let's make great!

The Experience Of Exile

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 07:30:45 -0800

Just before the global financial crisis in 2007, I decided to work abroad in Shanghai. I was 23, still looking for a career path and wanting to see the world too, so China seemed like the perfect adventure. Coincidently, one year later, and just as that economic crisis peaked, I also learned that the employer would not renew my contract. I was let go.

It shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did. I enjoyed the work, had strong performance reviews, and was appreciated by colleagues. So I was struck by a chaotic mix of emotions: shock, anger, sadness… and the confusing terror of suddenly being alone in a foreign country. Should I stay? Should I go? Where? To do what? How? I experienced crying fits that I couldn’t explain.

It's only now that I see that this displacement touched something much deeper… I lost my sense of self worth, my purpose, identity, and social connection. I wasn’t part of a group anymore. It felt as if all the collegial friendships, energy, and projects… meant nothing, as if my very personhood wasn’t wanted.

Layoffs are a kind of corporate exile.

Mass layoffs are now an everyday economic phenomenon; inflated by over-hiring during the pandemic, exacerbated by economic strain and the rise of AI. Tech companies alone have cut tens of thousands of roles, as automation eats into “safe” white-collar work, and investors demand ever more efficiency.

Despite my personal experience, I had grown numb to such headlines. I was only reminded recently, having witnessed the immediate devastation of a friend’s layoff… the uncontrollable tears, shame, and questions. Mass layoffs aren’t simply cost centers wiped off a balance sheet, but a disruption of actual human lives, thousands of them, many with families; each now facing an...Read More

What Happens After A.I. Destroys College Writing?

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 08:32:49 -0800

I started teaching at a masters program this year and it saddened me anytime I suspected a student of writing with AI.

Not because they shouldn't use AI to help them... but because my assigned task was often a personal reflection:

- what they were learning about entrepreneurship that moment,

- how they think of themselves as a founder,

- why they see the world the way they do.

I was asking them to figure out who they are as entrepreneurs, as impact makers, as young people. And often, I got back generic musings with no personality, no deeper revelation, no inner conflict. And in my 20 years of work, I've never met a good creative who didn't have some level of inner conflict or insight. And while AI can help us check the box, mimicking the work, it will not do the INNER work for us.

Yet, it's also too easy to label these AI-enhanced students as cheaters, to hate them, to punish and eject them from the system. That's the quick reaction.

I find it hard to despise them because I was once them... I too have "cheated" in the past... not with AI, but the tools of my day.

Back then, I felt university wasn't for me... the strict rules, large lecture halls, sitting still for hours, listening passively, theoretical frameworks that felt disconnected from reality, emphasis on memorization and marks, depersonalized relationships with the institution. I felt stupid! Why couldn't I perform in the way that so many of my peers did seemingly so easily?

Eventually, I realized that learning and the education system were two different things. I didn't take the path of continued education, pursuing the next certificate... but instead, I pursued my curiosities.

I applied...Read More

What to do with a seed of an startup

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 07:29:05 -0700

When Isabel came to see me she had draft of a slide deck, a full-throated passion, and one big question: Could a community-driven modern health lounge work?

Her CV read like a tour through modern luxury. French skincare, Swiss FMCG, a stint at a venture-backed luxury marketplace in Tokyo—each move sharpened her sense of brand and scale. What grabbed her heart, though, was the consistent ritual of infrared sauna sessions she’d tried while traveling. The recovery benefits were great, but the spaces felt transactional. Everyone booked a slot, sweated alone, and bolted. “Surely other people want more than five quiet minutes scrolling on their phones,” she told me.

So a plan took shape in her mind: renovate a studio in Berlin or Copenhagen with six individual sauna pods, referral-only membership, and a small lounge where guests could cool down together over electrolyte mocktails. Price point? Forty to sixty euros per visit, right in the boutique-wellness range. Total capital required? Roughly €180K for pods, renovation, and a year of rent.

The only problem: this was cash she didn’t have. That's where I met her: full of confidence, passion, and a business model mapped out, she felt sure this was a solid startup and was looking for advice around next steps.

