Charles Botensten
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Morning brick — threshold intervals
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Charles Botensten
A life measured in
A life measured in
miles, deals, and pages.
Triathlete. Man of faith. Avid reader. Manhattan real-estate broker since 2009 — owner of my own firm since 2014. These days I also design, code, and architect software, all in the open. This is the journey, documented daily.
The journey
The full story →
How I got here
- 2009 Licensed in New York. Started in Manhattan residential real estate — cold calls, open houses, and the long apprenticeship of learning a market block by block.
- 2014 Founded my own firm. Went from broker to broker-owner. Building a business taught me more about discipline than any book — and sent me back to the books anyway.
- Every morning The swim, the bike, the run. Triathlon is the daily practice that keeps everything else honest. Every session is tracked on Strava, in the open — the feed below is live.
- Always Faith and the library. A man of faith and a relentless reader. Scripture, biographies, craft — the pages are where the miles and the deals get their meaning.
- Now Designing and shipping software. Vibe coder, designer, data architect. I build this site, my tools, and my company’s platform with AI — and document the whole climb in public.
Training, live
Every run, ride, and swim — straight from Strava. Follow along.
Charles Botensten
🏅 6
Zwift — Alpe du Zwift full climb
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1h 39mTime
16.0mphPace
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Charles Botensten
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Masters swim — 3.2k pull set
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1:39/100ydPace
Charles Botensten
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Long ride — coastal 100
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Instagram
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In the feed
Such a blessed Thanksgiving, one we’ll never forget! First hosting at my parents in some t
Elon Musk’s Secret Texas Empire Will Shock You 🤯 #ElonMusk #Texas #Tesla #SpaceX #Starbas
Jay-Z Just Lost BILLIONS to a Guy Voting From Zoom Hashtags: #JayZ #NYC #Casino #Queens #M
LA Just Spent $3 BILLION on This Right Before the Olympics 😳 #LA #LosAngeles #Olympics #C
We discuss the recent acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate by Compass for $1.6 billion in a
Attendees came for the kitchen or love island…
If you’ve got a backpack and dreams… pick one.
My bike wants closure and quads know this isn’t Zwift.
YouTube
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Live & long-form
2:29:17
Day 53 - Vibe Coding Apps & SaaS Sites + Sober Day 29
1:38:37
Day 52 - Vibe Coding A Community Of Builders (Fable 5) + Sober Day 25
2:47:56
Day 51 - Vibe Coding A Community Of Builders | Sober Day 22
1:53:16
Day 50 - Vibe Coding A Community (Opus 4.8 High) + Sober Day 15
2:42:23
Day 49 - Vibe Coding A Community (Opus 4.8 High) + Sober Day 12
2:28:23
Day 48 - Vibe Coding A Community (Opus 4.8 High) + Sober Day 8
Podcast
All episodes →
In your ears
38 Days of Live-streaming — Why I'm About to Quit It
38 days of daily live-streaming — and I'm about to quit the format entirely. Not because it failed, but because I realized I was renting relevance ins…
The Importance of AI in 2026
Most people sleep on the biggest opportunity of 2026 — mastering their mindset and health to harness AI's potential. In this provocative episode, Chuc…
The Importance of Summer 2026
The summer of 2026 is shaping up to be the most pivotal moment in history you’ve probably never heard of—and if you ignore it, you risk missing a once…
The Rise of Authenticity in the AI Era
Most of us have been chasing perfection in a digital world that’s increasingly craving authenticity—and now, AI is forcing us to confront what it trul…
The craft
Vibe coder. Designer.
Vibe coder. Designer.
Data architect.
Everything you're looking at — this site, the writing engine behind it, the training feeds, the whole platform — I designed and built myself, pairing with AI. The business side of that work lives at Botensten, where a community of builders is learning to own their software instead of renting it.
Personal development
The writing, always growing
Long-form personal-development essays — researched, written, and published here continuously, so there is always something new on health, money, faith, habits, and the craft of a well-lived life. Free to read, no funnel.
Articles
See all
How to Sell a Product Online: A Step-by-Step Guide
Sell a product online in four steps: validate demand, list it, drive targeted traffic, and fix checkout — where nearly 70% of carts are abandoned.
How to Raise a Seed Round: A Founder's Step-by-Step Guide
Raise a seed round by targeting a clear milestone, using a SAFE, building a tiered investor list, and closing with warm intros and real traction.
Best AI Tools for Small Business Owners in 2025
The best AI tools for small business owners are chatbots, virtual assistants, and predictive analytics. Compare categories, costs, and how to start.
The Best Task Management System for Small Business
The best task management system for a small business is the one your team uses daily — usually Todoist, Asana, or Trello. Here is how to choose.
How to Start Working Out at Home: A Beginner's Guide
Start working out at home in 20 minutes a day with no equipment. Learn the exact beginner moves, weekly schedule, and how to stay consistent.
How to Be More Productive: A Practical Guide
Learn how to be more productive with proven methods: the Pomodoro Technique (up to 28% gains), prioritization, sleep, and fewer distractions.
How to Live Longer and Healthier: Evidence-Based Guide
How to live longer and healthier: exercise adds 3-7 years, quitting smoking 10-15. The five habits that extend healthspan, backed by WHO, CDC, and NIH.
Botensten · Venture Studio
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The studio behind BPI, iCharles, Todd & the AI council — idea to clickable prototype in ~5 minutes.
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Building in public — AI, real estate, triathlon, faith. One dispatch when something ships.
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The training, the deals, the faith, the building — documented every day, across every channel. Pick yours.