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Published on:

3rd Dec 2021

How to write useful books, with Rob Fitzpatrick

Writing a book takes time and effort.

And life's too short to write a book that no one will read.


On this episode, we invited someone to help us understand how to minimise the risk of writing books that aren't actually useful or reach their audience.


His name is Rob Fitzpatrick and he's the author of Write Useful Books, The Workshop Survival Guide and one that we've been recommending for years, The Mom Test.


Carlos has been reading his latest book Write Useful Books and thought it was a really useful  take on how to approach writing non-fiction that helps people.


He combines the product design, lean strategy and marketing concepts to provide a practical and structured approach that helps you focus on writing something of value.


Rob is an entrepreneur of 14 years and has written three books about his learnings along the way, including the best-selling handbook for doing better Customer Development, The Mom Test: How to talk to customers and figure out if your business is a good idea when everyone is lying to you.


Back in 2007, he dropped out of grad school to go through YCombinator with his first startup, and has been building products and businesses ever since. Beyond software, he has also kickstarted a physical card game, built an education agency, and more.


A programmer by training, Rob was forced to learn enterprise sales the hard way at his first company. With a foot in each of those worlds, and with his experience both bootstrapping and raising funding across a wide range of products, industries, and business models, he offers an broad and balanced view of the entrepreneurial journey.

Show artwork for Happy MBA

About the Podcast

Happy MBA
Do what lights you up, not burns you out.
If you want to be the next Elon Musk look away now.

This podcast is for the new breed of entrepreneur that wants to make money, do good and be happy.

An antidote to 'business as usual'.

Hosted by Carlos Saba and Laurence McCahill, long-time friends and co-founders of The Happy Startup School, an alternative business school and thriving community of entrepreneurs.

Back in 2012 we believed there had to be a better way than this.

And so we set out on a mission to create a new story of entrepreneurship. One where happiness and purpose came before profits.

Over the last decade and more we've built up a tribe of practical dreamers, creative visionaries, changemakers and wisdom workers that are committed to making a positive dent in the world.

If you want to do business differently this podcast is for you.

We cover some of the big questions that people like us face:
- How do I find my purpose?
- Am I too old to reinvent myself?
- Will people care about my ideas?
- How do I balance meaning with money?
- How can I find more of my dream customers?
- How can I grow my business (without burning out)?
- How can I make my business more fun and energising?
- Should I just jack it all and get a job?

Tune in for insights, stories and laughs from two old school friends that became accidental entrepreneurs and built a global movement, one relationship at a time.