Writing by Ben Sampsonhttps://www.bensampson.co/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/a-high-bias-for-action-bens-1x1x1-february-14-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/a-high-bias-for-action-bens-1x1x1-february-14-2025/There are a lot of great traits to look for in the people you surround yourself with, but the standout for me recently is a high bias for action.Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/belly-to-belly-bens-1x1x1-august-22-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/belly-to-belly-bens-1x1x1-august-22-2025/We live in a world where “connecting” means staring into a 2-inch Zoom box while pretending you don’t look at yourself the whole time.Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1---april-16-2024---this-company-is-going-to-kill-my-business/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1---april-16-2024---this-company-is-going-to-kill-my-business/This company is going to kill my business — and why a good competitor is the best thing that can happen to you.Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1---august-16-2024---embracing-rejection/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1---august-16-2024---embracing-rejection/Rejection sucks. Or at least it did for me for a long time.Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1---may-31-2024---our-super-power/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1---may-31-2024---our-super-power/Our Super Power - Speed In Testing 🐇 This mindset has probably saved us millions of $ in time and money.Fri, 31 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-a-love-letter-to-useless-side-projects-april-3-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-a-love-letter-to-useless-side-projects-april-3-2026/I think going all-in on one thing is borderline magic.Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-august-2-2024-back-in-the-trough/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-august-2-2024-back-in-the-trough/I looked at 38 businesses this week for potential acquisition targets. Many have a business that is dramatically different than the business they set out to start.Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-august-23-2024-how-much-does-it-cost-to-buy-a-ski-park/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-august-23-2024-how-much-does-it-cost-to-buy-a-ski-park/OMG OMG! Our local ski park Mt. Bachelor just went up for sale. This is super interesting to me. I mean, how cool would it be to own your local ski park with the right investor group/partner?!Fri, 23 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-august-30-2024-sales-trainwreck-to-sales-ninja/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-august-30-2024-sales-trainwreck-to-sales-ninja/5 Sales Hacks: How to Flip the Script, Listen More, and Close Deals Like a ProFri, 30 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-august-9-2024-losing-mindsets-are-toxic/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-august-9-2024-losing-mindsets-are-toxic/Losing mindsets are as toxic as the hot pocket I consumed yesterday. Maybe the olympics are wearing off on me, but I have been obsessed with the idea of winning mindsets recently.Fri, 09 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-be-the-barnacle-october-31-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-be-the-barnacle-october-31-2025/I've been obsessed with platform tailwinds after coming across a few Shopify apps that have had loads of organic success.Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-deal-fell-through-september-19-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-deal-fell-through-september-19-2025/It takes a lot of alignment and magic to get an M&A deal to close. Over the last 2 months, I pushed really hard to purchase a business in the agriculture sector.Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-dont-mess-it-up-june-19-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-dont-mess-it-up-june-19-2026/One of my favorite business strategies is: Don’t mess it up.Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-double-black-diamond-businesses-january-23-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-double-black-diamond-businesses-january-23-2026/This has been my 13in screen for the last few weeks. Just terminals. Just building.Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-enjoying-the-journey-and-accidentally-becoming-patient-february-6-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-enjoying-the-journey-and-accidentally-becoming-patient-february-6-2026/For most of my life as a founder, my operating system was simple: Move. Faster.Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-find-your-growth-mindset-peeps-october-17-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-find-your-growth-mindset-peeps-october-17-2025/I spent the week in Mexico with a few gents who geek out on business as hard as I do.Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-gratitude-for-america-july-3-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-gratitude-for-america-july-3-2026/Given we’re celebrating 250 years of America this week, I thought it’d be fun to take a break from business and write about something I’m genuinely grateful for.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-history-for-happiness-march-27-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-history-for-happiness-march-27-2026/History is undefeated. I meet with a lot of founders and lately there’s a theme:Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-how-the-hell-did-i-get-here-february-19-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-how-the-hell-did-i-get-here-february-19-2026/Have you ever started a business…and then woken up 2 years later like: How the hell did I get here?”Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-how-to-get-recommended-by-chatgpt-september-12-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-how-to-get-recommended-by-chatgpt-september-12-2025/I talk to 6+ companies a week about growth, marketing, and how to stop feeling like their sales pipeline is a tumbleweed blowing through town.Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-i-love-being-the-dumb-beginner-may-28-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-i-love-being-the-dumb-beginner-may-28-2026/Being a beginner is an absolute blast. No expectations. No massive performance goals. No pretending you have it all figured out. Just pure: “Alright… let’s see what happens.”Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-is-swallowing-words-of-frustration-and-pretending-to-be-calm-a-superpower-october-10-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-is-swallowing-words-of-frustration-and-pretending-to-be-calm-a-superpower-october-10-2025/Building a business in health, AI, and fast-moving tech? Yeah, I really went for the "extra spicy" difficulty level.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-its-live-march-6-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-its-live-march-6-2026/This week I finally released my app, Luna.Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-ive-got-nothing-may-1-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-ive-got-nothing-may-1-2026/Well… this has been my notebook for the last 30 minutes. A whole lot of… nothing.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-japans-great-business-sale-october-24-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-japans-great-business-sale-october-24-2025/Japan has a record number of small businesses for sale right now.Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-july-12-2024-shots-on-goal/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-july-12-2024-shots-on-goal/My business partner and I have a lot of weaknesses. But amidst our graveyard of weaknesses, I think we have a few strengths. One of our greatest strengths - we take a lot of shots on goal.Fri, 12 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-july-19-2024-red-ocean-strategy/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-july-19-2024-red-ocean-strategy/As entrepreneurs, we all dream of the blue ocean. Not the blue ocean that you can see from your vacation villa in Tahiti (maybe next year Ben). We dream of the blue ocean for business that has few to no competitors.Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-july-26-2024-i-looked-at-38-businesses-this-week-my-take-away/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-july-26-2024-i-looked-at-38-businesses-this-week-my-take-away/I looked at 38 businesses this week for potential acquisition targets. Many have a business that is dramatically different than the business they set out to start.Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-july-5-2024-inspired-to-give/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-july-5-2024-inspired-to-give/The fact that my cousin is 29 and has this thriving business is not what was inspirational. The inspiration, was that he is 29 and is already aggressively giving back.Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-june-14-2024-you-want-how-much-for-this-business/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-june-14-2024-you-want-how-much-for-this-business/Getting your dog groomed isn't the only thing that's expensive these days. Businesses are expensive!Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-june-21-2024-legacy-businesses/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-june-21-2024-legacy-businesses/I've been thinking a lot about legacy businesses recently. Basically the business equivalent of a family heirloom that doesn't gather dust.Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-june-7-2024-my-most-productive-120-minutes/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-june-7-2024-my-most-productive-120-minutes/You lose 36% of your investment in GameStop. "Expected." Then, your dog somehow got into the neighbors yard and ate one of their chickens. "WTF?!" Then you get a flat tire on your way to work. "Classic."Fri, 07 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-just-say-yes-november-14-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-just-say-yes-november-14-2025/It's a fun time in the world of entrepreneurship. Mainly because you can build, research, and test faster than I can get through a season of the Silo (10/10, put it on your “avoid my responsibilities” list).Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-just-say-yes-november-6-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-just-say-yes-november-6-2025/Man… I’ve been on a losing streak lately. One of those “universe keeps kicking me in the shins” kind of weeksThu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-last-newsletter-of-the-year-december-19-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-last-newsletter-of-the-year-december-19-2025/I got calendar aggressive. Like… no longer a polite suggestion. More of a hostile takeover.Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-may-10-2024-mindset-hurtles/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-may-10-2024-mindset-hurtles/Shifting my mindset for better performance. Sometimes I feel like a race car driver that's building his car when the race is already 20 laps in. I'm in the wrong mindset in the wrong phase of the race.Fri, 10 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-may-17-2024-how-to-hire/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-may-17-2024-how-to-hire/This is what matters when it comes to hiring. There are so many things that make up a good hire. I try to keep my hiring methodology simple.Fri, 17 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-may-24-2024-fire-fast/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-may-24-2024-fire-fast/Once upon a time, I was terrible at firing. I would drag it out with the hope that the team member would improve, or maybe even quit before it came to a firing decision. This was a massive waste of time and money.Fri, 24 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-may-3-2024-no/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-may-3-2024-no/The hardest thing for me to say - No. I'm a yes man, and lately those yes man habits have been coming at a huge cost.Fri, 03 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-pistachio-farms-october-2-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-pistachio-farms-october-2-2025/Ever get curious about how much an employee really does? Easy solution: just hijack their job for a week.Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-rapid-traffic-august-29-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-rapid-traffic-august-29-2025/The whole point: before I pour time and money into building a thing, I want to know if anyone on planet Earth actually wants it.Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-september-6-2024-how-we-4xd-mrr-in-8-months/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-september-6-2024-how-we-4xd-mrr-in-8-months/I love it when you can find little levers in a business that drive meaningful changes. One of our businesses Pono Ventures has been on a growth tear this year creating good (and some bad) results.Fri, 06 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-shoes-to-gpus-the-ultimate-pivot-april-17-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-shoes-to-gpus-the-ultimate-pivot-april-17-2026/We've all heard the term "pivot."Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-starting-a-business-make-sure-you-do-this-first-june-26-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-starting-a-business-make-sure-you-do-this-first-june-26-2026/I chat with a lot of young people (18-24 years old) that want to start their first business (and judging by my inbox, a lot of you read this newsletter 👋).Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-steal-my-morning-pep-talks-september-26-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-steal-my-morning-pep-talks-september-26-2025/At the very top, I write a little message to myself. A mini pep-talk.Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-steal-this-playbook-may-21-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-steal-this-playbook-may-21-2026/I love a good playbook. It makes this messy world of startups and business feel a little less chaotic.Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-the-egg-empire-that-trades-like-a-tech-stock-november-21-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-the-egg-empire-that-trades-like-a-tech-stock-november-21-2025/Let me confess something up front: I've been deep in an egg rabbit hole. Yes, that's a real sentence.Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-the-enchanted-forest-june-5-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-the-enchanted-forest-june-5-2026/Someone should go build this business. (And cut me in for 5% 😉)Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-the-infinite-game-april-24-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-the-infinite-game-april-24-2026/If you’re a founder, here’s your friendly reminder: You’re playing an infinite game.Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-the-milk-man-september-5-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-the-milk-man-september-5-2025/I've got a random thought for you all today. We have a 1-year-old. Which means we are buying A LOT of milk.Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-the-trough-of-sorrow-june-12-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-the-trough-of-sorrow-june-12-2026/Every entrepreneur eventually finds themselves in what Paul Graham calls The Trough of Sorrow.Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-what-am-i-up-to-this-year-january-9-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-what-am-i-up-to-this-year-january-9-2026/Like many of you who read this silly little newsletter, I use the last week of the year to reflect, zoom out, and get clear on how I actually want to spend my time in the year ahead (as opposed to how my calendar thinks I want to spend it).Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-what-it-takes-for-a-yes-february-13-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-what-it-takes-for-a-yes-february-13-2026/I've been saying a word that historically made me sweat a little.Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-whats-the-limiting-factor-march-13-2026/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-whats-the-limiting-factor-march-13-2026/For those of you that are new here, every week I send what I call a 1x1x1 — one thought, one interesting find, and one image from my life.Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-when-inspiration-strikes-act-on-it-december-12-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-when-inspiration-strikes-act-on-it-december-12-2025/I heard this quote the other day about how rare it is to find two things in life: quality businesses and quality people.Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-when-inspiration-strikes-act-on-it-december-5-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bens-1x1x1-when-inspiration-strikes-act-on-it-december-5-2025/I don’t know about you, but I get these bizarre pockets throughout the year where my output goes straight into video-game cheat code mode.Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/bison-lots-of-land-and-thousands-of-changes-bens-1x1x1-january-17-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/bison-lots-of-land-and-thousands-of-changes-bens-1x1x1-january-17-2025/Every week I send a 1x1x1: one thought, one find, and one image from my life.Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/brands-are-moats-bens-1x1x1-april-18-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/brands-are-moats-bens-1x1x1-april-18-2025/With the barriers to entry basically crumbling in most industries (like, your cousin Todd with a WiFi signal can prompt build a website and suddenly become a "tech bro”) you need to invest in moats.Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/coffee-and-inspo-bens-1x1x1-november-22-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/coffee-and-inspo-bens-1x1x1-november-22-2024/For those of you that are new here, every week I send what I call a 1x1x1.Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/i-hate-pulling-trains-uphill-bens-1x1x1-april-11-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/i-hate-pulling-trains-uphill-bens-1x1x1-april-11-2025/Why building in a shrinking market feels like dragging a locomotive uphill, and how picking the right TAM changes everything.Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/i-launched-a-print-newspaper-in-2025-on-purpose-1x1x1-july-18-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/i-launched-a-print-newspaper-in-2025-on-purpose-1x1x1-july-18-2025/Yup. Real ink. Real paper. Real people holding it in their hands.Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/i-need-your-help-bens-1x1x1-may-16-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/i-need-your-help-bens-1x1x1-may-16-2025/Alright everyone. This one's a little different than my usual Friday email. I want your feedback on a new project I've been diving deep into called Luna.Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/i-respect-the-endurance-bens-1x1x1-june-6-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/i-respect-the-endurance-bens-1x1x1-june-6-2025/I respect the endurance. Recently I've talked to a few founders who spent years in the startup desert. No product-market fit, no salary, no exit in sight. Just vibes and ramen.Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/im-making-wine-bens-1x1x1-october-11-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/im-making-wine-bens-1x1x1-october-11-2024/I share this all to say: if marketing feels like you're just setting cash on fire while whispering "please work" into the void, congrats, you're normal.Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/marketing-is-just-hard-bens-1x1x1-march-7-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/marketing-is-just-hard-bens-1x1x1-march-7-2025/I share this all to say: if marketing feels like you’re just setting cash on fire while whispering “please work” into the void, congrats, you’re normal.Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/my-100th-email-bens-1x1x1-february-6-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/my-100th-email-bens-1x1x1-february-6-2025/If this is your first email, don't worry, you're only 99 behind. I thought a lot about what to write today.Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/my-ai-bummer-post-bens-1x1x1-january-31-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/my-ai-bummer-post-bens-1x1x1-january-31-2025/AI is moving so fast it feels like I'm watching an avalanche, and my brain won't stop spinning.Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/my-favorite-bens-1x1x1-july-11-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/my-favorite-bens-1x1x1-july-11-2025/There's a lot that goes into building a business. Ideas, product-market fit, funding, growth… yada yada yada. But my favorite part?Fri, 11 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/my-momentum-hack-bens-1x1x1-may-9-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/my-momentum-hack-bens-1x1x1-may-9-2025/Every now and then, life hands you a “boss level” challenge. Big workload. Big problems. Big dreams. Big uh-oh. When that happens, I try to go full beast mode.Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/oatmeal-king-bens-1x1x1-december-20-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/oatmeal-king-bens-1x1x1-december-20-2024/We went to visit Bob's Red Mill! Yup - the oatmeal and flour company.Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/old-school-all-the-way-bens-1x1x1-june-13-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/old-school-all-the-way-bens-1x1x1-june-13-2025/I think it’s so easy to let AI take over… well, everything. It’s kind of like the first time I discovered Bitchin’ Sauce.Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/operational-excellence-bens-1x1x1-july-25-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/operational-excellence-bens-1x1x1-july-25-2025/At Pono, one of our core values is Operational Excellence, which sounds like something you'd find on a corporate mug, but I swear it actually means something around here.Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/personal-opinion-alert-being-a-solo-founder-sucks-bens-1x1x1-march-14-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/personal-opinion-alert-being-a-solo-founder-sucks-bens-1x1x1-march-14-2025/I’d trade all of that in a heartbeat to build cool stuff with cool people I love spending time with.Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/playing-the-long-game-bens-1x1x1-may-23-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/playing-the-long-game-bens-1x1x1-may-23-2025/My wife works for Workday. If you don't know Workday, it's a giant publicly traded company that does HR, payroll, and finance software for companies that actually read their employee handbooks.Fri, 23 May 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/purple-cows-bens-1x1x1-october-18-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/purple-cows-bens-1x1x1-october-18-2024/Purple cows are one of the greatest business/marketing strategies ever. So today I thought I would share 9 of my favorite purple cows.Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/solitude-reflection-growth-bens-1x1x1-october-4-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/solitude-reflection-growth-bens-1x1x1-october-4-2024/Last week, I did something a little different—I went on a solo retreat. Yup, just me, myself, and I.Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/stair-stepper-businesses-bens-1x1x1-december-6-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/stair-stepper-businesses-bens-1x1x1-december-6-2024/Stair stepper businesses. Just like all of us unique flowers, businesses grow in lots of different patterns.Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/super-human-contractors-bens-1x1x1-november-1-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/super-human-contractors-bens-1x1x1-november-1-2024/I LOVE building teams. It's one of the big reasons I love starting companies.Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-1-tool-in-my-bathroom-bens-1x1x1-january-10-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-1-tool-in-my-bathroom-bens-1x1x1-january-10-2025/Alright, I'm kicking humility to the curb today. My wife and I crushed our 2024 goals!Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-2nd-richest-family-in-the-world-bens-1x1x1-october-25-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-2nd-richest-family-in-the-world-bens-1x1x1-october-25-2024/I’m in Bentonville this week meeting with clients, spending time in person with the Pono Ventures team, and riding bikes. Since we’re in the land of Walmart’s HQ, I did a little dive on the Waltons.Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-anti-salesman-bens-1x1x1-november-15-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-anti-salesman-bens-1x1x1-november-15-2024/I had 8 sales meetings this week. 50% were belly to belly which I love. But I don't think of them as sales meetings.Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-creative-act-bens-1x1x1-april-25-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-creative-act-bens-1x1x1-april-25-2025/I don't paint. I don't write poetry. I believe that my form of art is really building businesses. Most of the businesses (especially the brands) are really just an extension of myself.Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-deal-team-assembleth-bens-1x1x1-august-8-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-deal-team-assembleth-bens-1x1x1-august-8-2025/After selling WeHero and The Impact Job, I did the logical next thing: I jumped to the other side of the table. The buyer's table.Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-journey-to-a-3-3m-property-bens-1x1x1-september-13-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-journey-to-a-3-3m-property-bens-1x1x1-september-13-2024/I'd get so fired up by the idea that I'd lose sight of what really matters — the outcomes.Fri, 13 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-last-5-bens-1x1x1-june-27-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-last-5-bens-1x1x1-june-27-2025/I always forget how brutal the last 5% of a project is. It's like the boss level you didn't train for.Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-man-who-taught-me-sales-bens-1x1x1-september-20-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-man-who-taught-me-sales-bens-1x1x1-september-20-2024/I was thinking recently about the people who've had the biggest impact on my life. The ones who shaped where I am today. One of those people is Skip Miller.Fri, 20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-oldest-company-in-the-world-bens-1x1x1-february-21-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-oldest-company-in-the-world-bens-1x1x1-february-21-2025/We're talking thousands of years old. Like... companies that were around before your ancestors figured out how to boil water.Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-ultimate-startup-bens-1x1x1-july-4-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-ultimate-startup-bens-1x1x1-july-4-2025/Sometimes I think about how the founding of America was basically a startup.Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-view-from-10-000-feet-bens-1x1x1-april-4-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/the-view-from-10-000-feet-bens-1x1x1-april-4-2025/Here's a weird phenomenon: when I'm running my own business, every decision feels like diffusing a bomb blindfolded.Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/this-idea-might-suck-heres-how-to-tell-bens-1x1x1-may-2-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/this-idea-might-suck-heres-how-to-tell-bens-1x1x1-may-2-2025/“When do you throw in the towel?” Honestly… this is the question that haunts every founder more than their bank balance.Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/this-simple-business-is-bringing-in-6-160-day-bens-1x1x1-september-27-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/this-simple-business-is-bringing-in-6-160-day-bens-1x1x1-september-27-2024/This simple business has been right under my nose for years quietly bringing in $6,160 / day.Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/what-if-we-did-it-differently--bens-1x1x1-may-30-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/what-if-we-did-it-differently--bens-1x1x1-may-30-2025/What if we did it differently? That's the question that keeps popping up in my head lately. Not "how do we scale faster?" Not "how do we raise a round?"Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/whos-your-hype-man-bens-1x1x1-february-28-2025/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/whos-your-hype-man-bens-1x1x1-february-28-2025/This dude, Mufasa, is not just fired up for Friday. He's got the greatest hype man of all time backing him up. And that got me thinking… Everyone needs a hype man.Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.bensampson.co/posts/you-pushed-out-to-the-world-bens-1x1x1-november-8-2024/https://www.bensampson.co/posts/you-pushed-out-to-the-world-bens-1x1x1-november-8-2024/This little side project is actually a decent business with a huge following raking in 700,000 visitors a day to the site with an audience of over 1 million people.Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT