EP 254 Book Club Series: No Filter by Sarah Frier

Welcome to the Bold Goal Crusher Podcast 

Welcome to the Bold Goal Crusher Podcast, the go-to destination for anyone looking to stop letting life get in the way and start crushing bold goals. I’m your host, Sara Mayer, and I’m thrilled to navigate this journey with you. It’s time to start boldly achieving without working double-time, so let’s dive in. 

Join the Book Club! 

Hello, Bold Goal Crushers! Today, we are diving into an episode of our Book Club series. If you haven’t joined the book club yet, you can visit saramayer.com/joinbookclub. Each month, we read a book, followed by a podcast episode and a live discussion. We have great reads, and I’m always excited to share them with you. Today, we’re talking about "No Filter" by Sarah Frier. So, let’s jump in! 

Introducing "No Filter" by Sarah Frier 

First off, this book is quite different from many of our past selections. Normally, we dive into business books filled with actionable advice or development insights. However, "No Filter" offers us the inside story of Instagram. This was one of our member’s suggestions, and we love reading members' recommendations. While it’s different from our usual fare, I’m very excited to review this book. 

I must admit it took me a bit longer to get through "No Filter" because of a busy month—no real excuses there! The book delves into how Instagram was created by two founders passionate about photography. It started as an app showcasing great photography spots, driven by their clear purpose and vision. 

The Story Behind Instagram 

As many know, Facebook eventually acquired Instagram. The acquisition was partly due to Facebook feeling threatened by Instagram’s potential. For almost nine years, Instagram operated somewhat independently within Facebook, leveraging Facebook’s resources to grow. They managed to build Instagram to one billion users, hitting their original goal despite various challenges, including influencer dynamics and maintaining their unique vision. 

As a business owner, it’s fascinating to see something grow into a business that others want to purchase. Although many founders don’t set out with the intent to sell, maybe more should consider this path to create scalable and sellable businesses. 

Lessons from "No Filter" 

I enjoyed reading "No Filter", but it was tough drawing clear parallels to our usual business applications. Still, it’s a compelling story of how a business started, evolved, and was eventually sold. This narrative emphasizes the importance of crafting your story, as we learned from another favorite read, "Ten Stories Great Leaders Tell". It’s crucial to write your story so others don’t write it for you, a lesson Instagram’s founders could relate to due to Facebook’s influence. 

Join Us in the Book Club 

This has been a shorter Book Club episode, but I want to remind you to join our book club at saramayer.com/joinbookclub. Engage in discussions and share your perspectives on the books we read. I always love hearing everyone’s take. 

Upcoming Reads 

Now, let’s talk about our next book. Our June book is "Don’t Trust Your Gut" by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz. Following that, for July, we will discuss "On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good". When you join the book club, you’ll get the scoop on all our book choices. We’ve been running this book club since July 2022, beginning with "The Third Door" by Alex Banayan, and we’re excited to celebrate our two-year anniversary soon. 

Visit saramayer.com/joinbookclub and be part of our journey. It’s time to crush your goals and everything that stands in the way, without needing to work double time. Let’s get to it! 

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Sara Mayer 

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