might drop-out and start a rap career in singapore brb

Company

So, I sorta see Zip as two problems right now.

Problem #1: How can we grow the # of people paying for Zip at least +10%-20% week over week? What levers can we pull to reliably send traffic to Zip either by referrals, ads, or other more grassroot style strategies?

Problem #2: How do we make the product freaking awesome for existing users? How does Zip become a 10/10 service for the student?

If you were to ask my Y-Combinator partners they would say “Farza, these aren’t separate problems, you need to just focus on talking to your existing users and make your product awesome for them so you grow by word-of-mouth”.

And, they’re 100% right! But — I think it’s hard for me to combine the two problems in my head. Just personally.

Easier for me to think, “Okay — how is Zip growing this week?” and “Okay — how is Zip adding value for users this week?”.

The two are mega connected. And, the only way for Zip to keep the connection is just by talking to users. Those conversations largely dictate how we decided to attack both Problem #1 and Problem #2 every week.

Anyways. Open to feedback. This is just how I’m thinking about startups in general lately :).

Personal

Been feeling d0pe lately. Super high energy. Really motivated.

Just sticking to 4 good habits I came up with and follow 90% of the time. Doing wonders. Read 30m-60m a day. No food after ~5PM. Run 4 miles a day. In bed by ~9PM (the hardest one).

I’m also all moved into my new apartment. I have a TV (gotta watch Naruto in HD bro). I have a table to eat on (this is very new for me lol). I have some speakers to play music on. So hype. I’ve lived like a degenerate for the last 7 years so this is quite the change.

Yo Mama or Papa, if you’re reading this can one of you guys mail me some tea bags I can’t find the ones you usually use at home that are good I’ve looked everywhere and searched every damn Indian store in this god-forsaken city. Help a brother out fam.

Books

Reading The Happiness Hypothesis atm. Solid so far. 25% in.

Music

One of my favorite artists of all time, guccihighwaters, released a new album and it’s amazing. Here’s my favorite track off it: