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Michael Girdley

@girdley274k followers

Creating and building businesses. Current Passion Project: explaining why 500+ great companies failed (120 videos so far).

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Oct 16
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Posts 80 posts
#DatePost↓ OutlierViewsLikesRepostsBookmarks
1Apr 29, '23I considered moving out of the USA. After some research, I realized leaving is stupid. There is no chance the USA will stop being the global superpower. And the best country for op94.2×6.3M12k2.1k7.9k
2Sep 30, '23I considered moving out of the USA. After some research, I realized leaving is stupid. There is no chance the USA will stop being the global superpower. And the best country for op84.5×5.6M11k1.5k7k
3Jul 4, '24I considered moving out of the USA. After some research, I realized leaving is stupid. There is no chance the USA will stop being the global superpower. And the best country for op80×5.3M13k1.3k10k
4Jun 16, '241) Go to VRBO / Airbnb 2) Find a rental you like. 3) Identify the property manager firm in listing 4) Google firm name 5) Book property on their website 6) Save $400 Every. Single.66.3×4.4M28k1.1k14k
5May 29, '24Now is a turbulent time in our economy. My eldest son is about to go to college. He asked me what careers to pursue, and what to avoid. Here’s what I told him:63.4×4.2M5k6248.2k
6May 18, '24We hired a private chef to cook for our family. It was an amazing decision. What we learned was surprising:63.3×4.2M5.2k2836.6k
7Dec 14, '24Stop whatever you are doing and buy land here.57.6×3.8M14k5575k
8Feb 26, '25I swear I was thinking yesterday: “What if we started selling citizenship to retire the national debt?” At 5 million a pop, we need to sell 7 million of them to zero out the debt. 56.4×3.8M32k8991.4k
9Jan 18, '241) Go to VRBO / Airbnb 2) Find a rental you like. 3) Identify the property manager firm in listing 4) Google firm name 5) Book property on their website 6) Save $400 Every. Single.55.5×3.7M26k1k15k
10Jan 3, '25The 2025 economy in a nutshell.49.2×3.3M2.9k115219
11Apr 20, '24I considered moving out of the USA. After some research, I realized leaving is stupid. There is no chance the USA will stop being the global superpower. And the best country for op46.4×3.1M5.2k6155.4k
12Jul 8, '23What happens in the days after you die? It will be horrible for your loved ones. I just learned about something you can do to make that easier for them: The Green Box Exercise.43.6×2.9M6.4k92516k
13Apr 28, '251) Go to VRBO / Airbnb 2) Find a rental you like. 3) Identify the property manager firm in listing 4) Google firm name 5) Book property on their website 6) Save $400 Every. Single.40.9×2.7M26k89414k
14May 20, '23We hired a private chef to cook for our family. It was an amazing decision. BUT... Before you cancel me, let me tell you my story. And share what we learned:38.6×2.6M3.3k2282.8k
15Jan 31, '23Revenge is a dish best-served cold.37.5×2.5M11k573465
16Feb 6, '23Every bankrupt person I know has owned a boat.35.8×2.4M8.6k460177
17Nov 10, '24If you die, you’ll be glad you did this.33.1×2.2M15k1.7k29k
18Oct 3, '24We hired a private chef to cook for our family. Call me an elitist, but I was shocked how affordable it was. Here’s the breakdown:32.2×2.1M10k3878.5k
19Sep 15, '24From the Mr Beast "how to work here" guide. Interesting how this mindset towards consultants is radically different than how Gen X/Boomers see them.31.6×2.1M9.4k4444.1k
20Dec 23, '22I built my ideal "look great on Zoom/podcasts" setup. It cost some money -- but it’s worth it. Here is how I did it (if you want to copy it): 🧵29.2×2M3k2233.9k
21Sep 5, '23This video is insane. And a great teaching moment. Reporter asks Bill Belichick (6x Super Bowl coach): "Why have a long-snapper on the roster?" Bill gives a 10-minute speech on it 26.5×1.8M4.8k4731.5k
22Mar 31, '24Private equity bought beloved Texas burger chain Whataburger in 2019. Customers have complained about a decline in burger/fry/drink quality and service since. PEs answer? Franchisi23.9×1.6M5k362663
23Jan 20, '23The huge shift in “business” attire is fascinating. Just two generations ago, formal dress was required to be taken seriously. Now, wear a suit to work and there’s a 50/50 chance p22.9×1.5M4.4k223141
