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I previously interviewed Rudi Skogman in Just thoughts podcast #2, and promised a translation exercise. As explained and demonstrated in Just Products #4, NotebookLM is a quick, accurate (enough for my use-case), low-cost, low-effort way to produce summaries in another language. I still haven’t found a way to create direct translation voice-overs with something that could generate the correct translation lipsync. However, the tech exists. If you can get a summary in the desired language the way it’s relayed here, what’s the added value in getting something like that if the content is not educational and not entertaining? With this thought in mind here’s the original video, and find the summary below, as well as the NotebookLM podcast format summary above.
Just Thoughts Podcast #2 - The Story of an Entrepreneur on Break: A Briefing Doc
Guest: Rudi Skogman, former CEO of Blok, an innovative real estate technology company in Finland.
Main themes:
Rudi's journey as a Swedish-speaking Finn: Rudi's upbringing involved navigating both Finnish and Swedish cultures and languages. He discusses attending a Finnish-language school and losing fluency in Swedish, later regaining it through conscious effort during his military service and studies at Hanken School of Economics.
Rudi's role and memories from the startup event Slush: Rudi recounts his five years (2011-2015) organizing Slush, a prominent startup event in Helsinki. He shares an anecdote about running out of alcohol at the afterparty and the logistical challenge of supplying drinks for thousands of attendees.
The rise and fall of Block: Rudi details Block's mission to revolutionize the real estate industry with technology, focusing on apartment sales. He highlights their success in building a user-friendly product and facilitating nearly 5,000 apartment sales. However, the company ultimately faced challenges due to external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, leading to its closure.
Leadership lessons learned: Rudi reflects on the importance of adapting to unforeseen circumstances ("black swan events"), the difficult decision-making process during a downturn, and the importance of having a strong support network. He also acknowledges the criticisms he received about his communication style, admitting his strong opinions while emphasizing the value of surrounding himself with smart people and considering their perspectives.
Life after Blok: Rudi shares his plans to travel abroad for the winter and explore consulting opportunities, leveraging his expertise in fundraising and product strategy.
Key insights and facts:
The importance of cultural identity: Rudi's story highlights the complexities of navigating multiple cultural identities and languages. He emphasizes the importance of preserving and reclaiming one's heritage.
The challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship: Rudi's experience with Block showcases both the highs and lows of building a startup. His story underscores the need for resilience, adaptability, and a clear vision.
The significance of timing in business: Rudi stresses the importance of recognizing opportune moments to sell a company, particularly in the face of unpredictable market conditions.
The power of learning from mistakes: Rudi openly discusses his missteps and what he would have done differently, providing valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The importance of personal well-being: Rudi acknowledges the toll entrepreneurship can take on mental health and the need for self-care and recovery.
Notable quotes:
On Finnish-Swedish identity: "Finlandssvenska andra talar ju vad de kan och vi talar ju vad vi vill" - ("Other Swedish-speaking Finns speak what they can, and we speak what we want.")
On Slush: "Det var nog en jävlig stor grej" - ("It was a really big deal.")
On the closure of Blok: "Om man då har en startup så ska man nog försöka sälja den då när det är liksom 'the times are good'" - ("If you have a startup, you should probably try to sell it when 'the times are good'.")
On leadership: "Jag har starka åsikter och jag tror att jag kommer i fortsättning också att ha starka åsikter" - ("I have strong opinions, and I think I will continue to have strong opinions.")
On the value of his Saab: "Känslan när det är solsken som det är på bilden eh man startar bilen, taken ner, sätter bra musik på och kör, så är det nog… Det är få saker som vinner det." - ("The feeling when the sun shines like in the picture, you start the car, put the top down, put on good music and drive, it's... there are few things that beat that.")
Call to action: Listeners are encouraged to connect with Rudi on LinkedIn or via email (rudi.skogman@gmail.com) for consulting opportunities or to offer support.
The quotes here are priceless. The summary almost made me spit out my tea: “On Slush—It was a really big deal.” 😂 God, I don’t think we said it like that, did we? At least the first quote needs correction; the saying goes: others speak what they can, and Swedish-speaking Finns talk what they want. This refers to the ability to use the language that suits the situation in our nation, which is officially multilingual.
Selling: yes and no, but Rudi can give this advice based on his experience. In contrast, I bet someone regrets selling too early. As for having opinions, there is the expression “strong opinions loosely held.”. I’m constantly reminded of the book “Persuadable: How Great Leaders Change Their Mind to Change the World” whenever a leader says they have strong opinions. This is not to say it’s the wrong approach to have strong opinions. It’s to provide some perspective on the thought itself.
As for driving around the Saab quote, here’s a picture from one of those times, with Rudi, myself in the back with my partner Rosalie, and Elias Nygren, the Co-founder of Troves, ex-Slush team member heading over to festival weekend.
Taken out of context, this picture reeks of privilege. However, there are a few things entrepreneurs should try to savior in the grind that gives them energy (this car has become something of the sort for Rudi). The car has often witnessed priceless moments among friends worth more than any startup ❤️
Until the next podcast! We have a few guests lined up, but no recording is yet set in stone. Subscribe to avoid missing a thought!
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