Weekly 40 Hour Kit by Fabiano Abreu Ott

The journey of growing your business without grinding 24/7.

40 Hour Kit: Life First, Business Second?

(Here for the subject line? Find it in the❓ Question section)

Hey Reader,

Today I read parts of 'The Creative Act' by music producer and podcaster Rick Rubin. He explains that what you create yourself is the sum of greatness you consume. Not just in content, but also in nature or in day-to-day life. Noticing the greatness around you (in the real and the digital world) is the best inspiration you can get. Makes sense, I thought, but when was the last time you walked through your day with such an open awareness of greatness?

Hope you also find some inspiration in this week's 40 Hour Kit:

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💡 Entrepreneurial Insight

Your customers aren't just buyers; they're your best Research & Development team.
The challenge is to keep that loop alive so existing users tell you what to build next. Build with them, not just for them.

Based on insights shared by Giacomo Barone (bootstrapped co-founder of hiop, a Milan-based data-infrastructure startup with 10+ employees) during a 40HE Club Q&A.

⚖️ Balance Hack

Pair your most annoying tasks (e.g., repetitive cold outreach, admin, or bug fixing) with a pleasure you only allow yourself while doing them.
Set up a reward system for those tasks:

• The podcast you've been saving → only during admin work
• Your best coffee → only during cold outreach
• ...

Inspired by 'temptation bundling' from behavioral scientist Katy Milkman in her bestselling book 'How to Change'.​

🚀 Challenge

Often, the work you put in as a founder isn't reflected in the outcome you get. However, this week, focus entirely on your execution reps.

1. Name the dip: pick the one channel or project you're tempted to quit right now.
2. Double down: commit to one more week of consistent reps, as if it were already working.
3. Judge the reps, not the mood: at week's end, review what you've put in, not how it felt.

Based on lessons shared by Marvin Sangines (founder and creator who recently crossed 40k LinkedIn followers) in this post.​

✨ Recommendation

Vivien Wysocki (Co-Founder of the international fashion brand saint sass) shared six of her best productivity hacks:

1. Shiny Object Notebook: when ideas pop up mid-deep-work, drop them in a notebook beside you so your brain lets them go.
2. Physiological Sigh: two short inhales, one long exhale. Resets your nervous system before a hard call. (based on Andrew Huberman)
3. Reverse To-Do List: each night, write what you actually did, not what you planned.
4. "Shutdown Complete": note tomorrow's tasks, close the laptop, and say (or think) the phrase so your brain stops running in the background. (based on Cal Newport)
5. Friday Planning: plan next week on Friday afternoon, not Sunday at 8pm. Keep your weekend a weekend.
6. Minimum Viable Day: pick the three things that make today a success. Three wins you hit beat ten you miss.

Based on a LinkedIn post by successful founder Vivien Wysocki.

❓ Question for you to ask another Entrepreneur

If you designed your way of life first and your business second, what's the first thing you'd change about how you work tomorrow?

Have a great week!

-Fabiano

Grow together with other founders - without sacrificing your lifestyle.

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​Read past 40 Hour Kits here.