A woman walked up to me at an event and asked, “What’s the code word?” I said “cat.” We’d met years earlier. One word kept us connected the whole time. Here’s the networking move that makes people remember you: ryanfoland.substack.com/p/dr…

I bet you can't answer the most important question you'll ever be asked. What do you need the most help with right now? And it can't be money. Vague asks get vague help. Specific asks get answers. ryanfoland.substack.com/p/th…

I chose to lose Wi-Fi on a sailboat for 72 hours. 23 texts and a stack of emails were waiting when I checked back in. Every single one had waited just fine. The real skill in leaderSHIP isn't staying reachable. It's knowing what actually needs you when it shows up. ryanfoland.substack.com/p/an…

Find a way to channel your inner kid each day. When I skate 🛹, I feel like a kid. And when I feel like a kid, adulting does not seem so bad. Pretty much, be Peter Pan, when you can!

I used to measure my email game by speed. Turns out one thoughtful reply beats nine reactive ones every time. New LeaderSHIP piece is up. open.substack.com/pub/ryanfo…

Founders panic about memorizing their pitch decks. Here's the thing, you don't need to. You need a story, a problem, a solution, a market, and that same story again. I call it the Influence Burger. Comes in extra small, medium, and large, same five layers, just more or less filling. Order up! open.substack.com/pub/ryanfo…

I set a deadline to motivate myself. Now it's hunting me. Parkinson's Law only works if the time you gave yourself was actually free to use. New piece on trusting the law anyway 👇 open.substack.com/pub/ryanfo…

An alarm screamed. A light flashed red. The engine died. Twice. In one night. After getting it back from the mechanic. Right before we needed the boat for Catalina. I wasn't upset. Because there are 3 types of goals, outcome, output, input. Only one is ever in your control. New piece breaks it down, link below open.substack.com/pub/ryanfo…

Three hours underwater. One white sea bass. One missed shot. But I was finally in the right water, with the right gear, with the right people. That's the win. Most of entrepreneurSHIP looks like kelp and silence. You don't get the one percent without the ninety-nine. My latest EntrepreneurSHIP article is out, feel free to dive in! ryanfoland.substack.com/p/wh…

Lost our dinghy off Catalina. Spent the next day losing my mind about it instead. Turns out there’s science behind why one bad thing can wreck a good day, and why we feel guilty about feeling guilty. New entrepreneurSHIP piece is out. open.substack.com/pub/ryanfo…

You can put ™ on your brand today. No filing. No attorney. No fee. Most people assume it means registered trademark. It does not. But that assumption works in your favor. The ® is what you work toward. New article explains both.

A storm on the horizon does not care how long you stare at it. Worry is not the problem. Worrying on repeat, with no decision at the end, is. Worry once. Really well. Decide on a plan. Then stop worrying, and do the work . ryanfoland.substack.com/p/wo…

Have you ever felt like you keep pushing, but nothing happens? Be inspired by the 🌎. It moves so slow that no one notices. But it's been on the move for 200 million years. If you missed this week's article, this is a sign that you should read it. ryanfoland.substack.com/p/3a…

The dean walked to the stage holding check facing inward. 300 people holding their breath. One team was about to jump out of their seats. The rest were about to learn something more valuable than prize money. ryanfoland.substack.com/p/so…

Heidi is gone. 🪦 250,000 miles. One head gasket. Zero warning. Losing my car reminded me what it actually feels like to be a customer. New EntrepreneurSHIP article is live. ryanfoland.substack.com/p/he…

Sometimes it takes three times. The first try? Not it. The second try? Not it. The third try? That’s the one. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going.

I rapped to Still D.R.E. in city council chambers. A 🦄 showed up. I ended on the marble countertop, fist raised. Nobody said I could. Nobody said I couldn't. ryanfoland.substack.com/p/yo…

The Blue Water Cruising Club has maintained the same cove since 1945. Eighty years of work weekends. Because enjoyment without maintenance doesn't last. Same goes for your entrepreneurSHIP.

Do you have balance. Or is there no such thing?

Your keyboard is dusty. Your screen has a smudge. Your stickers are faded. And someone already read all of it. Your stuff is talking. Are you listening? New Substack article is out. ryanfoland.substack.com/p/wh…