Apr 4, 2026
The Codex Cheat Sheet
Every command, flag, and pattern I actually use in OpenAI's Codex CLI. Stop digging through the README every time.
Cathryn Lavery · Founder-Operator · Est. 2013
I build, sell, and rebuild companies.
Then I write it down.
First-person essays on business, money, productivity, and what it actually costs to build the life you said you wanted. No hype, no hustle porn — just what's working, what broke, and what I'm still figuring out.
141 essays · 13 years · No spam, unsubscribe in one click
Writing since
2013
13 years of annual reviews, wins, and wrong turns.
Essays in the archive
141
From first principles to private-equity war stories.
Day job
BestSelf Co
Built, sold, bought back from private equity, still running it.
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The Garry Tan Stack: A Definitive Guide to gstack
Garry Tan open-sourced gstack — 23 Claude Code skills that turn one person into a virtual engineering team. Here's everything you need to know, updated for April 2026.
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Full archive →Apr 3, 2026
OpenClaw Review: Is It Worth It for Founders in 2026?
After running OpenClaw since January 2026 in a real business, here's an honest review, what it does well, what's frustrating, and who it's actually for.
Apr 2, 2026
AI Agent Use Cases for Founders: 12 Real Examples
Not theoretical. These are 12 things I actually use AI agents for in my business, what they do, how they're configured, and what they save.
Apr 2, 2026
Claude Code Skills: Custom Reusable Workflows Explained
Claude Code skills let you package reusable instructions that the agent loads on demand. Here's how they work and what to put in them.
Apr 2, 2026
Claude Code vs Cursor: Which One Actually Works for Non-Developers?
I've used both Claude Code and Cursor for months running a real business. Here's an honest comparison of what each is actually good for.
Apr 2, 2026
The Ops Layer That Keeps Your OpenClaw Agents Alive
Health checks, auto-repair scripts, a watchdog, and update triage — the operations layer I install in every OpenClaw environment I run.
Apr 2, 2026
Vibe Coding Tools Ranked: What I Actually Use to Build Products
I've tried every major vibe coding tool. Here's how they rank based on actual use, not demos, not benchmarks.
Apr 2, 2026
What Is Claude Code? A Plain-English Guide for Founders
Claude Code is an AI coding agent that works in your terminal. Here's what it actually does, who it's for, and whether you need it.
Mar 25, 2026
Claude Code Tutorial: Hooks, Commands, Plugins, Skills, and MCP Explained
New to Claude Code? This beginner-friendly tutorial explains hooks, commands, plugins, skills, and MCP servers in plain English — with real examples and no jargon.
Free 7-day challenge
AI Native.
Go from never having opened a terminal to building real leverage with AI. Seven emails, seven wins. The starting line I wish I'd had.
- 01 The failed launch that started 9,048 commits
- 02 Build the file that makes AI stop guessing
- 03 The document that replaced our $6k/month agency
- 04 Open the terminal. I'll tell you exactly what to type.
- 05 The workbook, the course, and what comes next
Podcast · Coming soon
The Tinker Report
I show you what I'm actually building with AI and invite guests to do the same. Real tools, real workflows, genuine curiosity. 15–20 minutes, every week.
Topics
All tags →-
Business
26Building, selling, and rebuilding companies.
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AI & Engineering
25Vibe coding, AI agents, and building with the tools that are changing everything.
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Productivity
21Systems that actually last a year.
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Life Lessons
23Things I had to learn the expensive way.
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Writing
110On working in public and writing as thinking.
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Annual Reviews
11A decade of yearly reckonings.