Builders are often shaped by the moments they refuse to ignore.
This week, I’m sharing one of those moments — and why it still matters.
Most great businesses start with someone saying: “Enough!”
During this week, back in 1966, a group of women founded the National Organization for Women: “NOW”.
Most people laughed at them. They didn’t really have any power.
But they had a mandate. They had a purpose
They were fed up with the lack of progress. They took action. They took control of their own destiny.
Sometimes – possibly most times - waiting for things to get better or waiting for situations to improve will never bring change. Often one needs to take action in order to make a difference.
Entrepreneurs know this all too well.
You see a broken system, a missed opportunity, a slow-moving industry — and no one’s coming to fix it for you. You either wait... or you build.
If you're feeling stuck or frustrated, ask yourself:
What have you done to take control of your own business destiny?
→ Action Step:
Write down one thing you've been putting off — and commit to moving it forward this week.
No pitch decks. No “perfect timing.” Just action.
Have the courage of your convictions.
Most business advice? Useless.
Advice is only ever half the answer
Your judgment is the other half
Own it, adapt it, or reject it. Don’t outsource decisions.
The highest-level operators don’t collect advice—they interrogate it.
They ask:
- Does this apply to my context?
- What assumptions is this built on?
- What’s not being said here?
Advice is easy to give because it’s cheap.
But applying it is costly.
It takes time, attention, and risk.
That’s why discernment is your edge.
Anyone can consume advice.
Only a few can turn it into a decision that moves the needle.
Here’s how I explain this on TikTok →
@johnbstapleton Not all advice is good advice — but what you do with it? That’s what counts. 👇 You can take it. You can leave it. Or meet it halfway. What... See more
This week, I am opening up three 15-minute private calls.
These aren’t generic chats - they’re focused, strategic deep-dives. Whether you’re scaling a business, launching something new, or stuck at a crossroads, this is for you.
To apply, send an email with what you’re building.
Be honest. Be specific. Tell us where you're stuck, and what real progress would look like. We’re not looking for polish! We’re looking for people who are ready to take action.
Answer these three prompts:
What are you building? (2-3 lines)
What are you stuck or uncertain about? (be clear and specific)
What would a successful outcome from this call look like?
I will personally select the three founders I believe I can help most.
Or email [email protected] directly.
Big plays from last week (20 June - 1 July):
1. Meta launches “Meta Superintelligence Labs”
Invested ~$14 B for a 49% stake in Scale AI.
Aggressively poached top AI researchers from OpenAI and competitors (some reportedly with signing bonuses up to $100 M).
Stock relaunched to a record high (~$738).
2. Apple eyes Perplexity acquisition
In talks to acquire Perplexity AI (~$14 B valuation) to supercharge Siri/search; signifying Apple entering the AI search space.
3. Salesforce to buy Informatica (~$8 B)
Announced an all‑equity deal to acquire data-integration leader Informatica; positioning Salesforce as a full-stack AI/data powerhouse.
UPCOMING EVENTS HERE:
Don’t miss out, mark your calendar, register early, and be part of the conversation shaping tomorrow. Spots fill up fast, so secure yours now!