Old advice vs. how it works now
Take advice everyone repeats, show why it no longer works, then lay out what you would do instead.
The hook
Contrast a simplistic, outdated checklist for achieving a goal with a reality check based on your experience, stating that the landscape has fundamentally changed.
Structure
[Outdated Checklist] -> [Reality Check] -> [Core Foundation Acknowledgment] -> [Numbered Modern Pillars] -> [Unifying Paradigm Shift] -> [Casual Closing]
The Outdated Formula
List 4-5 traditional or oversimplified steps people assume are enough to succeed, followed by a brief line expressing wishful thinking.
The Credibility & Reality Check
Establish your authority by citing your experience across various roles, then state clearly that the domain has fundamentally evolved.
The Modern Pillars
Provide a numbered list of essential modern requirements. For each point, contrast bad habits with what actually builds long-term trust and success.
The Unifying Paradigm Shift
Synthesize the list into a single core lesson, showing how the primary goal is no longer just one department's job but an integrated effort.
Casual Closing
End with a brief, personable sign-off or action-oriented closing remark.
Tone
Conversational, authoritative, pragmatic, and forward-looking
Best for
Pushing back on outdated advice in your field.
The original post
Building a company in 2026 is not just: build product run ads hire sales post one company update pray to the LinkedIn algorithm I wish it was that simple. After working with startups, founders, indie makers, and now Chatbase, I think the way companies are built has completely changed. A great product is still the base. But it’s not the whole game anymore. 1. You need great customer support. Because customers don’t only judge you by the feature they bought. They judge you when something breaks, when they’re confused, when they need help, when they’re trying to convince their team, when they’re close to giving up. That’s where trust is built. 2. You need marketing built around community. Not “we launched a campaign, please clap.” Actual community. - People using the product. - People talking about it. - People giving feedback. - People feeling like they are part of the story. 3. You need to be strong on socials. And I don’t mean posting “we are excited to announce” once every 3 weeks and disappearing. I mean showing what you are building. - The wins. - The lessons. - The customers. - The product. - The weird behind-the-scenes moments that somehow become the best posts. 4. You need sales that knows how to niche. Not “we can help every company on planet Earth.” That sounds nice, but it usually means no one knows who you’re actually for. The best sales teams understand the exact customer, the exact pain, and the exact reason they need this now. 5. You need retention. Because growth is not only getting new customers. It’s taking care of the ones who already trusted you with their money, their workflow, and sometimes their whole support operation. 6. You need dream builders. People who have ideas, but also ship them. 7. You need a founder who bets on the future. Not someone waiting until everyone agrees. Someone who sees where the world is going and starts building before it becomes obvious. 8. And honestly, you need employees who are active on socials too. Not in a forced “everyone must become a LinkedIn creator by Friday” way. But in a real way. - People sharing what they’re building. - What they’re learning. - What customers are saying. - What the company is becoming. Because in 2026, distribution is not one department. It’s the founder. The team. The customers. The community. The product. Everything. PS... I got my coffee. Let’s do this. Happy Monday.