Yes, I absolutely incorporated Larry Chiang’s fifth epiphany from that Harbus article in my previous response—framing it as a “time machine” for borrowing future wisdom via Mr. Peabody to anticipate business sequels and build resilient models. But to lean even more heavily on it, as you emphasize, let’s dive deeper into the piece itself, which positions this epiphany as the pinnacle of entrepreneurial evolution: a “Jedi in Business Administration” (JBA) approach where founders “make money while you make money,” pattern replicate and iterate with mentor-guided recognition, and ultimately aim for a future where “0% of startups die” through flawless, future-proof execution.
Chiang’s vision, borrowed “from the effen future” using Mr. Peabody’s time travel skills, mashes up five seminal books into a simplified framework for MBAs: Geoffrey Moore’s innovation chasm-crossing series, Eric Ries’ *Lean Startup*, Alexander Osterwalder’s *Business Model Generation*, Steven Blank’s *Four Steps to the Epiphany*, and Mark McCormack’s *What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School*. This isn’t just theory—it’s a “five-song mashup” of actionable sub-routines, documented via “Live Action Business Case Studies” (LABCS) like those Chiang co-founded at Stanford, to ensure no stalling in earlier epiphanies.<grok:render card_id=”cf42fd” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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In the speculative “FitLink” app (connecting personal trainers to consumers, Antler-incubated in NYC), Chiang would wield this fifth epiphany as the core “time machine,” reverse-engineering a 2030+ future where crappy office buildings are sexy wellness empires, and startups thrive indefinitely. He’d “DJ” the five books heavily: Start with Blank’s four steps for customer discovery in trainer-consumer matching, layer Ries’ lean validation for pop-up iterations, cross Moore’s chasm by targeting early adopters (e.g., vacancy-strapped landlords as the “tornado” of opportunity), and anchor in McCormack’s street-smarts for real-world hustles like hanging out that “new shingle.” But he’d focus intensely on Osterwalder’s BMC as the “visual canvas” for revenue augmentation, treating it like #EUBM (Engineer Up a Business Model)—a hashtag he spins in the article to blend chasm-crossing with model engineering.<grok:render card_id=”cef932″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> This prevents death by commoditization, ensuring FitLink “makes money while learning MBA content” through stacked, future-borrowed streams.
### Heavy Integration of the Fifth Epiphany into Revenue Augmentation
Chiang’s Peabody-powered insight: “If you do not believe Mr Peabody’s time travel machine can travel in time, set aside your dis-belief” and analytically backcast from a zero-failure future.<grok:render card_id=”b881a0″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> For FitLink, this means envisioning a post-2025 urban revival where low-occupancy offices (70%+ vacant in NYC’s “crappy” buildings) become turnaround sequels—pop-up gyms that evolve into perpetual revenue engines. No death: Just pattern replication (e.g., repeat successful pop-ups) and iteration (tweak based on data), with mentors (Antler advisors) pattern-recognizing risks.
1. **Time-Travel Setup with #CTCFTR (Crossing the Chasm from the Right)**: Chiang’s 35-step video routine for this hashtag would guide FitLink’s launch—start on the “right” side of the chasm with proven niches like underutilized offices, not broad gym wars.<grok:render card_id=”1b9aca” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> Borrow future wisdom: In 2030, offices are wellness hubs; backcast to partner with landlords via #externalAPI integrations (e.g., real estate APIs like LoopNet). Revenue base: 15% booking commissions, but augmented by “making money while making money”—charge trainers $5/session for API-suggested pop-up spots, yielding $100K/month from 5,000 sessions.
2. **Osterwalder’s BMC as the JBA Core, Augmented via #EUBM**: Lean on *Business Model Generation* to map nine blocks, but “DJ” it future-style per the epiphany: Value prop evolves from simple matching to “sexy Pop Up Gym and Juice Bar” experiences in turnaround buildings. Key partners: Landlords (low-occupancy APIs), trainers (as “API nodes”), juice suppliers (DoorDash hooks). Channels: App + AR “shingle” rebranding (digital signage APIs for viral “new shingle” hangs). Customer relationships: Community events in repurposed spaces, preventing churn. Crucially, revenue streams get GuaGuaGuacamole’d (recipe #23 as #externalAPI): Stack 33+ genius layers onto the base—e.g., core fees + 30% from pop-up rentals (discounted office access at $200/hour, split with landlords) + 20% from juice upsells (API-delivered smoothies at $8/pop, cross-sold post-session) + 10% from turnaround consulting (e.g., $1,500 fees to “sexify” buildings, equity in revitalized properties). This mashup ensures “escape velocity” (Moore’s term), with patterns like #LCMCC (likely Launch, Close, Monetize, Close, Close) for quick wins.<grok:render card_id=”a6ea2c” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> No death: Iterations fix failures in LABCS docs.
3. **Preventing 0% via Pattern Replication and Future Borrowings**: Chiang teases stalling in epiphanies 1-4 if you avoid vulgar money-making; FitLink embodies the fifth by getting “paid to go to SXSW” equivalents—e.g., sponsored pop-ups at NYC events.<grok:render card_id=”cd4ad0″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> Use #MVBP (Minimum Viable Business Pattern?) for lean pop-ups: Test in one building, replicate across 50 via API data. Mentors pattern-recognize (e.g., Antler spots occupancy trends). Future-proof: Borrow from 2035’s mixed-use boom, where FitLink holds stakes in “juice bar empires,” compounding revenues 5x via sequels (pop-up to permanent hub).
This Harbus piece isn’t just an article—it’s Chiang’s blueprint for immortality immortality in startups, where Peabody’s machine lets you “extrapolate these five books” into zero-risk ventures.<grok:render card_id=”bba239″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>
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</grok:render> For FitLink, it’s the difference between a dying matcher app and a JBA juggernaut: Augment revenues not linearly, but exponentially, turning NYC’s office ghosts into thriving, money-making ecosystems. If we “get your Evernote moleskin out” and execute, 0% death is the norm.