Author Archives: Don Dalrymple

I just got out of a team meeting where our development team’s last quarter of hard work, under the surface, got to be displayed and communicated. The whole team was able to see what was happening in the background and the many hours of thinking, hard work and testing that produced new features ready forContinue reading “What Really Happens in Success”

Revisit the strategy of using your blog as the way to share content when: … someone asks you for advice, write it up … you are working through an idea … you are positioning for customers You can also use the following strategies for making content count: Shoot Loom videos of what you are thinkingContinue reading “It’s All About Content”

The law of diminishing returns is critical to think about for empire builders and deal makers. I think about this concept a lot because you can overstay your contribution. There are people that work on the first part of the curve well. They visioneer, design, set up and create strategy, systems, structure and opportunity. WhenContinue reading “Empire Building and Diminishing Returns”

When I am looking at entrepreneurial opportunities and deals, the critical piece I value is the proof of concept. This can take varying forms. Let’s examine software as a service, for example. Is there demand for the product? Starting with a service that is sold and delivered manually shows that a paying customer values theContinue reading “Proof of Concept”

When teams grow, the management of details, priorities and people can become unwieldy. Knowing what problems to prioritize and address can easily become a blur. Thus, building KPI scorecards built on specific execution that roll up to results has to be designed and implemented as part of the management process. Here is how to makeContinue reading “Building KPI Scorecards”

It’s hard to stop when you are working hard. Our brains can trick us into thinking that our efforts mean productivity. You may be working on the wrong thing altogether. You may be digging the wrong hole, so stop digging. Getting clear is critical when you are not clear. And clarity is not free. YouContinue reading “How to Get Clear Quickly”

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” – Henry Ford We have a lot of uncertainty around us, especially during these COVID times. What was normal, is now obsolete or transformed. The pandemic ushered in new business models and efficiencies. And for the knowledgeContinue reading “You Can’t Take the Thinking Out of Knowledge Work”

It truly is a jungle out there. Regardless of your good intentions, there is much uncertainty and unknowns in the course of building businesses. I know many entrepreneurs that strictly focus on the top line and driving revenue. Sometimes, this intense focus precludes worrying about the details that might chip away at one’s winnings. It’sContinue reading “How to Protect Your Entrepreneurial Downside”