I had a birthday this week which triggered from reflections on my life. I prepared a short list of lessons learned for my party. I hope you find them helpful.
Some Reflections on My Life Triggered by a Recent Birthday Read More »
David Jeske divides the agile principles into high level, individual empowerment, and contract development. He embraces the first two, rejects the third.
David Jeske: Google’s Perspective on Agile Read More »
In “The Dance of the Possible,” Scott Berkun outlines four tests for understanding the real work involved in translating observations and creative insight into a solution.
Scott Berkun: How to Translate Observations and Creative Insight Into a Solution Read More »
Some thoughts on things we do to make it easier for teams who speak English as a second language to understand us.
Lessons From Working With Teams Who Speak English as a Second Language Read More »
Entrepreneurs need to focus on innovation or the first reduction to practice of an idea in a culture because this is the critical precursor to customer value.
Innovation is the first reduction to practice of an idea in a culture Read More »
I was asked by the son of the founders of the Computer Literacy Bookshop chain in Silicon Valley to contribute a remembrance of the stores as part of a Father’s Day gift he was preparing. Here is what I wrote.
Remembering Computer Literacy Bookshops In Silicon Valley Read More »
I like working with entrepreneurs because I find it easier to deal with their psychological challenges and the small team dynamics of a startup than the political problems of an enterprise.
Why I Like Working with Entrepreneurs Read More »
Here are six practical lessons from Priya Parker‘s “The Art of Gathering.” It’s a great book that provides both practical and conceptual guidance for anyone who is planning or hosting a meeting.
Key Lessons From Priya Parker’s “The Art of Gathering” Read More »
The following is an edited version of a recent online conversation I had with a team of bootstrappers about how to make their product attract early adopters.
Q: What Makes a Product Attract Early Adopters? Read More »
My July 2019 collection of quotes for entrepreneurs has a focus on the need to take responsibility for the consequences of our beliefs and actions.
Quotes for Entrepreneurs Collected in July 2019 Read More »
Paul Tyma defines the Old Man’s Business Model as taking the sure way, even though it may be longer than shortcuts that may not work. Tyma calls it a “trade-off of investment up-front versus brute-force hope.” The “old man” invests up front instead of hoping a quick and dirty approach may work.
Paul Tyma on “The Old Man’s Business Model” Read More »
We have been working with the team at Traffic Parrot for more than four years, it’s gratifying to have a customer agree to a public endorsement and while Bestow was not Traffic Parrot’s first customer, they were the first to agree to be quoted.
Traffic Parrot Press Release: Bestow Selects Traffic Parrot Read More »
Humans like to give and to receive without cheating or being cheated: we want to be part of networks of reciprocal gift-exchange. If you want to become a member in good standing of community you will need to “give to get.”
Reciprocal Gift-Exchange and Charity Knit Networks into Communities Read More »
Doing business with friends presents a number of challenges for entrepreneurs, as does setting limits on asking for “free advice” to know when to pay.
Q: Free Advice and Doing Business With Friends Read More »
The American declaration of independence and rebellion against the British was an incredibly risky proposition. George Washington often advised his soldiers that they would either “conquer or die.”
Independence Day 2019: “Conquer or Die” Read More »
Entrepreneurs are often quick to characterize prospects who don’t see the benefits of their new shiny technology as laggards. Sometimes that’s the case, but often the product presentation does not present benefits that are either relevant or compelling. Laggards get a lot of bad press in the startup community, but their reasons not to change
Q: Help! I Can Only Find Laggards in My Target Customer Segment Read More »
My June 2019 collection of quotes for entrepreneurs has a focus on learning and exploration, triggered by Lord Kelvin’s observation, “When you call a thing mysterious, all that it means is that you don’t understand it.” I think this also applies to things we call chaotic, random, or unpredictable.
Quotes For Entrepreneurs Collected in June 2019 Read More »
Finding the right customers is not just a matter of kissing frogs until one turns into a prince, but a methodical search guided by an experimentation perspective where your selection criteria are continually refined and re-evaluated.
Some personal reflections on my father and a stroke he suffered in June 1994 when I was launching a new company and expecting my first son in a few weeks.
Father’s Day 2019: a Story of My Father Read More »
A Q&A with Lee Carter where we explore the value of direct observation of customer environments to complement customer interviews. Lee shares details of a project he worked on where direct observation provided a valuable complement to a basic product specification.
Lee Carter on the Value of Direct Observation Read More »
