“It is more productive to convert an opportunity into results than to solve a problem – Which only restores the equilibrium of yesterday.” ~ Peter Drucker I am a sucker for solving problems. And I have to take heed to the wisdom in this quote. Which one makes more impact? A new opportunity or anContinue reading “This is More Productive”
Category Archives: Entrepreneurship
Be Clear About Who Your Customer Is
In case it doesn’t sink in, remember, you are one of 330M people in the United States. Go to the airport, a concert or any large gathering to get a small glimpse of how minute you are in a sea of people. The strategy to try and work with everyone is a sure fire wayContinue reading “Be Clear About Who Your Customer Is”
How Do You Make it More Expensive?
When we think about a problem, we like to solve it. Our brains are suckers for the open loop and we want to close it. If you are asking how to make something cheaper, you get solutions and thoughts on cost-cutting or quality cutting. And those that are super efficient at making things cheap haveContinue reading “How Do You Make it More Expensive?”
Credibility
Does it work? Was it designed in and for the real world? It’s critical to take whatever idea you have and see if it stands up to the rigor and texture of people – customers, partners, critics, etc – in the real world. That’s honest design. Credibility comes from proof that what you conceived canContinue reading “Credibility”
Be a Lateral Thinker
When we are buried in the details of our work, it’s hard to look around and see connections to worlds outside ourselves. We can be talking to the same people within our crowd, read the same blogs, and look at the world through a myopic lens. Some of the big ideas of today such asContinue reading “Be a Lateral Thinker”
Don’t Do Grand Openings
I don’t do grand openings. If you have an idea, skills and the hard work to persist, simply get your first customers and start serving them. This idea that we are anything special out in the marketplace of hundreds of thousands of options is absurd. You have to earn that over time from learning, iteratingContinue reading “Don’t Do Grand Openings”
Collecting and Testing Mental Models
Principles prevail in a world of chaos. Much of life is indeed chaos. I think the importance of collecting and testing your mental models – how you problem solve and approach the world – is critical to drive success. The 80/20 rule can help you focus on what has the best payoffs. Eliminating drain peopleContinue reading “Collecting and Testing Mental Models”
Alignment as a $36M Running Value
The SaaS company WorkBoard announced it closed a Series B round for $23M to total out its fundraising to $36M to date. At this point with their revenues tripling year over year, they have market validation. With more complexity and faster growth, keeping the main thing the main thing is a core business challenge forContinue reading “Alignment as a $36M Running Value”
Minimize Your Digital Platforms
We have a hard time appreciating what drag does to our lives and work. If you’re used to sifting through your junk to find your clothes, notebooks, gadgets or everything to help you in a day, the friction may be lost on you. It’s become a habit that’s comfortable and unnoticeable over time. It’s easyContinue reading “Minimize Your Digital Platforms”
Don’t Be Original
The romantic idea of creating something innovative and new can get us sidetracked quickly in entrepreneurship. There are 28 million small businesses in the United States as of this writing. You are competing with all those businesses, minds and offerings. The likelihood of being original is difficult against such staggering numbers! Think about how youContinue reading “Don’t Be Original”