Future Speech Test

A framework for improving your actions by imagining them as future speaking topics, inspired by Shaan Puri's experience at Bebo.

Core Concept

• Imagine your current work/actions as future speaking topics
• Frame daily tasks through lens of "how will this story be told?"
• Creates natural pressure to make actions more meaningful and interesting

Implementation

• Set aside 15% of budget specifically for "do cool shit"

  • Cannot have measurable immediate payoff
  • Keeps team engaged and amused
  • Maintains brand personality

• Evaluate tasks by asking:

  • How would this play in a future talk?
  • What story could this become?
  • How can this be made more "dope"?

Benefits

• Forces you to do more interesting versions of regular tasks
• Creates natural motivation to make work more compelling
• Helps maintain engagement in day-to-day operations
• Builds better stories and experiences organically
• Prevents cutting creative/interesting projects during budget crunches

Real Examples

• The Hustle's creative email marketing:
  • Writing entire emails in Trump's voice
  • Sending just a Johnny Cash middle finger photo
  • Publishing internal Slack conversations about mistakes

Key Principles

• Don't just do tasks - create stories worth telling
• Think about the narrative while executing
• Make regular work more interesting by considering its future telling
• Separate budget for creative/cool projects to ensure they happen
• Don't sacrifice interesting work when times get tight