Founders come together at the bootstrappers’ roundtable to share their toughest challenges, their hard-won lessons, and their moments of breakthrough. It’s an early morning gathering where entrepreneurs eat problems for breakfast.
Bootstrappers’ Roundtable: Entrepreneurs Who Eat Problems for Breakfast® Read More »
At SKMurphy, we look for solutions that automate the insights and diagnostic skills embedded in “I will know it when I see it”.
Navigating the Limits of “I’ll Know It When I See It” Read More »
This post explores three insights from Dr. Edward Baker’s “Scoring a Whole in One.” First, individuals must understand the enterprise context they operate in; second, leaders must serve and connect; and third, practice is necessary for improvement but does not lead to perfection.
Three Insights from Dr. Edward Baker’s “Scoring a Whole in One” Read More »
Digital health and materials science engineering are driving significant new opportunities. We have a new peer advisory group for consultants operating in these areas.
Peer Advisory Group: Digital Health Consultants and Materials Science Engineers Read More »
Birds of a feather flock together: in addition to asking for referrals, entrepreneurs exploring a new market are well advised to ask early prospects what groups or communities they belong to. Here are some techniques we have found useful for getting oriented to a subculture or community of practice.
Getting Oriented to a Subculture or Community of Practice Read More »
An SKMurphy Mastermind Group is an ongoing series of facilitated conversations among serious entrepreneurs. It enables collaboration on problems and opportunities and fosters joint accountability around effective ongoing action.
Benefits of SKMurphy Mastermind for Entrepreneurs 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 »
In February 2010 Derek Sivers gave a great talk on “How to Start a Movement” that offered some important tips for leaders and but offered the surprising conclusion that concluded that the most important and underappreciated key to a successful movement was the follower’s courage to follow and ability to show others how to follow.
Derek Sivers: How to Start a Movement Read More »
A Bootstrappers Breakfast is “counter-cultural” to the VC ecosystem focus at many events for entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. Here are seven ways that we take a very different approach to facilitating events for entrepreneurs compared to most others in Silicon Valley.
What to Expect at a Bootstrappers Breakfast Read More »
I used to think it was the advice I offered that provided the highest value to clients and friends. I talk to a number of people in different or challenging situations. Recently I have come to appreciate that it’s when I focus and listen to someone explain their situation, asking them questions from a caring perspective to
Asking Questions From A Caring Perspective Read More »
I cannot remember what reference led me to read “Gunfire at Sea” by Elting Morrison but I thought it captured some fundamental truths about innovation so well I bought several copies of “Men, Machines, and Modern Times” by Elting Morrison and started sharing them with friends in 2005. I had a conversation with Gary Smith
Gary Smith on Bebop As a Model For Innovation Read More »
The Philadelphia Startup Leaders Manifesto is a great example of why federated entrepreneurship is a good model for a startup ecosystem. I have reproduced it here with some observations on our startup stages model, the Bootstrapper Breakfasts®, and Silicon Valley.
Federated Entrepreneurship in PSL Manifesto Read More »
Creating value for others is the core of the entrepreneurial mindset. It enables the exchange of value that fuels entrepreneur’s efforts to bring new ideas and products to market.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Create Value For Others Read More »
Both for personal or business growth, an entrepreneur has to cultivate patience and consider long term effects, not just a transaction’s immediate benefits.
Planting Trees: Finite and Infinite Entrepreneurship Read More »
Identify what is unlikely to change: e.g. problem area, type of customer. Build on experience. Join communities that focus on these.
Some reflections on the Startup Conference May 2014 in Redwood City. The informal conversations were far better than any of the presentations I sat through. I offer some suggestions for informal networking at events.
Reflections on Startup Conference 2014 in Redwood City Read More »
Brian Fuller had an interesting blog post on why you should circle the chairs in a meeting to increase audience participation at “Industry events need to get more social.” Panels and speeches at events are the live equivalent of newspaper publishing: We talk, you listen. Newspapers and magazines have been pounded for the better part
This MVP clinic helps a researcher looking for action research topics in the KM4Dev community and an entrepreneur making athletic contests more engaging.
Recap From Nov-20-2103 MVP Clinic Read More »
What is Under Your Control in an MVP? Your target customer, the problem you solve for them, and what capabilities you offer to help them.
What is Under Your Control in an MVP Read More »
Question: I’m reading Seth Godin’s Tribes book, what role do you think tribes play for startups? For context, we are in crunch time at my startup. We have a few part-time engineers and have soft-circled first half of angel round. Morale is still very high but have lots on our mind. I’m contemplating whether our
Tribes and Traction Read More »