I laid it out plainly: investors don’t fund concepts, they fund evidence. Even with her top notch CV, this was never going to be a blitzscaling tech startup and capital has tightened up dramatically the past few years. So surveys and a clever pitch deck wouldn’t cut it anymore. Instead, she needed real-world validation: quick, cheap, and measurable.

I advised her to go to cafés near boutique gyms. Strike up conversations with the kind of people who treat wellness like a sacred hobby. Run a pop-up weekend by renting...Read More

What book do you have hidden inside of you?

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:57:33 -0700

Everyone has a book hidden inside their head. I truly believe this. The difficulty is that actually writing one feels like a monumental task.

Even for those who are super creative and literary-oriented, there are countless questions and challenges. It can seem like an absolutely herculean project, something reserved exclusively for "special" people: gifted writers, born authors, wordsmiths who dedicate years of their lives to such endeavors.

But I assure you, I'm not such a special person. Yet, I'm insanely proud of "Awrignawl Creativity." So here’s the unvarnished process of how I did it—without the inspirational hype. I'm laying the entire project out in excruciating detail, specifically for curious founders and emerging writers.

Intention: Why I Chose to Write

Having zero social media presence in 2016, I saw how challenging it was to promote PROTO beyond our Kickstarter campaign. Sure, our crowdfunding was successful, but rallying people and grabbing their attention was surprisingly difficult.

Furthermore, in 2017 my ideas on creativity were scattered across hundreds of workshops, countless coffee chats, and inspirational—but ephemeral—talks. They were useful but fragmented and difficult to reference. So ultimately, social media writing promised three critical benefits at once:

Gravity – a central place to explore and store all my ideas clearly,
Branding – as people saw our posts daily, it helped strengthened the Let’s Make Great! brand and kept us stop of mind,
Mission – we genuinely wanted to see creativity flourish in China and having a...Read More

Validation Pyramid for Early Stage Founders

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 08:21:19 -0800

The Situation: Every first-time founder has been there

You have an idea... You’ve talked it over with a few friends, maybe even showed an early MVP around, and the response has been encouraging. But now you’re wondering if this initial buzz translates to something deeper—something like Product-Market Fit. How do you know if you’re truly on the right track, or if you're just riding a wave of polite enthusiasm?

One of the key challenges for early founders is understanding how to validate an idea effectively. Too often, founders get stuck overthinking the process, craving validation but not knowing what really counts. Many mistake surface-level interest for genuine traction. To provide a structured path forward, we’ve created a Validation Pyramid to help gauge real interest and commitment—offering a practical guide for evaluating your startup's progress.

The Challenge: Why Validating an Idea Feels So Difficult

Validation can be ambiguous, confusing and terrifying. Let's dig into each aspect:

The Process: First-time founders might not even know where to start. Who should they talk to? Where do these users come from? What questions should they ask? It’s easy to get overwhelmed with feedback, making it hard to identify what's meaningful.
Fears of Many...Read More

How to Deal with Client Rejection

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:01:17 -0700

The Problem: A Pattern of Rejection
My client "Mark" received the dreaded message: "We're going with another vendor." It was disappointing and frustrating — not just because rejection hurts, but because he spent countless hours researching, preparing for that potential client. He even asked others for help, and now it felt like all that work was wasted. Where should he focus next?
All Mark cared about was helping others enter his market. He was just transitioning into consulting but felt lost in the maze of uncertainty. After this last rejection, he reached out to work through this painful struggle.

The Insight: The Hidden Struggle Behind Overdelivering
Prior to consulting, Mark had been running another business for well over a decade. Consulting seemed like a natural next step—he was often asked for his advice and was passionate about helping others grow their businesses. He aimed to build his consulting practice part-time as he wound down his trading activities.
However, Mark didn’t know how to position himself, and he was trying all types of tactics—each with very little success. After a few sessions, it became clear: Mark’s real struggle was deeper than just tactics. He lacked confidence in himself and in his expertise.
He doubted...Read More

Letting AI be My boss

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:01:51 -0700

My friend Adrian shared a post about an AI-powered boss — a digital overseer to manage your work schedule, enhance productivity, and eliminate the stress of decision-making. I could almost hear him screech through WhatsApp, "Hey machine, take away my freedom to choose!" After all, he is a fervent creative, rebellious spirit, and decidedly anti-authoritarian.

