ACQ2: The Insane Productivity of Andrew Ross Sorkin
Start your day earlier to gain more control. Andrew Ross Sorkin wakes at 4:30 AM to review overnight developments and write the opening section of his newsletter before his television commitments begin. This early morning routine gives him the clarity and focus needed to set priorities for what stor
1h 16mKey Takeaway
Start your day earlier to gain more control. Andrew Ross Sorkin wakes at 4:30 AM to review overnight developments and write the opening section of his newsletter before his television commitments begin. This early morning routine gives him the clarity and focus needed to set priorities for what stories to emphasize across his multiple platforms.
Episode Overview
Andrew Ross Sorkin shares his remarkable journey from an 18-year-old intern at The New York Times to becoming a multi-platform media mogul. He reveals how he started the groundbreaking Dealbook newsletter in 2001 - over a decade before the Substack era - and discusses the systems behind managing his demanding schedule that includes morning TV, writing, and running major conferences.
Key Insights
Start with marginal support to prove the concept
When launching Dealbook in 2001, Sorkin faced skepticism internally at The New York Times, especially about linking to competitors. The original TAM estimate was just 30,000 subscribers, but proving profitability from day one with their first advertiser Brooks Brothers helped gain credibility.
Build feedback loops into your content
The newsletter's reply function became an invaluable reporting channel, with sources sending PDFs of upcoming deals and corrections to stories. This immediate feedback was revolutionary in 2001, predating social media platforms by years.
Understand everyone's motivation but verify independently
Every source has self-motivated reasons for sharing information, from jilted auction losers to board members with agendas. The key is confirming details through multiple sources while recognizing these motivations can lead to valuable scoops.
Get 90% there before asking for comment
Successful investigative reporting requires gathering detailed information - meeting locations, pricing, deal structures - from lower-level sources before approaching companies for comment. At 90% completion, companies often prefer to shape the narrative rather than stay silent.
Notable Quotes
"My day usually begins around 4:30 in the morning. That's usually when I wake upish. I'd say I lie in bed with my phone under the covers like looking at email texts that came in overnight, Slacks often times around dealbook and things like that."
"Really, the whole goal was to get the brand of the New York Times out in front of this audience more than anything else. And I told them that we were going to make money on day one. I said we would not do this unless we made money on day one."
"My view is that every source has some motivation for why they're talking to you. And often times, if not all the time, it is self motivated, meaning like there is something that they believe benefits to them."
"I always say you want to get 80 to 90% of the way there before asking the company for comment, if you will. And I will say that once you if you get to 90% of the way there, oftentimes it behooves the company in some ways to tell you what's actually happening at that point."
Action Items
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1
Create an early morning routine
Wake up 1-2 hours earlier to review overnight developments and set priorities before your main work begins. Use this time for strategic thinking and content creation.
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2
Build direct feedback channels
Create ways for your audience to reply and engage directly with your content. These responses often become valuable sources of information and course correction.
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3
Link to competitors when valuable
Don't be afraid to reference and link to competitors' work when it adds value to your audience. Building comprehensive resources builds trust and authority.
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4
Verify through multiple independent sources
Before publishing sensitive information, confirm details through 2-4 different sources. Start with lower-level sources before approaching senior leadership for comment.