#buildinpublic -The Two Sides of the Coin
Strategic Silence is not the absence of communication — it is the engineering of high-value narrative control. This is done on the weekend.
1. The Upside
| Benefit | Why People Like It |
|---|---|
| Audience Trust | Transparency creates relatability and a sense of “come along for the ride.” |
| Organic Community | People follow progress updates; early fans feel like insiders. |
| Accountability | Public declarations force consistency and output. |
| Feedback Loop | Real-time reactions accelerate iteration. |
| Distribution Hack | Behind-the-scenes content performs well on social platforms. |
Reality: All of this is top of funnel. It drives attention — but not necessarily revenue, credibility, or strategic leverage.
2. The Downside
| Problem | Why It Hurts |
|---|---|
| Creates entitlement, not demand | Followers start expecting constant updates, freebies, access — not paid products. |
| Signals low leverage | “Look at me! Look at my progress!” can look like a credibility deficit, not confidence. |
| Gives competitors the playbook | You show the blueprint before it’s defensible. |
| Kills narrative tension | Storytelling depends on controlled reveals — not daily leaks. |
| Turns you into a content factory | You end up building for the audience instead of building for the revenue model. |
Result: You grow an audience that claps… but doesn’t convert.
**#buildinginpublic is the worst strategy.
If “building in public” destroys value… what creates value?
Instead of sharing everything → Share the right things at the right altitude.
- Show insights, not process.
- Show outcomes, not the sausage factory.
- Show leverage, not labor.
Instead of transparency → Signal power.
People trust:
- polish
- consistency
- results
- testimonials
- systems
- authority
Not:
- unfinished drafts
- “day 21: working on my MVP”
- desperation disguised as authenticity
Instead of followers → Acquire buyers, partners, stakeholders.
Sell to:
- people with intent
- partners with reach
- collaborators with distribution
- customers who pay for transformation
Not:
- random timeline spectators
Instead of giving away progress for free → Monetize narrative control.
Your content should:
- increase perceived value
- increase switching costs
- increase curiosity
- increase asymmetry
Not:
- remove mystery
- remove tension
- remove the edge you’ve earned
Instead of mass attention → Focus on 'super attention' (your strength).
For MINY, VE LAB, Carousel, DOOCHAKI etc., your edge comes from:
- rare narrative
- founder mythos
- category creation
- asymmetrical design
- differentiated language
- proprietary systems (hex grids, playbooks, etc.)
None of that belongs in daily social “progress updates.”
Building in Public 🍌🍌 is free.
Power is expensive.
Choose power.**
**True leverage is built in private.
True demand is created in public - selectively.**
In other words:
Build quietly. Reveal strategically. Sell loudly. Teach rarely.
Monetize always.
Risk Matrix
| Category | Risk | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Audience Misalignment | Attracts spectators, not buyers | Low conversion and high noise |
| Narrative Leakage | Competitors copy strategy early | No moat, no suspense |
| Brand Positioning | Looks amateur, not premium | Hurts luxury, tech, and cultural brands |
| Burnout Risk | You become a content creator first | Progress slows |
| Authority Erosion | Too much access kills mystique | Premium brands rely on mystery |
| Opportunity Cost | Time spent sharing ≠ time spent compounding | Small leaks become large losses |
weekend.network | minyvinyl.com | velab.org
