The Lemnist

I am on a mission. A mission to get used to using AI to get more done. This blog is AI-enabled. The watercolor art at the top of this post was made in Midjourney. AI can't do everything yet but I'm determined to explore and see the limits how how we entrepreneurs can use it to go further better faster and stronger. This morning I asked ChatGPT how a company can reduce emissions from their supply chain. This is something I know a bit about however I wanted to see what the AI would come up with, and it gave me 8 points: Conducting a carbon footprint analysis: This allows companies to identify and prioritize areas of their supply chain where they can have the greatest impact on reducing emissions. Partnering with suppliers: Companies can work with suppliers to set emissions reduction targets and collaborate on implementing sustainable practices. Optimizing transportation and logistics: This can include using more efficient modes of transportation, reducing the distance goods need ...

The urgency of the climate crisis has shifted the discussion on sustainability. Our economic model incentivizes growth and profit above all else, and we are starting to recognize that this cannot continue. Four out of five corporates have adopted a climate pledge, and almost all have some form of sustainability goals.  Nevertheless, in practice when the goals of people and planet conflict with profits, profits tend to win. It is a fundamental problem with the incentives of the economic system that companies who make more profit are rewarded, and the consequences for missing sustainability targets pale in comparison to the consequences for missing financial targets.  To that end, a number of different economic models have been proposed over the years that could better take sustainability goals into account. The Doughnut Economy, the Sharing Economy, the Steady-State Economy, the Circular Economy, and others have gained varying levels of interest but have had trouble gaining act...

If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.  I used to think of this with a focus on the second half. Like it was an admonishment to be patient and work with others to achieve more than you could on your own. Now that I'm a bit more experienced as an entrepreneur, I view it a bit differently.  I see it more as there's a time and a place for everything.  There are times to go fast, and there are times to go far. Both options have their pros and cons, and the key is understanding when each approach is most appropriate. One of the challenges many startups face is knowing when to go alone and when to bring in a team. As an entrepreneur, you'll have to make this decision many times throughout your journey. Both options have their pros and cons and understanding when each approach is most appropriate is essential. Going alone, also known as "solo entrepreneurship," can be a great option when you're just starting out. When you're first g...

Entrepreneurs start their journey filled with ideas and energy, ready to tackle any problem that comes your way. This gives them a bias toward building their great ideas, however before diving headfirst into finding solutions, it is crucial to take the time to fully understand the problem at hand. In 2014 I founded a company called Subvise. Our goal was to build an AI platform that could track chemicals for companies, helping them to stay compliant with regulations and stay informed about any changes in the chemicals they use. We poured our hearts and souls into the project, and ultimately we were able to build a platform that worked very well. However, despite its technical capabilities, we quickly realized that our platform wasn't being adopted by as many companies as we had hoped. As it turns out, we had not spent enough time understanding the problems from the customer perspective. The platform let companies put in a list of chemicals they used and get automated updates and ale...

Welcome to The Lemnist, the personal blog of Nathan Williams.  The name of this blog is inspired by the Lemniscate, the infinity symbol. To me, it represents the endless journey of growth and learning that we undertake as entrepreneurs. No matter how far we've come, there's always more to discover and achieve. My goal with The Lemnist is to share my experiences and insights as an entrepreneur, and to provide a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities that come with starting and growing a business. I want to focus on the things that you wouldn't find elsewhere, and to provide valuable insights that can help you on your own entrepreneurial journey. One of the things that sets The Lemnist apart from other blogs is my commitment to incorporating AI into the development and operation of the blog. I believe that these new tools can help me to achieve more than I could on my own, and I want to explore how they can be used to enhance the content and experience of the ...