (display & controls) is the โuser interfaceโ or โfrontendโ. The leaderboard and statistics are called the โbackendโ.
Hereโs the same analogy applied to Instagram:
โInstagram is simply a bunch of pictures listed against a bunch of users with a bunch of other characteristics about that picture shown to you one at a time.โ
Why use No-Code? Easy. Itโs drag-and-drop. Why not use it? The core issue is scalability. Bubble (the leading no-code solution) only supports up to 20k users, but potentially more if you decouple the backend with tools like Xano.
So I did some digging and managed to get this quote:
For reference, here is the application weโre trying to build:
3. Intern Class โ23
As you know, I've been trying to hire a developer for the last 2 weeks. Then I discovered No-Code. Now my calculus for "what's needed" has changed. Instead of hiring a full-time developer, can I make do with a group of interns?
So I made a job posting on LinkedIn. Within 30 minutes, I received 53 applicants and hit the LinkedIn cap. Two hours later I found myself talking with students from all over the US.
From talking with students, I realized that some were interested in UI/UX. Others liked backend. Others were flexible. So I decided to stitch together an entire intern class. And I want my friend to lead it.
If you know any college students who want โexperienceโ, please have them shoot me a message! Iโm currently looking for these roles:
Product Design Intern
UI/UX Design Intern
Software Engineer Intern
Systems Architect Intern
PS: If this whole "tech startup thing" doesn't work out, maybe I'll switch to becoming a recruiter!
4. My Leadership Style
Startup life is different than large-corporation life.
Fact check: True!
Context: Leo is building a billion-dollar tech company (starting from zero) while traveling the world. He is sharing his lessons and learnings to (1) attract opportunities and (2) develop a playbook that others can follow.
Today I'd like to share my leadership style with you:
As a leader, I keep it simple. I care about two things: 1. The product is being built. 2. The people I work with are happy. Everything else in the middle โ I have no interest in. For example, I don't care where you work or how you work. I don't even care how much you work. 80 hours a week or 2 hours a week โ it makes no difference to me. All I care about is that the first two conditions are being met. There will be no "logging hours". Or mandatory check-ins. There are no deadlines. You set the deadlines. I respect your time as much as you respect mine. Obviously, you have to be empathetic to the needs of the organization. Treat me as an assistant. If you need something, ask. Two things will happen. (1) I provide what you need or (2) explain to you why I can't. Or I may suggest a better solution. Trust is given on Day 1. You have nothing left to prove (to me or anyone else on the team). There are no rules. Be accountable. Be creative. Be effective. You can use our brand to attract talent. You can promote yourself to a new title if you find it suitable. You can ask for money shall you need it. Again, there are no rules. You have final accountability. Hope this empowers you. Note: I understand that you may not be as independent or "flexible" as I am. That is OK! I will create the necessary structures for you to succeed. This can include: - Checking in with you routinely - Setting clear actionable goals - Hiring a manager to take responsibilities off your plate - Creating systems and processes that facilitate collaboration - Surrounding you with a team of people that you like to work with - Sitting down with you 1:1 and going over all the factors and considerations in your life and helping you make the best decision for you.
5. Asking My Crush Out ๐
As I look at the next 70 years of my life, itโs clear what I wantโฆ I want a family. That I know for certain. Then it becomes a matter of finding a suitable partner.
Meet Sarah! She's two years younger than me. Studies fashion business. Unlike me (who wears the same black T-shirts every day)โ she's one of the most creative dressers I know.
โญ๏ธ I've made a ritual. Every 6 months, I ask her out. This is the 3rd time ..? After a year or two of travel, Iโd like to move in with her. Hopefully this becomes a "When Harry Met Sally" story.
I'll be in Melbourne for the rest of the month as I'm visiting my friend Shivali. We may go see a Lorde concert or Henry Lau show (thanks Karena for the rec!). If you have any other suggestions, please let me know!
Take care!
Leo A
Ha ha, you made my day with your wooing of Sarah story. I can imagine applying this to all sorts of things. Express open, innocent, committed affection for something you want. Love it.
OK. Loving the vibe (and format/presentation) of this entire newsletter. I hope you see BOTH concerts as they are both on my list of good music.
I cannot believe you are at month 7 of this journey. Already?
And, like Rick, waiting for the Netflix version of the Sarah story!