As I read this morning about the Business Roundtable changing this fundamental principle, I was really glad to see it. It’s about time. Several hundred influential CEOs got together and agreed to revise priorities. The next quarter’s profits—which maximizes short-term share price—are no longer the supreme goal and top priority. Here’s the story: AMERICA’S CEOS JUST […]
7 Crazy Startup Ideas That Worked
I believe many people put way too much stock in the startup idea. Doing the business, doing the work, getting things done, and execution are all more important. Obviously a bad idea can make a business unsuccessful, but a good idea is no guarantee. And very few successful businesses are based on being the first […]
What Do I Need to Do to Become an Entrepreneur?
Q: What do I need to do to become an entrepreneur? Being an entrepreneur is simply somebody who has launched a business. It’s not a set of traits or qualities, a state of being, or an attribute. It’s not a degree or certificate. It’s not an expertise. It’s did you start a business, or not? […]
3 Critical Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Business
Starting a business? Thinking about starting a business? Here are my suggestions for three quick questions you should ask yourself first: What are the chances that the business I want to start will be able to launch and grow? That’s a matter of market, product, product-market fit, need, demand, fulfillment and delivery. What resources are […]
3 Business Plan Critical Factors
What matters most for a business plan? When somebody asked on Quora what are the critical factors of a business plan, I came up with these three business plan critical factors: Does it achieve its business goal? Form follows function; does it achieve its business goal? Measure a business plan by its results, and nothing else. You […]
10 Good Reasons Not to Seek Investors for Your Startup
Before you buy into the myths about startup investors, first consider whether you actually want startup investors for your new business at all. No, I’m not bitter … I had VC money in Palo Alto Software for a few years and they were helpful, collaborative, and good people. I’m not a bitter victim. And I’ve […]
Q&A: How to Be an Entrepreneur
Question: How to be an entrepreneur? My Answer: First, if you have the option and haven’t already, get a good education. Focus on whatever interests you, not necessarily business. Entrepreneurs without formal education are at a huge disadvantage. But there’s no clear difference between a good degree in business and a good degree in any other […]
Avoid Meaningless Words
From Seth Godin’s post Meaningless, published January 7… There are words that now have no meaning at all… ‘Well’ and ‘so’ have been doing this work for a long time, but add to that the more syllabic words like ironically, literally, and hopefully. And don’t forget all the adjectives, beginning with ‘very’ and ‘really’ that (ironically) make something […]
You Have to Know When to Quit
I recommend you read Nat Eliason‘s piece No More Struggle Porn. He’s attacking one of the more pervasive startup myths around, the idea that the struggle itself, the overwhelming and overpowering struggle that pushes everything else out of your life, is a good thing. He defines struggle porn as: I call this “struggle porn”: a masochistic obsession […]
6 Common Misconceptions About Angel Investors
The question on Quora was “What do investors ‘get’ that other people don’t?” I answered that question from the point of view of angel investors, specifically … not just investors. 1. Some of the healthiest businesses are not good investments Many people think that a good business makes a good investment. The truth is not […]
