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- Build first, explain later
Build first, explain later
Not everyone needs a mission statement.
Eric Harrison
April 25, 2025
Some founders write vision decks.
Others just start.
In today’s edition of Underestimated, we’ve got two stories of founders who didn’t overthink the launch. They didn’t have taglines or backers or a big master plan. They just kept solving problems—and built real businesses while everyone else was still whiteboarding.
 | Jared Doerfler started Perfect Putt because he couldn’t find good reporting on the business of golf. He had no audience, no media experience, just grit. A few years later, he's built a go-to industry source with thousands of subscribers and even turned that into a platform to build Hanna Golf. “I wrote what I wanted to read and took it from there.” This one’s for the founders moving fast and breaking sh*t. Jared’s full story here! |
There’s nothing traditional about Mordechai Hoffmann’s founder journey- except maybe the part where he started his first real business in a garage. He helped other people build real businesses, but eventually decided he needed something that was his. “We were a shoe polish company, but we made people feel something.” This one’s for the builders making people feel something. More about Mordechai here! |  |
If these stories hit a little too close to home, good.
You’re not the only one figuring it out as you go. There’s a whole group of us doing the same—comparing notes, trading wins, and building real businesses without pretending to have it all together.
Some of those people are already in Thrive.
Some aren’t yet.
You’ll know which one you are.
— Eric 👋
 | Thrive is where founders find their people. |