Articles
Field notes from building in public — the Pivot, brainstorms, whiteboards, and more. Browse the full archive →
Brainstorm
How I'm Rebuilding YouTube Trust After 3 Niche Pivots
After 3 niche pivots and 17 years as a broker owner, I'm starting from scratch on YouTube trust — and brainstorming my way to a real content funnel.
Brainstorm
How I Think About Building Software in Summer 2026
On Day 327 of building in public, Charles Botensten lays out a grounded framework for shipping software in summer 2026 — start with your own town, stay small, and ignore the hype.
Brainstorm
Why My Vibe-coding Schedule Is Killing My Membership Funnel
Charles Botensten traces a live brainstorming session that exposed the real reason iCharles.com has no paying members: a schedule that produces zero reusable content.