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What I'm writing

• ​Saying no — The ability to say no is a superpower. It gives you the power to choose how to spend your time.​

What I'm learning

Some of the calmest, most likable people I know maintain a deep sense of gratitude. They feel lucky to be alive. Their primary worry is not self-doubt. It’s about whether they might fail to maximize this privilege (of being alive). Inspiration: Kevin Kelly​

The only thing you can control is your next action. Everything else is out of your control. Inspiration: James Clear​

To open doors to more success, you must invite more rejection. If you want more yeses, you must accept more nos. If you aren’t often hearing “no,” you may not be aiming high enough. Inspiration: Robert Glazer​

You don’t know what is and isn’t a distraction unless you have a direction. Inspiration: Shane Parrish​

What I’m working on

• Tyler and I recorded a new episode on the Startup to Last podcast. We unpack why Claude Code and AI agents feel like they’re at a real inflection point. We talk about AI as a multiplier, why the biggest gains may come from killing long-ignored “paper cuts,” and how faster shipping changes the competitive landscape for startups and incumbents alike. We also talk a bit about LegUp Health, cash flow vs. ambition, and why building boring, durable businesses with asymmetric upside might be the smartest long-term play.
• I attended the Growth Elevated Ski + Tech Summit this week in Park City, Utah. It’s a curated gathering of founders, executives, and operators from growth-stage tech companies blending meaningful peer networking with skiing. Growth Elevated’s founder, Julian Castelli, and his team do a terrific job facilitating a high-trust environment and intentional networking where conversations on the chairlift or over meals deepen relationships and uncover hidden opportunities. There was also great content from speakers Victor Cheng (AI), Ashley Heather (Longevity), and Matt Mosman / Luis Macias (Boards of Directors).

What I'm thinking about

Would you rather feel rejection today or regret tomorrow?

Connect with me on X or LinkedIn.

-Rick Lindquist

P.S. One of the best parts of this newsletter is discussing ideas with readers. Let me know what you think. I read every reply. Click here for the web version.