It’s useful to think very deeply about a situation but beyond a certain level of effort or length of time you need to do some drifting and recharge. I think you need a mental circuit breaker for detecting an impasse and triggering activities that can lead to a change in perspective.
It’s rare for a new initiative to work the first time, at least when I try. I have to “walk around the problem” to look at it from different perspectives.
Take Time to Walk Around The Problem Read More »
For my first post of 2011 I commit to traveling hopefully. I was inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s observation “to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labor.”
Traveling Hopefully Read More »
You can follow @skmurphy to get these quotes for entrepreneurs hot off the mojo wire or wait until the end of the month when they are collected on the blog. Enter your E-mail if you would like new blog posts to your inbox.
Quotes For Entrepreneurs–December 2010 Read More »
Virtual and On-Line Are As Superfluous As Horseless and Electric I think “virtual team” is rapidly becoming redundant: just as “horseless carriage” became car I think “virtual team” will become just team. Most project teams will have a virtual component (e.g. on-line workspace, chat histories) and geographically remote members, if only to involve suppliers, partners,
Virtual and On-Line Are As Superfluous As Horseless and Electric Read More »
Luck is like snow, a certain amount falls on everyone. But unlike snow, you can increase your luck.
The Snow Lay Round About, Deep and Crisp and Even Read More »
I have been thinking about different kinds of teams and team work. For example a choir has sheet music (“Let Men Their Songs Employ”) that predefines the content and timing of each person’s contribution. In a different way the script for a play outlines the content and sequence of each actor’s part.
Let Men Their Songs Employ Read More »
Here is another excerpt from my September interview with Gabriel Weinberg. This one focuses on why payment and testimonials are so important to differentiate users from actual customers.
If Money Doesn’t Change Hands, You Can’t Call a User a Customer Read More »
Customer Development requires an openness to new ideas from prospects and a willingness to revisit assumptions and to be surprised.
Customer Development Requires a Willingness to Be Surprised Read More »
A couple of quotes for entrepreneurs on the limitations of cleverness. Don’t just be clever, be kind and make things of beauty with care.
Quotes On The Limitations of Cleverness Read More »
An excerpt from “A Pilgrim at Tinker Creek” by Annie Dillard that offers a meditation on grace and beauty.
Annie Dillard on the Appreciation of Grace and Beauty Read More »
“Some buildings need air conditioning because they have air conditioning. Because they were designed to be air conditioned, they have no natural ventilation and would be miserable to inhabit without air conditioning.” John Cook in “Maybe You Only Need It Because You Have It“ I wonder if the same thing happens to some fraction of
The Venture Lifestyle Business Read More »
Keeping the ball rolling with prospects requires a mix of empathy for their situation and a project management mindset.
Keeping the Ball Rolling With Prospects Read More »
My bias is to “narrowcast” in the beginning. Choose websites, forums, newsgroups that are tightly focused on your target market.
Narrowcast Early Product Announcements Read More »
Some quick thoughts on selling for software engineers. Sell results, not method. Land and Expand. Get clarity on the customer’s view of the problem. Listen.
Quick Thoughts on Selling For Software Engineers Read More »
Deformation professionelle is a French phrase that encapsulates the perspective that your view of reality is shaped by your profession.
Deformation Professionelle Of The Software Entrepreneur Read More »
Paying dues–putting the time in not only to understand but master a problem or situation–is a critical element of success in many circumstances.
Orienting, Observing, Doing Homework, and Paying Dues Read More »
If you accept the premise that we are living in an age of accelerating change, then you have to build and manage a learning process for your startup.
Building and Managing a Learning Process Read More »
In July I posted “Ten Design Thinking Quotes From Marty Neumeier. Mr. Neumeier has continued his drip irrigation of brilliant insights on twitter at @MARTYneumeier so here are seven of his recent ones related to learning and measurement.
Seven Quotes on Learning and Measurement From Marty Neumeier Read More »
