Posts

Before and after Almost Perfect

Philip I. Thomas Philip I. Thomas
Before and after Almost Perfect

At the beginning of this year, I spent a couple of weeks at the Almost Perfect creative residence in Tokyo, run by Luis and Yuka.

This week Luis and Yuka published a podcast we recorded during my residence. The first half was recorded on the first day of my stay, and the second half was recorded on the last day. We discuss the creative process, attitudes toward work in Japan, and how my thinking evolved during my time at Almost Perfect.

Use the player below to listen, or check out the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Coding a Booklet AI feature

Philip I. Thomas Philip I. Thomas
Coding a Booklet AI feature

This morning, I added a new feature to Booklet. I used OpenAI to suggest new posts to write, to make it easier for members to post. It looks like this:

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Booklet AI post suggestions

Inspired by a podcast I was listening to on the way to my office, I decided to record the process of building the feature and publish it as a video.

You can watch the full video below, where I go from idea to launching the feature to all Booklet communities in two and a half hours. I hope it's helpful to see how I work, the tools I use, and the process of building an AI-powered feature from scratch.

I start with an idea, implement multiple-draft post support, write an OpenAI prompt to suggest new posts, test the AI in production, tweak the prompt based on its performance, implement a skeleton loader to display the suggestions, connect the suggestions to the editor, then deploy it to all Booklet communities.

Recording a coding video is a bit of a crazy experiment, but I hope some people find it useful. If you have questions or feedback, email me.

Watch the video on YouTube →

Notes from the recording

Talking shop with Ben Weiss

Philip I. Thomas Philip I. Thomas
Talking shop with Ben Weiss

Today I'm publishing a podcast with Ben Weiss about creator versus software businesses.

While a student at Northwestern University, Ben founded Zcruit - a software for college football recruiting. After graduating, he continued to grow the business, and eventually sold it to a private equity firm.

After being a successful software founder, Ben transitioned to working on creator businesses as he became the head of operations at Meat Mafia, a media company in a period of rapid growth. Today, he continues to work with creator businesses to help them grow and scale.

In this episode, we discuss the differences between creator and software businesses, the challenges of each, and how they can collaborate.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or many other players. Watch the interview on YouTube here.


Show notes

  • 00:00 Introduction to the podcast and guest
  • 00:25 From software to creator businesses: Ben Weiss's journey
  • 01:43 Deep dive into ZCruit: Building and selling a software company
  • 02:33 Transition to creator business: Operations at Meat Mafia
  • 07:09 Exploring the creator business model and value capture
  • 09:27 Operational challenges and solutions in creator businesses
  • 14:15 Advice for creators and software brands on media strategy
  • 21:58 Reflections on the shift from software to creator space
  • 23:41 The allure of the creator economy
  • 23:56 Transitioning from founder to creator
  • 24:47 The changing prestige of working in tech vs. creator world
  • 25:38 The power of attention in the information economy
  • 26:02 Creators vs. Hollywood: The battle for eyeballs
  • 26:52 Choosing between software and creator careers
  • 27:57 The value of content creation and audience building
  • 28:40 Breaking into industries through content
  • 29:31 Marketing strategies for software startups in the creator age
  • 39:39 Leveraging creators for software product growth
  • 46:20 Final thoughts on software and creator business models

How I build multiple products

Philip I. Thomas Philip I. Thomas
How I build multiple products

I recently joined the SaaS Growth Podcast to talk about Contraption Company, product studios, and building multiple products like Booklet and Postcard. I think the interview covered some interesting topics, so I wanted to share it here.

In the podcast, I discuss the concept of a product studio, the challenges of running multiple products, and the importance of creating products that solve real problems. I also explore the value of building communities, the significance of asynchronous communication, and the need for intentional decision-making in product development. We end with some discussion about the nuances of onboarding and product documentation.

Listen to the podcast and find links for your podcast player on carlanderson.xyz.

Show notes

  • 00:00 Welcome to the SaaS Growth Podcast with Philip Thomas
  • 00:54 The Genesis of Contraption Company and Product Studio Philosophy
  • 05:15 Exploring the Product Suite: From Postcard to Booklet
  • 06:38 The Asynchronous Communication Revolution with Booklet
  • 14:30 Building and Sustaining Online Communities
  • 18:43 Navigating the Challenges of Remote and Asynchronous Work
  • 24:12 The Contraption Company's Future and Product Strategy
  • 31:18 Advice for Builders: Thinking Big and Staying Resilient
  • 38:44 Onboarding and Documentation: Balancing User Education and Discovery
  • 43:04 Wrapping Up: Insights and Future Directions