Kanishka
@beingkanishka.bsky.social
Content @beehiiv. I run half-marathons, chase PRs, and write about systems for ambitious builders.
Built Different—a weekly newsletter for people who refuse to settle.
https://kanishka.site/
Built Different—a weekly newsletter for people who refuse to settle.
https://kanishka.site/
1983. the world's toughest ultramarathon: 875 kilometers.
elite runners. corporate sponsors. perfect form.
then a 61-year-old potato farmer in overalls showed up.
they laughed.
he won.
10 hours ahead of second place.
Cliff Young didn't run like a runner; he shuffled.
elite runners. corporate sponsors. perfect form.
then a 61-year-old potato farmer in overalls showed up.
they laughed.
he won.
10 hours ahead of second place.
Cliff Young didn't run like a runner; he shuffled.
February 8, 2026 at 7:28 PM
1983. the world's toughest ultramarathon: 875 kilometers.
elite runners. corporate sponsors. perfect form.
then a 61-year-old potato farmer in overalls showed up.
they laughed.
he won.
10 hours ahead of second place.
Cliff Young didn't run like a runner; he shuffled.
elite runners. corporate sponsors. perfect form.
then a 61-year-old potato farmer in overalls showed up.
they laughed.
he won.
10 hours ahead of second place.
Cliff Young didn't run like a runner; he shuffled.
most wait for inspiration, the right mood or energy, but not athletes.
they're focused on winning. no waiting for a feeling, no debates.
they stick to their system regardless.
that's how you become resilient and win while others wait to feel ready.
they're focused on winning. no waiting for a feeling, no debates.
they stick to their system regardless.
that's how you become resilient and win while others wait to feel ready.
February 5, 2026 at 6:58 PM
most wait for inspiration, the right mood or energy, but not athletes.
they're focused on winning. no waiting for a feeling, no debates.
they stick to their system regardless.
that's how you become resilient and win while others wait to feel ready.
they're focused on winning. no waiting for a feeling, no debates.
they stick to their system regardless.
that's how you become resilient and win while others wait to feel ready.
when fishermen cannot go to sea, they repair nets.
progress isn't a straight line, it's waves.
you'll have seasons where everything clicks. you're hitting PRs. shipping daily. growing fast.
then you'll have seasons where nothing moves. you're maintaining. recovering. just staying afloat.
progress isn't a straight line, it's waves.
you'll have seasons where everything clicks. you're hitting PRs. shipping daily. growing fast.
then you'll have seasons where nothing moves. you're maintaining. recovering. just staying afloat.
February 4, 2026 at 5:58 PM
when fishermen cannot go to sea, they repair nets.
progress isn't a straight line, it's waves.
you'll have seasons where everything clicks. you're hitting PRs. shipping daily. growing fast.
then you'll have seasons where nothing moves. you're maintaining. recovering. just staying afloat.
progress isn't a straight line, it's waves.
you'll have seasons where everything clicks. you're hitting PRs. shipping daily. growing fast.
then you'll have seasons where nothing moves. you're maintaining. recovering. just staying afloat.
You don't need a million followers. You need 1,000 people who actually care.
Start there if you needed a sign.
Start there if you needed a sign.
February 2, 2026 at 7:15 PM
You don't need a million followers. You need 1,000 people who actually care.
Start there if you needed a sign.
Start there if you needed a sign.
being a creative, all of my early work came in bursts of energy.
but the day I started building systems, my initial thought was: this will limit creativity.
it's been over 2 years that I've had a routine that allows me to do what I love without thinking.
but the day I started building systems, my initial thought was: this will limit creativity.
it's been over 2 years that I've had a routine that allows me to do what I love without thinking.
February 2, 2026 at 5:59 PM
being a creative, all of my early work came in bursts of energy.
but the day I started building systems, my initial thought was: this will limit creativity.
it's been over 2 years that I've had a routine that allows me to do what I love without thinking.
but the day I started building systems, my initial thought was: this will limit creativity.
it's been over 2 years that I've had a routine that allows me to do what I love without thinking.
the ceiling is imaginary.
January 29, 2026 at 5:57 PM
the ceiling is imaginary.
one should do everything possible to chase their ultimate goal: having time to work on their passion projects.
What might not make sense to others but makes sense to you?
What might not make sense to others but makes sense to you?
January 26, 2026 at 6:45 PM
one should do everything possible to chase their ultimate goal: having time to work on their passion projects.
What might not make sense to others but makes sense to you?
What might not make sense to others but makes sense to you?
