Sebastian Bensusan
7 notes in the collection. Writes at blog.sbensu.com (opens in a new tab)↗
First saved But I want to turn people into dinosaurs on August 19, 2026.
Bensusan argues that needing time to think usually means fearing risks you already understand, so ask what you need to know to decide now, with a reply from Andy Matuschak on when waiting helps.
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Bensusan argues you should read people backwards from what they actually accomplish, since that reveals their real motivation, as he learned when he forgot the protein in his protein pudding.
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- NewDefault blind 6 min
Bensusan argues software businesses are blind by default, since a paper shop clerk sees a Chinese New Year rush but an online store sees nothing unless someone asks, so people can stay lost for years.
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- Before GrowthSam Altman
- Do Things that Don't ScalePaul Graham
- Incentives as selection effectsSebastian Bensusan
- Lieutenants are the limiting reagentSebastian Bensusan
When you apply a new incentive, you select for a new population that prefers the incentive.
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Bensusan argues big tech ships few products for its size because the real bottleneck is lieutenants, agentic people who push through blockers outside their job description, and they grow scarcer as companies grow.
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- Employee RetentionSam Altman
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- Hire people who give a shit.Alexandr Wang
- NewSemantic gaps 1 min
When one language draws a distinction another lacks, like Swedish's four words for grandparents, listeners get stuck on details that don't matter to the story.
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- How to think in writingHenrik Karlsson
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Bensusan argues writers' ideas mostly flow from their personalities, as he learns every time he meets an author, so knowing the person, through podcasts or biography, changes how much authority their arguments deserve.
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If you like Sebastian Bensusan, try
- Sam Altman26 notes · also on startups and hiring
- Eliezer Yudkowsky14 notes · also on thinking and writing
- Alexandr Wang4 notes · also on startups and hiring