Digital life creates a lot of parasocial relationships. In my case, I experience them through podcasting, social media, our events and, most recently, through this newsletter.

Parasocial relationships are one-sided emotional bonds that individuals form with media figures or fictional characters who are unaware of the person's existence. These relationships are characterized by an individual extending emotional energy, interest, and time towards a persona, typically a celebrity, social media influencer, or fictional character, without any reciprocal awareness.

At the same time, these relationships create an asymmetry of information whereby you all know me but I don't know you.

This week, I haven't had time to write because we've had our quarterly get-together at MarsBased and our whole team was in town.

I figured I'd write a quick one this week to introduce myself to the new subscribers (now ranking in the hundreds, already!) and move to the braindump section, where I recommend stuff I liked.

Braindump

This week, I'll follow Joel Gascoigne's structure. Joel founded Buffer and curates a very interesting newsletter.

• 🌍 Links I've recently saved
  • 🐦 Ignacio Arriaga (Acumbamail) shared a tweetstorm about growth marketing for your app. 24 useful tips to start growing now (in Spanish).
• 📰 Marc Antoni Macià (Novicap) shared this article about building a holding company.
• 🎥 A video explaining how to improve lightning for your podcast.
• 🇪🇺 European alternatives for popular services.
• 💡 Public Domain Day 2025 is Coming: Here’s What to Know.
• ✨ I got access to the new tool by the ex-CEO of Typeform, Supercut. Excited to try it, mostly for internal comms.
• 📚 What I highlighted in books
  • Nowadays, I mostly read non-business books. In fact, I have grown tired of business books and only read them if they gift them to me. I can't remember the last business book I bought.
  • I am currently reading yet another Discworld book, which contains certain gems like:
    • Well, he thought, so this is diplomacy. It’s like lying, only to a better class of people.
    • Killing a stranger without malice or satisfaction, other than the craftsman’s pride in a job well done, is such a rare talent that armies spend months trying to instil it into their young soldiers. Most people will shy away from killing people they haven’t been introduced to.
    • ‘Certainly. You may leave us, Igor. Isn’t he a treasure?’ she added as Igor retired. ‘He certainly looks as though he’s just been dug up,’
    • Sergeant Colon was a picture of misery drawn on a lumpy pavement in bad crayon on a wet day.
    • ‘I was a drunk. You have to be richer than I was to be an alcoholic.’
• 👨🏻‍💻 New and noteworthy at MarsBased
  • We had our company get-together, with our traditional Xmas dinner & karaoke last night.
  • This year will also be a good one. We've passed 2,5MM in annual revenue.
• After having hired two developers last week, we're now 20 people. Looking for a marketer.
• We're also curating Talent Arena at MWC next year.
• Some clients we worked for this year: Moody's, Everesting, Ecler, ITeC, HappyScribe, Boston Consulting Group, Orbidi, Nieves Energia.
• We're getting the Kit Digital certification. Hit me up if you need yours.
• Needless to say, let me know if you need help with your project. We're planning the first two quarters of 2025 and we have some availability.
• 🧠 Something that's been on my mind
  • I have been reflecting on next year and what I will accomplish in 2025, completely acknoledging that I won't put the remaining 20 days of 2024 to good use. I will indulge, relax and chill the fuck out. I earned it. No more last-minute crunches.
  • I have to decide what we want to do next year with regards to events and live podcasting.
  • Also, I need to structure a bit more my investments. They're taking too much time.
• 🙋🏻‍♂️ A general update from me
  • 💸 Investment opportunity well outside of my thesis: pistachios. Seriously considering it.
  • 💸 Will formalise my investment in Las Muns this week. If anyone wants to join me last minute, hit me up before Sunday.
  • I'm turning 38 in a couple of weeks.
  • I will start seeing a nutritionist to get in better shape for next year. After my cervical hernia, that left me almost for a year with little to no exercise, I need to regain physical shape to have more peace of mind.
  • I have started tracking again everything I do with Gyroscope (thanks Carlos!) to see if someday I can put that data to good use.
  • 👾 I'm completing all the Pokédex's in all the Pokémon games I own because I am a completionist. Looking forward to the new game coming out this EOY.
  • In 2025, I want to revive my punk rock band RES! - looking for a guitarist!

And, who are you?

Now you know me a bit better. I'd like to know you better.

Reply to this email introducing yourself if I don't know you, or hit me with an update from your side if I do. Either way, let me know how can I help you!

Until next Friday ✌️