#23. Speed, Strategy & Smart Execution: How to Build an Unstoppable Career ⚡
From launching businesses to outpacing mediocrity—this is how winners think and act.
Welcome to the 23rd Free edition of More than Buzzwords—your weekly dose of sharp, experience-backed startup wisdom! 🚀
If you're a founder, early-stage operator, ambitious employee, or someone looking to sharpen your business instincts, this edition is packed with insights on launching startups, making yourself indispensable at work, and spotting game-changing opportunities before others do.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside:
🔹 Building & Scaling, One Tweet at a Time – Actionable business insights from top founders and operators, distilled from X.
🔹 Spotlight on a Startup – Looking at how Infra.Market is streamlining supply chains and disrupting an outdated sector with tech and execution.
🔹 The Subscription Playbook – A breakdown of Subscription Value Loop and the 10 key levers used by Duolingo, Spotify, and other top players to grow and retain users.
Let’s get started! 👇
Founders Spill the Secrets 🤫
Not all business lessons are taught in business schools—the best ones come from real-world players who have spent years in the industry, learning through trial and error, failed projects, big wins, even bigger losses, and ultimately, finding their way to sustainable success.
Every week, I bring insights from such pros on X.com straight to your inbox.
Today’s lineup is especially useful for founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage employees and operators, and literally everyone who wants to make themselves indispensable. Let’s begin! 🚩
#1 Three Ways to Win in Business 💡
Three options for starting a business:
1) Solve a problem better than others (execution risk)
2) Solve a problem no one knew existed (product-market risk)
3) Solve a problem everyone knows about but is hard to solve (technical risk)
Surest money in 1. Biggest money in 2 & 3.
In this tweet, Alex Hormozi breaks down three distinct ways to start a business—and why each path comes with its own payoff.
👉 #1 is where most people start—solving a known problem better than others. It’s less risky and offers more predictable returns, making it a safe starting point.
👉 But #2 and #3 are where the big wins happen—solving unknown or technically difficult problems is where game-changers and industry disruptors emerge. That’s where trends are set, and market leaders are built.
Sure, low-risk options (#1) give you stability—but the biggest money and breakthroughs come from taking on higher-risk plays (#2 and #3).
If you're afraid of risk, you'll stay in your comfort zone. But here’s the truth: growth thrives on risk.
The key is knowing your capacity for risk and choosing a path that aligns with both your ambition and appetite for uncertainty.
This tweet is a reminder that while playing it safe might get you steady returns, stepping into uncertainty is where real breakthroughs happen. Are you ready to take that leap? 🚀
#2. How to Not Be a Mediocre Employee 🙅
If you are just starting out, you need to realize one thing:
Your job is to make a company more money than they pay you.
It is up to you to build skills that can create profit for your employer.
The most basic ones:
- Become proficient at Microsoft Excel.
- Be a short and succinct communicator.
- Be eager to learn and demand more work when you're finished with what you're working on.
- Respond to emails and Slack messages QUICKLY.
- Never say "no" to a task that needs to be done.
Harder ones:
- Learn how to solve problems without asking your boss for help.
- Figure out where the leverage is and which 20% of activities drive 80% of the results. Do more of the 20%.
- Proactively pitch and implement new ideas that can make the company more money. These could be new ideas for marketing, sales, technology, etc.
- Work to create or refine repeatable processes and playbooks inside the business.
- Learn to manage and build a team so your department's productivity can improve.
- Think 3-6 months ahead and plan and build for the future state of the business.
Take it upon yourself to learn these things and practice them over and over again or you will experience a lot of mediocrity in your career.
This tweet hits hard—and honestly, it’s the reality check most people need.
Running a business isn’t for everyone, but being a great employee? That’s a choice you take. If you’re just showing up, doing what you’re told, and waiting for someone to hand you opportunities—you’re setting yourself up for mediocrity.
And let’s be real—no one wants to retain a mediocre employee. You’ll be the first one to see the exit doors as soon as something goes downhill.
The basics are simple but powerful: get good at Excel, communicate clearly, respond quickly, and take on extra work without being asked.
But the real game-changer? It’s about thinking beyond your job description. Identify the most effective ways to do more with less—and double down on those. Solve problems without running to your boss.
Pitch ideas that make the company more money. Build systems that make everyone’s job easier.
It’s not about working harder—it’s about making yourself indispensable. If you’re still waiting to be told what to do, you’re already behind.
Step up, figure things out, and make it impossible for your employer to ignore you. That’s how you stop being mediocre—and start getting ahead.
