The most important factor for start-ups
The most important factor in the success of a startup is TIMING, more important than the other 4 factors; idea, team, business model or funding. Too early means too much educational marketing, but too late means there is too much competition. On balance innovative companies are early rather than late. Which is why our recent book … Continue reading The most important factor for start-ups
Children have incredible power over you
Emotions I mean in a good way. Not manipulation. Their ability to drive powerful emotions in you is part of the magic of being a parent. There are the 2 obvious ones, but a 3rd surprising one: 1. Pride When your child is performing on stage, comes back with a string of A+ results, is … Continue reading Children have incredible power over you
Disruption hits the entire value chain; blood on the streets
Digital disruption Cloud, social, mobile and big data are enabling new entrants in virtually every industry to disrupt the incumbents. "Being Ubered" was the popular term, but based on Uber's recent behaviour, "being Ubered" is starting to mean something entirely different!! Gartner has called it the Nexus of Forces. Forrester calls it Digital Disruption. IDC … Continue reading Disruption hits the entire value chain; blood on the streets
Pivot before the cash runs out *updated*
READ TIME: 2 mins HINT: Pivoting is not a business strategy, but a tactic. HINT: Constantly pivoting is called a "death spiral" Pivot is not a business strategy Nowadays the trendy way to mask a failure is to successfully pivot – before the cash runs out – and then become successful. But for every one … Continue reading Pivot before the cash runs out *updated*
Why and how VCs will kill your early stage B2B company
VCs kill their porfolio companies It is not out of choice or malicious intent, but through ignorance. This is something we are trying to address by writing IMPACT and getting VCs to read it. VCs are a powerful voice on the boards of your start-up. Partly because of their shareholding, but also because they "have … Continue reading Why and how VCs will kill your early stage B2B company
A radical new way to publish a book
Rethinking book publishing Download the book summary: IMPACT - the technology executive’s guide for selling B2B disruptive and innovative solutions Having recently read the Lean Startup by Eric Ries a thought struck me as we started to rewrite Why Killer Products. We originally published it in 2008 which was appalling timing as the whole world was … Continue reading A radical new way to publish a book
Not ALL Silicon Valley CEOs are psychopaths
Last night Pando Daily ran one of their "Fireside Chats" with the LinkedIn CEO, Jeff Weiner, hosted by Rackspace in San Francisco and sponsored by TriNet and Atlassian. It was an entertaining evening but also very educational. Partly because Sarah Lacy, sassy founder of Pando Daily, was not afraid to answer to probing and off the wall … Continue reading Not ALL Silicon Valley CEOs are psychopaths
Corporates: pay your bills on time
Payment terms of 30, 45 and 60 days are not unknown. But the time it takes big companies to pay their little suppliers can be as much as 120 days, and it is getting worse with the average now 58.5 days according to a report by D&B. This is not only tantamount to corporate bullying, … Continue reading Corporates: pay your bills on time
5 must read articles for startups to supercharge you
Bootstrapping 101 Getting your first 1000 users is easier than you think Raising $23 as Silicon Valley Outsider in less than 30 months Growing and enterprise SaaS company How to succeed in building your own product in 2014 plus a bonus.. and probably the most powerful Getting your startup strategy aligned with your market: Book … Continue reading 5 must read articles for startups to supercharge you
Bootstrapping 101
The Art of Bootstrapping Definition according to Wikipedia Bootstrapping or booting refers to a group of metaphors which refer to a self-sustaining process that proceeds without external help. Someone once told me that the probability of an entrepreneur getting venture capital is the same as getting struck by lightning while standing at the bottom of … Continue reading Bootstrapping 101
The jetpack for your career
Public speaking – wowing an audience with confidence and ease. It is the most under-rated skill that can super-charge your career. And in the past 15 years on the professional speaking circuit I have seen little or no improvement. Great presentation technique gets you noticed inside and outside your company, gets you promoted or better … Continue reading The jetpack for your career
I don’t need to be rich, I need to be inspired. @gapingvoid #inspiring #insightful
Often Hugh's cartoons at GapingVoid can be bitter and twisted, but always funny. This one is more thoughtful and insightful. The funny thing is, we equate making money with the daily grind, yet the people who make the most money rarely treat it that way. The most successful people I know feel relatively inspired on … Continue reading I don’t need to be rich, I need to be inspired. @gapingvoid #inspiring #insightful
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