I ran a half-marathon a few months ago.
the interesting part wasn't the race. it was realizing how much of business is just showing up when your body says stop.
endurance beats intensity.
the interesting part wasn't the race. it was realizing how much of business is just showing up when your body says stop.
endurance beats intensity.
January 24, 2026 at 6:03 PM
I ran a half-marathon a few months ago.
the interesting part wasn't the race. it was realizing how much of business is just showing up when your body says stop.
endurance beats intensity.
the interesting part wasn't the race. it was realizing how much of business is just showing up when your body says stop.
endurance beats intensity.
Most people think scaling content means posting more.
It doesn't.
Scaling means:
→ clearer positioning
→ tighter feedback loops
→ stronger distribution
→ owned platforms
Volume without strategy is pointless.
It doesn't.
Scaling means:
→ clearer positioning
→ tighter feedback loops
→ stronger distribution
→ owned platforms
Volume without strategy is pointless.
January 23, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Most people think scaling content means posting more.
It doesn't.
Scaling means:
→ clearer positioning
→ tighter feedback loops
→ stronger distribution
→ owned platforms
Volume without strategy is pointless.
It doesn't.
Scaling means:
→ clearer positioning
→ tighter feedback loops
→ stronger distribution
→ owned platforms
Volume without strategy is pointless.
so much of life has to be about looking at your potential once.
really looking.
pushing past every imaginary boundary you think exists to see what's actually possible on the other side.
and I don't mean potential in some abstract way.
really looking.
pushing past every imaginary boundary you think exists to see what's actually possible on the other side.
and I don't mean potential in some abstract way.
January 22, 2026 at 5:41 PM
so much of life has to be about looking at your potential once.
really looking.
pushing past every imaginary boundary you think exists to see what's actually possible on the other side.
and I don't mean potential in some abstract way.
really looking.
pushing past every imaginary boundary you think exists to see what's actually possible on the other side.
and I don't mean potential in some abstract way.
You can't cheat reps.
You can't skip the grind.
You can't fake progress.
You either showed up or you didn't.
You either put in the work or you didn't.
The weight doesn't move because you thought about it.
The run doesn't happen because you planned it.
You can't skip the grind.
You can't fake progress.
You either showed up or you didn't.
You either put in the work or you didn't.
The weight doesn't move because you thought about it.
The run doesn't happen because you planned it.
January 20, 2026 at 5:57 PM
You can't cheat reps.
You can't skip the grind.
You can't fake progress.
You either showed up or you didn't.
You either put in the work or you didn't.
The weight doesn't move because you thought about it.
The run doesn't happen because you planned it.
You can't skip the grind.
You can't fake progress.
You either showed up or you didn't.
You either put in the work or you didn't.
The weight doesn't move because you thought about it.
The run doesn't happen because you planned it.
Readers don't owe you attention.
You earn it sentence by sentence.
But attention isn't binary.
It's a decision your reader makes over and over:
Worth starting?
Worth continuing?
Worth remembering?
You don't just need a strong opener.
You need to deliver value in every paragraph.
You earn it sentence by sentence.
But attention isn't binary.
It's a decision your reader makes over and over:
Worth starting?
Worth continuing?
Worth remembering?
You don't just need a strong opener.
You need to deliver value in every paragraph.
January 19, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Readers don't owe you attention.
You earn it sentence by sentence.
But attention isn't binary.
It's a decision your reader makes over and over:
Worth starting?
Worth continuing?
Worth remembering?
You don't just need a strong opener.
You need to deliver value in every paragraph.
You earn it sentence by sentence.
But attention isn't binary.
It's a decision your reader makes over and over:
Worth starting?
Worth continuing?
Worth remembering?
You don't just need a strong opener.
You need to deliver value in every paragraph.
everyone wants the AEO shortcuts.
but AEO only works if what you're making is worth finding.
the real work:
draw from your actual life.
post across platforms.
show up in conversations.
otherwise you're just optimizing for nothing.
but AEO only works if what you're making is worth finding.
the real work:
draw from your actual life.
post across platforms.
show up in conversations.
otherwise you're just optimizing for nothing.
January 19, 2026 at 5:48 PM
everyone wants the AEO shortcuts.
but AEO only works if what you're making is worth finding.
the real work:
draw from your actual life.
post across platforms.
show up in conversations.
otherwise you're just optimizing for nothing.
but AEO only works if what you're making is worth finding.
the real work:
draw from your actual life.
post across platforms.
show up in conversations.
otherwise you're just optimizing for nothing.
