This is the forty-eighth session of Glasp Talk!
Glasp Talk delves deep into intimate interviews with luminaries from various fields, unraveling their genuine emotions, experiences, and the stories behind them.
Today’s guest is
, finance thought-leader, creator of the wildly popular newsletter, and co-host of the Run the Numbers podcast. With a career that’s taken him from PwC to senior FP&A roles, through stints at Snyk and Veeam Software, and ultimately to CFO at PartsTech (where he steered the company to a successful exit), CJ now splits his time between writing, podcasting, angel investing, and advising fast-growing startups from his base in Naples, Florida.If you want to reread or highlight this newsletter, save it to Glasp.
Watch the full episode on YouTube
Get a quick overview & summary
✨ Want a concise summary before diving in? Install the YouTube Summary with ChatGPT extension by Glasp for instant video summaries!
Transcripts
Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of Glasp Talk. Today, we are excited to have CJ Gustafson with us. CJ is a sharp mind behind the Mostly metrics newsletter and Run the Numbers podcast, where he breaks down business model metrics and the nuances of monetization with clarity and wit, currently based in Naples, Florida, and CJ brings a w... Read More
Highlights
Growing Mostly Metrics: CJ shared how consistent effort and refining his focus on finance topics helped Mostly Metrics succeed, emphasizing the importance of audience-market fit and building a strong content base rather than chasing viral moments.
Key Startup Finance Lessons: He explained important metrics like ARR, CAC payback, net dollar retention, and RPO, warning how some numbers can be misrepresented, and stressed tailoring financial benchmarks to a startup’s specific business model.
AI's Role and Founder Advice: CJ discussed how AI can boost internal efficiency, advised founders to prioritize sustainable growth over chasing high valuations, and emphasized the need to innovate while continuously balancing mission and financial discipline.
Key Questions & Insights
Q: What motivated CJ Gustafson to start his newsletter and podcast?
CJ was motivated by his desire to document his learning experiences in finance and business metrics. He noticed that existing resources didn't simplify complex topics effectively, so he aimed to create accessible content that could benefit others navigating similar challenges.
Q: How did CJ build his audience for Mostly Metrics?
Initially, it was challenging for CJ to attract readership, as his newsletter focused on ideas rather than metrics. By shifting the content to address metrics and their implications engagingly, he found audience traction, further aided by persistence and consistent quality over time.
Q: How does CJ view the role of AI in business metrics and finance?
CJ sees AI as a tool for efficiency rather than merely for revenue growth. By automating repetitive tasks and assisting in data analysis, AI can help organizations optimize resource usage and improve overall productivity without necessarily reducing personnel.
Q: What advice does CJ offer to founders with high net revenue retention?
CJ recommends that founders continue investing in their business when experiencing high net revenue retention, like 140%. Such metrics indicate strong market demand, suggesting that increased investment in growth initiatives can yield favorable returns.
Q: How does CJ suggest founders prepare for the next innovation cycle?
Founders should remain attuned to their customer feedback and market needs to anticipate when to innovate. They should look for expansion opportunities, whether it be through new products, additional customer segments, or geographical markets.
Newsletter: Mostly metrics
Mostly Metrics is a finance and startup newsletter by CJ Gustafson, a tech CFO. It breaks down SaaS metrics, financial forecasting, and startup operations with real-world insights and humor. Trusted by CFOs, investors, and operators alike.
Follow CJ Gustafson on social
Partner with Glasp
We currently offer newsletter sponsorships. If you have a product, event, or service you’d like to share with our community of learning enthusiasts, sponsor an edition of our newsletter to reach engaged readers.
We value your feedback
We’d love to hear your thoughts and invite you to our short survey.
Share this post