24Sep 8, '23An old timer at my first job told me: “Never take 2-week vacations. Everyone just saves work for your return. Make it 3 weeks or more so they just take care of things without you.”21.8×1.5M15k926987
25Jan 25, '23An old timer at my first job told me: “Never take 2 week vacations. Everyone just saves work for your return. Make it 3 weeks or more so they just take care of things without you.”21.7×1.4M9.9k615592
26Apr 5, '22Generation X is weird. These 42-57 year-olds are so strange it presents golden opportunities. Here are 10 mind hacks to use with Gen X:20.4×031k6.7k8.2k
27Nov 26, '21I’ve interviewed and managed over 2,000 people. Here are my 55 contrarian observations about humans. A thread... (1/x)18×025k5.8k15k
28Sep 3, '23If your husband drives one of these, he's definitely not having an affair.17.4×1.2M3.3k114136
29Sep 10, '23This Tom Brady video is gold. Tom and NFL coach Bill Belichick discuss handling Ed Reed in an upcoming game. The highest-performing partnerships sound like this. Each person doing 17.2×1.2M4.3k2461.3k
30Apr 20, '24Your life can either be a German weather report or a Greek weather report. Be the Greeks.16.7×1.1M4k6021.6k
31Sep 10, '24I know people hate this fact but: There's a strong correlation between accomplished people and how quickly they respond to email.16×1.1M11k6252.1k
32Oct 26, '24Just spent a month in Kansas City. The 3 weirdest things: 1) Everyone is super nice—almost to the point of feeling off. Example: I'm in a gas station on the wrong side of town. Ano15.2×1M6.8k418502
33Jun 22, '23If you're in your 30-40s and your circle isn't talking about: • Billionaire Fight Club • Politics of Bud Lite • Submarines • Vaccine debates And is talking about: • Going outside •14.7×979k3.4k221140
34Aug 1, '24I asked my lawyer once why he liked me as a client. He said, “Because you pay your bills.” Me: “But I pay late sometimes!” He said, “Dude, 40% of my bills never get paid.” Me: “Who13.2×882k30k583520
35Aug 8, '25My favorite pet economy theory is that the best companies are built in places with bad weather because there's nothing else to do except work.12.1×806k11k3951.1k
36Mar 7, '24I asked my lawyer once why he liked me as a client. He said, “Because you pay your bills.” Me: “But I pay late sometimes!” He said, “Dude, 40% of my bills never get paid.” Me: “Who11.9×796k14k361309
37May 2, '25Something still blows my mind is the Dutch East India Company became the biggest business in human history communicating solely via letters that took 4 months to deliver (if the sh11.8×788k16k6991.8k
38Sep 22, '24What is your favorite unwritten rule in the US? Mine: speeding is illegal but as long as you stay under 10mph over the limit, you won’t get a ticket.11.3×757k11k166401
39Nov 20, '23Only one investor in Silicon Valley has the maturity required to level up the OpenAI board.10.4×696k7.2k43485
40Oct 7, '24Google Meet is objectively better than Zoom now. By a mile.10.3×688k5.8k206243
41Jul 4, '25I considered moving out of the USA. After some research, I realized leaving is stupid. There is no chance the USA will stop being the global superpower. And the best country for op10.2×679k3.4k1991.9k
42Sep 12, '23I quit drinking alcohol 10 days ago. Biggest learnings: • lost 15 lbs • sleeping great • happier • smug sense of superiority • huge urge to tweet about not drinking 15x a day Highl10.0×665k2.9k5365
43Aug 10, '24Worst ways to keep your top employees: - Swag - Retreats - “Company values” Best ways to keep your top employees 👇9.5×633k3k2753.1k
44Jul 26, '24I can tell you quickly why Southwest Airlines is struggling. Nonstop from San Antonio to Phoenix in August. Southwest: $278 a person. American: $276 a person. If you're going to be8.8×586k5.4k16999
45Feb 29, '24If your husband drives one of these, he's definitely not having an affair.8.6×572k2.7k76151
46Jun 6, '25The greatest mystery in life: Why Venmo has a “social feed” of your friends making payments.8.1×542k9k185295
47Apr 24, '25My advice: marry a frugal spouse.8.1×541k5.2k273631
48May 4, '25Gambling has changed pro sports forever. Here's how: I was at a Spurs game. A stranger sitting next to us had bet big that the opposing team's star would score more than 25 points.8.0×536k4.2k87373
49Aug 18, '24Here is my plan to repurpose obsolete malls: Bulldoze them and build high-density housing.7.9×526k5.2k145120
50Sep 25, '24What's the weirdest way you've seen someone get rich? I'll go first: a family friend owns a giant breakfast trailer. He makes a 50% margin when non-profits run pancake fundraisers.7.8×523k3k1201.7k