Take the space you need to perform.
January 18, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Take the space you need to perform.
you can be well-rounded and blend in or you can be singular and irreplaceable.
January 17, 2026 at 7:49 PM
you can be well-rounded and blend in or you can be singular and irreplaceable.
Motivation is a scam. simply do what cannot not do and never look back.
January 16, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Motivation is a scam. simply do what cannot not do and never look back.
Think like an athlete, not a hobbyist
January 16, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Think like an athlete, not a hobbyist
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
January 15, 2026 at 6:29 PM
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
write to think.
AEO doesn't fix bad content.
it just helps good content get found.
so before you obsess over optimization:
create from real experience, not just AI.
distribute everywhere, not just once.
engage with people, not at them.
AEO amplifies.
fundamentals build.
do both.
it just helps good content get found.
so before you obsess over optimization:
create from real experience, not just AI.
distribute everywhere, not just once.
engage with people, not at them.
AEO amplifies.
fundamentals build.
do both.
January 14, 2026 at 6:57 PM
AEO doesn't fix bad content.
it just helps good content get found.
so before you obsess over optimization:
create from real experience, not just AI.
distribute everywhere, not just once.
engage with people, not at them.
AEO amplifies.
fundamentals build.
do both.
it just helps good content get found.
so before you obsess over optimization:
create from real experience, not just AI.
distribute everywhere, not just once.
engage with people, not at them.
AEO amplifies.
fundamentals build.
do both.
momentum feels better.
structure performs better.
momentum gives you the high.
structure gives you the results.
the best players know how to use both:
ride the wave when it comes.
rely on the system when it doesn't.
structure performs better.
momentum gives you the high.
structure gives you the results.
the best players know how to use both:
ride the wave when it comes.
rely on the system when it doesn't.
January 14, 2026 at 6:02 PM
momentum feels better.
structure performs better.
momentum gives you the high.
structure gives you the results.
the best players know how to use both:
ride the wave when it comes.
rely on the system when it doesn't.
structure performs better.
momentum gives you the high.
structure gives you the results.
the best players know how to use both:
ride the wave when it comes.
rely on the system when it doesn't.
hard pill to swallow: if you're waiting to feel ready, you'll wait forever.
readiness comes from reps, not thinking about reps.
readiness comes from reps, not thinking about reps.
January 13, 2026 at 7:02 PM
hard pill to swallow: if you're waiting to feel ready, you'll wait forever.
readiness comes from reps, not thinking about reps.
readiness comes from reps, not thinking about reps.
the best systems help you:
show up consistently.
deliver value relentlessly.
stay longer than everyone else.
show up consistently.
deliver value relentlessly.
stay longer than everyone else.
January 12, 2026 at 7:46 PM
the best systems help you:
show up consistently.
deliver value relentlessly.
stay longer than everyone else.
show up consistently.
deliver value relentlessly.
stay longer than everyone else.
this story hasn't left my mind.
1967. Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon.
women weren't allowed. they said we were too weak for distance running.
she registered as K V Switzer so they wouldn't know.
1967. Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon.
women weren't allowed. they said we were too weak for distance running.
she registered as K V Switzer so they wouldn't know.
January 11, 2026 at 8:48 PM
this story hasn't left my mind.
1967. Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon.
women weren't allowed. they said we were too weak for distance running.
she registered as K V Switzer so they wouldn't know.
1967. Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon.
women weren't allowed. they said we were too weak for distance running.
she registered as K V Switzer so they wouldn't know.
The real bottleneck in content?
It's not ideas.
It's not time.
It's decision fatigue.
Every time you sit down to write, you're deciding:
→ what to say
→ how to say it
→ where to publish it
Systems remove 90% of those decisions.
It's not ideas.
It's not time.
It's decision fatigue.
Every time you sit down to write, you're deciding:
→ what to say
→ how to say it
→ where to publish it
Systems remove 90% of those decisions.
January 11, 2026 at 7:28 PM
The real bottleneck in content?
It's not ideas.
It's not time.
It's decision fatigue.
Every time you sit down to write, you're deciding:
→ what to say
→ how to say it
→ where to publish it
Systems remove 90% of those decisions.
It's not ideas.
It's not time.
It's decision fatigue.
Every time you sit down to write, you're deciding:
→ what to say
→ how to say it
→ where to publish it
Systems remove 90% of those decisions.
When you look back, there should be no regrets about not pursuing what you were most passionate about.
January 11, 2026 at 5:47 PM
When you look back, there should be no regrets about not pursuing what you were most passionate about.