Thanksgiving 2011
Reflections at Thanksgiving 2011: in the second half of my life, it’s time to appreciate all that I have and be more forthcoming in my gratitude to others.
Pictures Are to Words as Conversations are to Surveys
You waste time and reputation using these methods for B2B customer discovery: surveys, landing pages, and asking for endorsement before product experience.
Pictures Are to Words as Conversations are to Surveys Read More »
Start Black Friday at the Bootstrappers Breakfast in Mountain View
Do your shopping on-line and avoid the crowds, then drop by the Bootstrappers Breakfast® in Mountain View this Friday at 9am at Red Rock Coffee. We will be upstairs in our usual location in the corner to the left of the staircase. A Bootstrappers Breakfast allows you to Take part in a serious roundtable conversation among
Start Black Friday at the Bootstrappers Breakfast in Mountain View Read More »
Panelists Announced for Bootstrapper’s Manifesto Book Club Webinar
Here is the panel for the Bootstrapper’s Manifesto Book Club Webinar: Neal Tovsen, Sarah Gray, Francis Adanza, and Sean Murphy.
Panelists Announced for Bootstrapper’s Manifesto Book Club Webinar Read More »
Veterans Day 2011
On Veterans Day 2011 we honor those who have served in the military and lived: thanks for putting your life on the line for all the things we hold dear.
Seth Godin’s “Bootstrapper’s Manifesto”
Seth Godin’s “Bootstrapper’s Manifesto” is worth and posting it where you can see it every day as a reminder to learn and to grow and enjoy.
Seth Godin’s “Bootstrapper’s Manifesto” Read More »
Perfectionism vs. Mastery
Perfectionism vs. Mastery Mastery’s great accomplishments require time and a willingness to release a sequence of prototypes. Perfectionism means you don’t ship until it’s perfect. Which means you never ship or what you ship has not learned from problems or needs that only visible post deployment. Randall Munroe’s “The General Problem” embeds this observation: “I
Perfectionism vs. Mastery Read More »
Customer Interviews: Allow Yourself to Be Surprised
A few thoughts on customer interviews and why their capacity to surprise us makes them preferable to surveys and landing pages for early market exploration.
Customer Interviews: Allow Yourself to Be Surprised Read More »
Stay Tuned! We Are Being Purposefully Vague Right Now
I came across an interesting tool this week in the collaboration area. The web page invited me to apply for membership, prompting me to enter my e-mail, twitter handle, blog, and a brief bio. But they were “purposefully vague’ about who they were. It wasn’t exactly stealth mode, more like maintaining deniability if it failed
Stay Tuned! We Are Being Purposefully Vague Right Now Read More »
Geva Solomonovich of Fraud Sciences at Fri-Nov-4 BB
Geva Solomonovich, an early employee at Fraud Sciences and several other startups joins us tomorrow to share lessons learned getting early customers and growing the business.
Geva Solomonovich of Fraud Sciences at Fri-Nov-4 BB Read More »
The Startup Mythology of Silicon Valley
Align your startup with a higher purpose to sustain motivation. Avoid “entrepreneurial lifestyle” and startup mythology: build a going concern.
The Startup Mythology of Silicon Valley Read More »
Quotes For Entrepreneurs–October 2011
You can follow @skmurphy to get them hot off the mojo wire or wait until the end of the month when these quotes for entrepreneurs are collected on the blog. Enter your E-mail if you would like new blog posts to your inbox.
Quotes For Entrepreneurs–October 2011 Read More »
A Professional Always Specializes
A Professional Always Specializes, great advice for entrepreneurs from the Bill Miner character in “the Grey Fox.”
A Professional Always Specializes Read More »
Founder Story: Eric Deal, Cyclic Design
This originally appeared in EETimes on-line as “Eric Deal bounces back from a startup shutdown to establish Cyclic Design” on Dec-20-2010.
Founder Story: Eric Deal, Cyclic Design Read More »
Dave Stubenvoll Guest for “Origin & Evolution of New Business” Oct-26-2011
Dave Stubenvoll joins the panel for our Book Club for Business Impact to discuss “Origin & Evolution of New Business” by Amar Bhide
Dave Stubenvoll Guest for “Origin & Evolution of New Business” Oct-26-2011 Read More »
Founder Story: Ghislain Kaiser, Docea Power
This interview with Ghislain Kaiser originally ran Nov-4-2010 as “Docea Power Successfully Bootstraps As a New EDA Player
Founder Story: Ghislain Kaiser, Docea Power Read More »
Founder Story: Paul van Besouw, Oasys Design Systems
An interview with Paul van Besouw, the founder and CEO of Oasys Design System, explores lessons learned from his entrepreneurial efforts at Ambit and Oasys.
Founder Story: Paul van Besouw, Oasys Design Systems Read More »
Business Model Representations
A quick overview of business model representations in active use in 2011. More of a time capsule now.
Business Model Representations Read More »
What Happens When The “Come As You Are Party” is Over
A bootstrapped startup is a “come as you are” party. The Founders rely on passion and their savings to build product and find customers.
What Happens When The “Come As You Are Party” is Over Read More »
Expiration Dates: Deadlines and Commitments
Bootstrappers need to make commitments and meet deadlines to achieve their cash flow objectives. Deadlines and commitments are inextricably linked. Be explicit up front about how long offer is good or how long a customer needs to wait for delivery. Get them to be explicit on payment terms.
Expiration Dates: Deadlines and Commitments Read More »