#3 From Crisis to Breakthrough: How Action Sparks Opportunity 🚀
Today marks five years and two days since COVID was declared a global pandemic.
Why does that date matter? Because on March 13 2020, just two days later, over 67,000 people signed up to Shopify in a single day.
That day, 67,000 people either became overnight entrepreneurs, started new ventures or pivoted their businesses online in response to the crisis. In less than 48 hours. That’s hustle. That’s the entrepreneurial spirit. These stories will never cease to inspire me. Opportunity is always out there, if you’re paying attention.
This tweet serves as a wake-up call for people who keep waiting for the "perfect moment" to start—and eventually lose their golden idea to hesitation or overthinking.
Resilience and quick action can turn a crisis into an opportunity.
67,000 people didn’t sit around waiting for things to get better—they adapted, moved fast, and took a leap when the world was falling apart. That’s the entrepreneurial spirit in action.
The truth is, opportunity doesn’t come with a warning sign—you have to spot it and act before it slips away.
#4 If Fast Execution Isn’t Enough, What Is? 🤔
@hnshah
The biggest bottleneck isn’t execution speed. It’s the lag between action and feedback. If you optimize for speed to feedback, everything else gets easier.
This tweet nails an often-overlooked truth: It’s not just about how fast you execute—it’s about how quickly you course-correct. Speed to feedback is everything.
The faster you get input, the faster you can adjust, improve, and get closer to your goal.
Think about it: if you’re driving with no road signs, you might be moving fast, but you have no idea if you’re headed in the right direction. Feedback is that road sign—it tells you if you’re on track or need to pivot.
Tighten those feedback loops, act on insights quickly, and you’ll find that progress becomes not just faster, but smarter.
That’s it for this week’s tweets! Which one did you find the most impactful? Let us know in the comments!
Now that we've explored some powerful insights, let’s turn our focus to a startup that’s transforming the construction industry.
Spotlight on a Startup: Infra.market 🏗️
The Startup Reshaping India’s Construction Industry 🚧
The construction industry is one of the oldest and most complex sectors—fragmented supply chains, inefficient procurement, and outdated processes make it a tough space to navigate.
But that’s exactly where Infra.Market, founded by Souvik Sengupta and Aaditya Sharda, is making a massive impact.
This India-based building materials platform is integrating technology across the entire construction value chain, from procurement and manufacturing to warehousing and logistics.
By leveraging data and tech, they’ve built a one-stop solution for real estate developers, contractors, architects, and distributors to source high-quality materials seamlessly.
And they’re not just another marketplace. Infra.Market owns 250+ manufacturing plants and warehouses, giving them greater control over quality, pricing, and delivery timelines—something the traditional construction industry typically struggles with.
Wondering how Infra.Market is changing the game? Infra.Market isn't just digitizing procurement; it’s streamlining the entire ecosystem with cutting-edge technology. Their platform allows users to:
✅ Browse and select from a vast portfolio of construction materials—concrete, steel, tiles, bath fittings, sanitaryware, wood, paints, plumbing, and much more.
✅ Place and track orders seamlessly, ensuring transparency in supply chains.
✅ Ensure smooth logistics and timely deliveries using their advanced network of third-party logistics providers.
With a presence across India, Infra.Market has scaled rapidly, disrupting an industry that has long relied on outdated processes.
What makes Infra.Market stand out is its in-house technology stack, designed to optimize operations and improve efficiency at scale. Here are some of their key tech innovations:
🚀 Elevate – An influencer app.
🚀 POH Ops Hub – A logistics and operations management tool.
🚀 PRR Phoenix Risk Radar – A credit management system.
🚀 Rise – A dealer app.
By combining technology, execution, and a strong supply chain, they’ve built a company that not only delivers materials but also helps businesses run smoother, faster, and more profitably.
Infra.Market isn’t just about everyday construction projects; they’ve been a part of some of the most high-profile infrastructure developments in India. Their materials have been used in landmark projects like:
🏗 Delhi Metro
🏗 Kempegowda International Airport
🏗 Adani LNG Terminal
🏗 NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) Projects
These aren’t just any projects—these are large-scale, high-impact developments that require top-notch quality, reliability, and efficiency.
As one of India’s fastest-growing startups, Infra.Market is now preparing for the next big leap—its IPO. In January 2025, the company raised a pre-IPO round of ₹1,050 Cr ($121 Mn) at a valuation of $2.8 Bn (₹24,150 Cr).
The round saw participation from top investors like Tiger Global, Foundamental GmbH, and Evolvence, signaling strong confidence in the company’s potential.
