Hit 25K Followers (And Why I Barely Try)

Published August 16th, 2025 • 11 minutes

Also available on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube

Hit 25,000 Twitter followers this week.

Feels surreal because I barely put any time into it.

I don't even have Twitter on my phone. Have an extension that blocks it so I don't get addicted. Only check it on desktop once in a while.

If you DM me and I don't reply for days, that's why.

The Thing That Doesn't Matter Most

Here's what's weird: sometimes what you don't focus on performs better than what you do.

My main software business? Revenue was just keeping the lights on before we pivoted. Nothing spectacular. Just barely breaking even.

But content? Breaking out a little bit.

25K followers without really trying. Meanwhile, I've been grinding on SimpleDirect for years.

The universe has a sense of humor.

Why I Don't Check Twitter on My Phone

I have this extension called Control Panel for Twitter that blocks Twitter (yes I prefer calling it that) on my phone.

Point is: I deliberately make it harder to check.

Because I know myself. Put Twitter on my phone and I'll scroll for hours. Check replies. Get into arguments. Waste time.

So I only check on desktop. When I'm intentionally working. Not mindlessly scrolling.

Most content creators would call this career suicide. You're supposed to be "always on." Respond immediately. Engage constantly.

Bullshit.

The best content comes from actually doing things worth talking about. Not from living on the platform.

The Multiple Income Streams Revelation

Been thinking about this all week: everyone needs multiple income streams now.

Especially in the AI world.

Used to think like Travis Kalanick. Never sold Uber shares for like 10 years. Total loyalty to the company. Never got distracted by investments.

That was my mindset. Put everything into the business. Don't get distracted.

Looking back? Probably wrong.

Because AI is coming for everyone. Even people who think they're safe.

Even Hollywood Actors Aren't Safe

Think about it: you're a Hollywood producer making millions per movie.

Then AI gets good enough to make Avatar 3 at home. Sora's already insane. Google's got VEO3. Runway's got new stuff dropping constantly.

Suddenly your entire industry is disrupted.

If Hollywood actors need backup plans, what about the rest of us?

My Four Income Streams (Sort Of)

Right now I've got:

• ANC: Consulting and venture building revenue
• SimpleDirect: SaaS and tech company revenue
• Investing: Started a few months ago, passive stuff
• Content: Not monetizing yet, but never say never

The investing thing is new for me. Used to think it would be too distracting. Thought I'd check stock prices every day and go crazy.

Reality? I'm not really checking. Just let it compound. Once you understand how compound growth works, it's pretty simple.

Emergency fund covers everything. If stocks go down 50%, I don't panic. I don't need the money.

The $17 Bank Fee Moment

Checked my credit card statement last week. $17 bank fee.

"What the hell am I paying $17 a month for?"

Fixed it immediately.

Some people call this stingy. I call it progress.

It's not about the $17. It's about actively solving problems instead of just accepting them.

Rich people don't get rich by ignoring $17 fees. They get rich by fixing every inefficiency they find.

Why Everyone Needs This Now

Doesn't matter if you're a truck driver or a marketing executive or a software engineer.

AI is coming for your job. Maybe not this year. Maybe not next year. But it's coming.

The smart move? Start building other income sources now.

Doesn't have to make money immediately. Can be a hobby that might turn into something.

The key is starting before you need it.

Content as Income Insurance

For me, content makes sense as potential income diversification.

Not because I want to be an influencer. Because in an AI-first world, everyone can build the same software.

The only differentiation left is you. Your perspective. Your authentic voice.

If SimpleDirect gets disrupted by AI, at least I've got an audience that knows how I think.

That's worth something.

The Compound Effect I Didn't Expect

Here's what I didn't expect about content: it compounds differently than business revenue.

With SimpleDirect, every month starts from zero. You've got to hustle for new customers, new revenue, new growth.

With content, every follower builds on the last one. Every good post amplifies the next one.

It's genuine compound growth. Not just recurring revenue.

And I barely spend time on it.

The Thing About Not Trying

The lesson isn't "don't try at anything."

The lesson is: sometimes the things you stress about least perform best.

Maybe because there's no pressure. No expectations. No forcing it.

I post what I actually think. I don't optimize for engagement. I don't follow growth hacks.

I just share real founder experiences. Contrarian takes. Stuff that goes against conventional wisdom.

Turns out people want authentic over optimized.

What's Working on Twitter

My best posts are:

• Single punchy statements
• Contrarian takes that are defensible
• Real behind-the-scenes founder stuff
• 2-3 line tweets with paragraph breaks

The stuff that performs worst? Generic motivation. Humble brags. Obvious advice.

People can smell authenticity from miles away. They can also smell bullshit.

The Weekend Bonus Show Experiment

This is the first weekend bonus episode. Shorter. More casual. No script.

Just whatever's on my mind.

Main episodes are Monday/Wednesday/Friday. Structured. Deep dives into specific topics.

Weekend episodes are for random thoughts. Updates. Whatever I'm thinking about.

Starting next week, I'll read questions from listeners. So if you want me to ramble about something specific, hit me up.

Twitter: @TheGeorgePu
Email: george@founderreality.com

The Real Takeaway

Sometimes the best strategy is no strategy.

Focus on building things worth talking about. The talking part takes care of itself.

Diversify your income streams before you need to.

Stop checking social media every five minutes. Make it harder to be distracted.

And when something's working without much effort, don't overthink it. Just keep doing it.

The universe has a weird way of rewarding authenticity over optimization.

New weekend bonus episodes when inspiration strikes.
Main episodes Monday/Wednesday/Friday at 9am EST.

Got questions for next weekend's show? Email george@founderreality.com

Daily insights: @TheGeorgePu
Full episodes: founderreality.com