The Strangers Project

INTRO

Hey, I’m Tim! ☕

I stumbled across The Strangers Project, a collection of anonymous, handwritten stories, raw and unfiltered.

So many untold stories out there, waiting to be discovered.

Like your next great hire, who might be halfway across the globe.

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What’s Your Story?

That simple question sparked a movement.

Fifteen years ago, Brandon Doman began asking strangers to share their stories, and since then, over 100,000 have poured in.

Each one is handwritten on a single sheet of paper and displayed in an intimate room in NYC.

Reading them was heartwarming one moment, heartbreaking the next.

There were glimpses of joy: love found, self-acceptance celebrated.

But those were overshadowed by stories of loss, anger, tragedy, trauma, and loneliness.

One stood out:

First, I felt sadness and pity. Then, frustration. Why haven’t you started yet? What’s holding you back?

Finally, guilt. How privileged of me to say that?

It made me think about the stories we tell ourselves. And the ones we’re too scared to start.

The story of your startup and your cofoundership isn’t your entire life, but it’s a big part of it.

So today, let’s zoom in on that chapter and make it one worth telling.

Cofounder Chronicles

A great story isn't just told; it's lived. 

And a successful cofoundership is, at its core, a story waiting to unfold.

1. Embrace unpredictability

   A great story isn’t predictable. It’s full of twists and turns.

   
   Many of TSP’s stories were about unexpected events, both good and bad. Your cofoundership will go through unexpected ups and downs.

2. Embrace reality

   A great story feels authentic. The voice is unique and consistent.
   
   Because TSP’s stories are anonymous, people got the chance to be raw and unfiltered. You have to do the same with your cofounder, unanonymously.
   

3. Embrace universality

   A great story taps into the human experience.

   
   People from all walks of life and all around the world shared their stories. But it’s when you find pieces of yourself in their stories that it really hits home.
   

4. Embrace character development

   A great story is shaped by the characters growing.

   
   Many shared stories of their past and reflections on it since then. Make decisions in your cofoundership based on what you’ll be proud to look back on.

How I Can Help

ONE MORE THING

Every time you refer someone, you:

1. Look like a genius for finding Cherrytree.

2. Might just rescue a struggling cofoundership.

3. Shine a light on the importance of the cofounderships.

4. Make my day.

Thanks y’all,

— Tim He