With rapid expansion, strong financial backing, and a game-changing approach, Infra.Market is all set to redefine how the construction industry operates—not just in India, but eventually, on a global scale.
For a sector that has historically struggled with fragmentation and inefficiencies, Infra.Market is proving that with the right tech, right execution, and the right mindset, even the toughest industries can be transformed. And they’re just getting started. 🚀
I love writing and discussing business strategies, but I love reading about them even more. Case studies and growth stories of industry giants keep me hooked on weekends—fueling new ideas for both this newsletter and my LinkedIn content.
This week, I stumbled upon an old edition of Lenny’s Newsletter, and it’s one of those gems I had to share with you. It breaks down The Subscription Value Loop—a framework that explains how top consumer subscription businesses like Duolingo, Spotify, Tinder, and Calm grow and sustain their user base.
💡 How Top Apps Scale Profitably: The Subscription Value Loop By Lenny 🔄
Growing Subscriptions: The Ultimate Challenge in B2C 🚀
Launching a consumer subscription business is easy. Scaling it? That’s where the real challenge lies.
The perks? These businesses don’t need large sales teams, have rapid purchasing cycles, and enjoy high margins with low incremental costs. But the downsides? Low ARPU, high churn, fierce competition, and dependence on paid marketing.
That’s why only a handful of subscription-based apps have ever hit $1B+ valuations—think Duolingo, Coursera, Bumble, Robinhood, and Spotify.
So, how do the best in the game crack the code? The Subscription Value Loop.
The Subscription Value Loop 🔄
This framework explains how consumer subscription apps scale efficiently by reinforcing three core pillars:
👉 Value Creation: Quickly connecting new users to the app’s core value (e.g., Tinder instantly helping you match with people).
👉 Value Delivery: Distributing the app efficiently through SEO, word-of-mouth, and sustainable paid acquisition (not just throwing money at ads).
👉 Value Capture: Converting free users into subscribers—fueling the cycle by reinvesting revenue into more growth.
As businesses refine this loop, LTV increases, CAC decreases, Payback Period comes down, and growth accelerates. Unlike traditional B2B models, subscription apps don’t rely on sales teams—the product itself has to sell and retain users.
10 Levers to Scale Subscription Apps 📈
1️⃣ Nail the Core Value Promise: If 40%+ of users say they’d be “very disappointed” without your app, you’re onto something. Double down on the features that keep them coming back.
2️⃣ Optimize Pricing: Use psychological pricing tactics to find the sweet spot between “bargain” and “too expensive.” Ask questions like:
At what price does this feel like a bargain?
At what price does it start to feel expensive?
At what price would you question its quality?
3️⃣ Streamline Onboarding: Speed matters. The faster users reach the “aha” moment, the higher the retention. Onboarding flows should be optimized for speed to value with:
Single sign-in
Personalized onboarding quizzes
Motivational screens and social proof
4️⃣ Leverage Web Flows: Many top apps now convert users via web before moving them to mobile. This bypasses app store fees (saving 15-30%) and gives teams better data for optimizing conversions.
5️⃣ Improve Paywall Visibility: Experiment with when (and how often) users see your premium offerings. Users should see the premium value multiple times before deciding to subscribe.
6️⃣ Distinguish and Emphasize Your Premium Value Promise: Freemium apps should make it obvious why upgrading is worth it. The goal is to highlight premium benefits without giving away too much for free.
7️⃣ Reduce Involuntary Churn: One of the biggest revenue leaks comes from failed payments—not user intent. Common causes include: expired credit cards, insufficient funds, payment gateway issues, and processing errors.
Apps like Spotify reduce churn by proactively reminding users to update payment info, offering grace periods, and supporting local payment methods.
8️⃣ Gamify Retention: Streaks, badges, and leaderboards (like Duolingo) keep users hooked and engaged.
9️⃣ Boost Word-of-Mouth: Paid ads are expensive—organic referrals are gold. Apps like Spotify, Tinder, and Strava thrive on viral loops—make it easy for users to refer.
🔟 Use Activity-Based Discounts: Offer strategic time-limited discounts to users who don’t convert immediately.
At its core, scaling a consumer subscription business isn’t just about getting new users—it’s about keeping them. If you’re working on a subscription-based product (or just curious about how the biggest players do it), Lenny’s framework is a must-read.
This brings us to the end of this edition of More than Buzzwords. I hope you found some tactical insights and valuable tips to kickstart or progress in your career in this newsletter.
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