51Oct 17, '25Is it time to resurrect Traditional Men's Clubs? Seating area. Quiet. Newspapers. Waiters. Dress code. No electronics. Bar.7.4×497k4.6k241501
52May 3, '25Never drink alcohol at work functions. The hack? A glass with club soda and a lime looks like a gin and tonic.6.3×423k4.2k77415
53Feb 23, '25The huge shift in “business” attire is fascinating. Just two generations ago, formal dress was required to be taken seriously. Now, wear a suit to work and there’s a 50/50 chance p6.2×415k3.7k102274
54Jan 20, '23The male urge to carry all your grocery bags inside in just one trip.5.8×384k3k13930
55Nov 2, '25My advice: marry a frugal spouse.5.6×377k6k370670
56Apr 23, '22I’ve started 8 companies that employ >1,000 people. But… I don’t build startups like everyone else. I use a system called “Effectuation” It will change how you build innovative 5.2×05.9k1.3k5.5k
57Feb 20, '2265 things you should NEVER do in life and business:5.1×07.5k1.7k4.1k
58May 18, '25Biggest mistakes you can make as a married adult: 1) Cheat 2) Decide to build your own custom home* *Every couple I know that did this says it was the worst.5.0×337k3.9k77476
60Aug 6, '2217 weird ways people got rich A 🧵:4.4×05k1k4.8k
61Feb 22, '25Here is my plan to repurpose obsolete malls: Bulldoze them and build high-density housing.4.4×291k3.6k9979
64Aug 3, '25Google Meet is objectively better than Zoom now. By a mile.4.0×267k3k7479
65Mar 29, '25My life advice is to avoid any job where you’re on your laptop in the lodge on a Saturday while your kids are skiing.3.7×249k4k113213
66Apr 4, '24Here is my plan to repurpose obsolete malls: Bulldoze them and build high-density housing.3.7×249k2.6k9843
67Dec 29, '2117 of the coolest ways I’ve seen people get rich. (1/x)3.4×04.2k7923.5k
69Jul 12, '22Most managers do regular 1-on-1 meetings with employees. But few do them very well. Here are 11 things I've seen good managers do that bad managers don’t in 1-on-1 meetings: (1/x)3.2×04k5733.3k
70Jun 27, '21Here are my 16 biggest life mistakes. I am 46 years old. I still feel young, but old enough to have real regrets. To celebrate reaching 16,000 followers.. .a thread: (1/n)3.0×04.8k6942.5k
71May 10, '22Over 25 years and 1,000s of employees, I've learned: Good bosses use some uncommon tricks. Here are the 9 of them you should use:3.0×04.3k8382.6k
73Mar 22, '22I've hired and managed over 4,000 people. And I've made every mistake along the way. But I finally found a system that works. Here's a way to hire that makes your life easier and b2.9×03.4k6103.1k
74Mar 18, '25This annual “track down your 1099/K1” ritual is so dumb. Billions of hours of wasted time when the IRS should have a website where I enter my EIN/SSN and download them all.2.9×192k3.1k125111
75Jun 1, '25Still blows my mind that no city in the US builds this.2.9×191k2.8k72187
76Aug 21, '22How to ask world-class questions: 🧵2.7×02.7k5033.2k
77Dec 11, '21The business books mostly repeat the same ~50 ideas. But, some lessons I only learned in the trenches over 25 years. Here are 18 things about business the books are missing. 1/x2.6×03.3k6512.6k
78May 18, '2220 books every small business CEO should read:2.6×02.9k6332.7k
80Jun 19, '25Here is my plan to repurpose obsolete malls: Bulldoze them and build high-density housing.2.4×163k3.3k13450
81Feb 21, '22Every bankrupt person I know has owned a boat.2.0×06.4k272121
87May 17, '25Build more houses, but not near me. Train more plumbers, but not my kids. Reduce the debt, but not using my money.1.7×114k3k199110
89Jan 25, '22Startup idea: Unicorn-as-a-service You pay me $1,000. I invest $1 in your startup at a $1bn pre-money valuation. You go around telling everyone your company is a unicorn. I confirm1.7×04.7k413123
91Jun 12, '22In France this week for vacation. Based on my data so far, fighting obesity involves smoking more cigarettes, eating lots of fatty foods, and dressing unnecessarily formally.1.5×04.4k292223
95Feb 18, '22Have you heard about the Dunning-Kruger effect? I've studied it deeply for 45 mins and am now an expert in how it works. A thread on everything to know... (1/128)1.2×03.4k239298
101Oct 15NEW LONG FORM VIDEO: The rise and fall of Planet Fitness In 2025, the fitness industry had one of its biggest years ever. As Gen Z increasingly embraced healthier lifestyles and ch0.1×8.5k90793

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