Highlights from a Wed-Nov-29-2017 panel of sales experts on how effective discovery conversations lead to more effective demos: Richard Smith of Refract, Peter Cohan of Great Demo! and author of “Great Demo,” Brian Geery of SalesNv and author of “How to Demonstrate Software So People Buy It,” and Warren Gouws of SumTotal Systems.
More Effective Discovery Conversations Lead to More Effective Demos Read More »
This blog post is an overview of a series of blog posts on “The Shape of Firms to Come.” It’s an attempt to outline what I believe are key values that businesses will embrace to endure over the next 25 years.
The Shape of Firms to Come: Key Values and Architectural Philosophy Read More »
Here is a list of the most popular SKMurphy blog posts Oct-2006 through Sep-2017 based on page view counts from Google analytics data. I have broken out the Lean Startup Conference roundups for clarity.
Most Popular SKMurphy Blog Posts Oct-2006 Through Sep-2017 Read More »
Devora Zack wrote “Networking For People Who Hate Networking” to help introverts improve their network skills. She offers a number of insights along with several worksheets, checklists, and exercises to help you prepare, practice, and reflect.
Five Insights from Devora Zack’s “Networking For People Who Hate Networking” Read More »
A thank you on Veterans Day 2016 to all of the men and women in our armed forces who made the United States possible, in particular this Silicon Valley oasis of invention and innovation I get to call home. Some quotes to meditate on follow.
Some thoughts on the half-fast entrepreneur with half-vast experience. Any resemblance to the author or the reader is purely coincidental.
A Half-Fast Entrepreneur with Half-Vast Experience Read More »
Edited remarks from a presentation at the Silicon Valley Society for Competitive Analysis on Tue-May-24-2016 on “Extracting Insights From A Competitor’s Software Demo.”
Extracting Insights From A Competitor’s Software Demo Read More »
Entrepreneurs can be paralyzed by the rich set of possibilities they face. It seems almost paradoxical that when you have one choice you can start immediately, when you have two you can flip a coin, but as possibilities multiply the desire to make the best choice can paralyze you. To fully embrace your creativity you
Kierkegaard: Creativity Must Master Dread of the Unknown Read More »
Texas Hold’Em offers some useful models for technology startups: pick the right table (competitors) and understand how your cards best combine with common cards (the status quo and adjacent possible)
Texas Hold’Em as a Model for Technology Startups Read More »
An interview with Jerry Weinberg where we explore the applicability of his Fieldstone Method for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, the implications of Stewart Brand’s “How Buildings Learn” for Weinberg’s dry stone fence metaphor for creation, and managing a crisis as marker for an end of an illusion.
Jerry Weinberg interview Read More »
Timothy Gallwey’s “Inner Game of Tennis” came out in 1974 and sparked a revolution in coaching and how athletes should approach improving their performance. Entrepreneurs can use several lessons to improve their personal performance and coach others.
“Inner Game of Tennis” for Entrepreneurs Read More »
Recently, we worked with a startup on team building as they wrangled with the rapid growth of their business. They needed to bring on new team members and wanted them to be productive and effective as quickly as possible. Working with the leadership team we reviewed Bruce Tuckman’s four stages of team development.
Team Building: Rapid Ramp Read More »
P.T. Barnum wrote “The Art of Money Getting: The Golden Rules for Making Money” in 1880 at the age of 70 when he was already an accomplished businessman, politician, philanthropist, and author–after his hugely successful 1855 autobiography “The Life of P.T. Barnum: Written By Himself.”
P. T. Barnum’s Golden Rules For Making Money Read More »
Optimizing the manufacture of an object requires an understanding of design options, mechanical and physical principles, and 3D printing tradeoffs.
3D Printing Tradeoffs and Optimization Read More »
This 3D Printing Evolution Functional Block Diagram shows the process flow of 3D printing in the X direction and the evolution of the functional blocks in the Y direction.
3D Printing Evolution Functional Block Diagram Read More »
Q: I’m just about to get out of the building to validate hypotheses and start learning, but I have a problem with the business model canvas. I have been advised to develop detailed hypotheses before starting customer discovery. This is my startup and I have no idea how to fill in the business model canvas
Serious Problems With Business Model Canvas For Startups Read More »
Nadia James posted a daily checklist for aligning efforts with goals for your business. It’s a good one, here are suggestions for how to operationalize it.
Nadia James’ Daily Checklist for Aligning Efforts With Goals Read More »
The difference between a hypothesis and an assumption is that the first is typically explicit and the second implicit. A hypothesis is what you are testing explicitly in an experiment. An assumption is tested implicitly. By making your assumptions and hypotheses explicit, you increase the clarity of your approach and the chance for learning.
Difference Between a Hypothesis and an Assumption Read More »
Skip Walter designed successful software products for over three decades. Here are 7 laws from his list of 18 laws of software development.
Seven From Skip Walter’s Laws Of Software Development Read More »
Three Great Books on Generating Innovative Business Ideas These three books contain a wealth of useful suggestions for generating innovative business ideas from observing, questioning, and networking with customers and others: Innovator’s DNA “The Innovator’s DNA” by Christensen, Dyer, and Gregerson outlines a set of five skills that innovator’s use to develop entrepreneurial ideas: Associating:
Three Great Books on Generating Innovative Business Ideas Read More »
