Building In Public Timing

A discussion about the risks and rewards of "building in public" and when to share business success, centered around a case study of an app developer who lost millions by oversharing.

Core Philosophy on Sharing Success

• Only share when you're:
  • Not doing well
  • So far ahead others can't catch up
• When crushing it: "zip" and stay quiet
• Keep wins private until they're uncatchable

Transparency Guidelines

• Reserve full transparency for:
  • Family
  • Close friends
  • Trusted coworkers
• Avoid sharing with:
  • Social media followers
  • Podcast listeners
  • General public

Strategic Sharing

• Share information only when:
  • It's beneficial to you
  • There's a clear upside
• No obligation to tell everything to everyone
• Consider clear downsides before sharing

Building in Public: Cautionary Notes

• Can become a limiting identity trap
  • People get stuck being "the building in public guy"
  • Forces unnecessary transparency
• Success can attract:
  • Unwanted competition
  • Copycats
  • Public criticism
  • Legal challenges

When Building in Public Works

• Focus on providing value:
  • Detailed process documentation
  • Step-by-step progress
  • Real metrics and results
  • Actual user/revenue growth
• Trade should be worth it:
  • Give knowledge
  • Get interest/respect/attention
  • Maintain competitive advantage