Episode Details

In this episode of Relatable Wisdom, I’m joined by Andrew Ackerman, a veteran startup investor, mentor, and all-around innovator, to explore how the philosophies of startup life echo our own journeys. Andrew shares the mantra that has shaped his outlook: "Life is like a startup." We dive into what that means—embracing experimentation, taking calculated risks, and learning from rapid feedback. Andrew’s stories from two decades in startup investing reveal why quick, cheap, and easy tests are crucial both in building businesses and making life choices. Listeners seeking clarity in decision-making or encouragement to try something new will find value in Andrew’s practical examples and his reminder that, just like in startups, there’s never more time—so experimenting costs less than regret. We also discuss his brilliant approach to making business advice accessible through storytelling in his book, and how learning from the missteps of others can be much less costly than making them yourself. If you’re ready to treat your life as your greatest startup, this conversation is for you.

Connect With Andrew Ackerman
Website: https://andrewbackerman.com

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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:23 Meet Andrew Ackerman
01:39 Life Lessons From Startup Investing
02:04 What Is a Startup?
02:44 How Life Mirrors Startups
03:53 The Role Of Experimentation
05:00 Cost And Value Of Testing
06:58 Applying Experiments To Real Life
07:57 The Irreplaceability Of Time
09:02 Is It Ever Too Late?
09:48 Choosing The Right Experiments
11:15 The Value Of Startup Accelerators
13:01 Experimentation In Everyday Life
14:34 The "Well-Reasoned But Loosely Held" Principle
16:33 Startups, Life, And Uncertainty
17:14 Making Big Decisions Like College
19:59 Learning Through Premortems
20:51 Getting Honest Answers
21:54 Learning From Other People's Mistakes
24:05 Andrew’s Book And Startup Stories
27:10 The Power Of Storytelling
28:38 Where To Find Andrew And His Book
30:17 Final Reflections And Farewell