I didn't have such strong feelings, but it presented a tasty thought experiment: if such a service existed, should I consider it? There were wide swaths of my work week lost to distraction and AI has been such a revelation. So why not? When would it be appropriate to let AI take control? What does this reveal about our values, priorities, and our ability to live meaningful lives? Why do we feel both drawn and uneasy about this idea?
The seemingly inevitable possibility of an AI boss and...Read More

Don't Hire a Coach: 10 Alternatives for Growth Minded Founders

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 08:45:23 -0700

Hey founder,
I get it—you’re ambitious, an overthinker, and constantly trying to level up. You've heard about hiring a coach, and maybe it's even been recommended to you. But whether it's the cost, the commitment, or just not feeling ready to open up to someone, coaching may not be right for you, right now. And that’s okay.
This isn’t reverse psychology. I believe it's possible — to build, grow, thrive — without hiring a coach. In fact, it might even be better for you in the long run. It’s more sustainable and can open up growth in ways you couldn’t imagine. You’ll gain a deeper sense of self-awareness, develop stickier habits and create a foundation for long-term success. And if you can integrate 3+ practices below, it’s probably even better than having a coach.

Growth Without a Coach
While a coach can help you grow, gain clarity, and boost your confidence, you can still find similar value through a few key practices and tools. Here are some alternatives to try, on your own terms.

Virtual Mentoring Platforms
Find mentors virtually, at free or low cost. Consider joining entrepreneurial communities or mentors who understand your challenges. Platforms like ADP List, Growth Mentor, Founders Network, and Indie Hackers are great for getting specific advice, when you need it. These communities provide access to professionals who offer direct, timely feedback—which can be...Read More

You have an idea… now what?

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:31:13 -0700

Entrepreneurship is often romanticized as a journey filled with groundbreaking ideas and moments of inspiration. However, the reality of being an entrepreneur is much more about problem-solving, persistence, and constant learning. This was the core message of the initial NOVA University's Haddad student acceleration journey, titled "Makers in the Making."
Led by Brian Tam, CEO of Let's Make Great!, the workshop focused on teaching aspiring entrepreneurs the essential mindsets, practices, and steps to go from idea to execution. Here's a recap of the key lessons learned.
Falling in Love with the Problem
The workshop kicked off with a quote from Ash Maurya, the author of Running Lean: "Fall in love with the problem, not the solution." If you can't talk about your problem without getting bored, this might not be the right problem for you to solve. This passion is crucial for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Too often, entrepreneurs become attached to their initial ideas and solutions, overlooking whether the problem they aim to solve actually exists or is significant. Brian emphasized the importance of immersing yourself in understanding the problem before jumping to solutions. After all, successful entrepreneurs are problem solvers first and foremost.

The Problem is Essential
Talking about the problem is not just an academic exercise—it’s a critical step in building a successful startup. Studies show that 35% of startups fail because there’s no market need for their product. This highlights the importance of thoroughly understanding and defining the problem before creating a solution.
Problems are the building blocks of value. By deeply understanding a problem, you can develop a compelling value proposition that addresses a real pain point. Clarifying the problem early on is not only...Read More

top 10 questions Before coaching

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 02:08:12 -0700

Coaching can be a powerful addition to a startup — but how do you know if Let's Make Great! is right for you? Well, here are the top 10 questions founders ask before they dive into our work together... from the practical to the philosophical!

What Is Your Coaching Style?
My coaching style is collaborative, adaptive, and empathetic. I believe the answers lie within you, and my role is to help uncover and amplify those insights through thoughtful questioning, reflection, and strategic guidance. I combine objective observation, motivational coaching, and the occasional challenging question to push you forward. Additional resources: Testimonials | My Writing

Will You Give Me Direct Advice?
My goal is to help you discover your own best path forward, rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions. I may share insights or experiences that are relevant, but my focus is on empowering you to find answers that align with your unique circumstances. When it comes to practical matters—like tools or resources—I’m happy to share specific...Read More