Four Lessons for Startups from SVB Shutdown
Here are four key lessons for startups I have extracted from the shutdown of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB).
Rules of Thumb
Julie Fast Offers Four Practical Tips on Perseverance
I found that Julie Fast offered a number of practical tips for dealing with motivation and low energy; this post highlights four.
Bootstrappers Breakfasts: the Power of Community and Conversation
Fourteen tips on how to take advantage of the power of community and conversation at the Bootstrappers Breakfasts.
Networking in Silicon Valley 2023
A primer on Networking in Silicon Valley 2023, collects material from articles I’ve written and briefings I’ve given over the last 16 years.
Harsh Darji on How to Innovate Using Visual Thinking
Harsh Darji shares some of his drawings and his process of visual thinking. See how visual thinking can help you innovate your business.
Triage for Managing Interrupts
This is for startup founders. You have a lot on your plate and events and interruptions make it even more interesting.
Chalk Talk 1-2-4-1
We use a four phase project planning model we call 1-2-4-1 which allocates time to planning, prototyping key challenges, finishing the bulk of the work, and polishing.
Finding Common Ground and Workable Solutions
Some thoughts on finding common ground and workable solutions when trust is low and conversations are challenging.
Chalk Talk: Where is your team in the explore exploit continuum?
Where is your team in the explore exploit continuum? Are you in explore or exploit mode? If you are operating in a new area with high uncertainty then explore mode is the best posture. As you gain clarity you will typically transition to exploit mode.
Chalk Talk: S-Curve for Technology Investment
A chalk talk on the S-Curve model for Technology Investment. The S-curve was first popularized in “Innovation the Attacker’s Advantage” by Richard Foster.
Q: Can you recommend an accountant for business taxes?
Need an accountant for business taxes? Here are accountants recommended by Bootstrappers Breakfast members for startups and small businesses.
Seven Insights from “Solving for Pattern” by Wendell Berry
In “Solving for Pattern,” Wendell Berry writes about organic farming principles. Still, he offers a systems perspective applicable to startups and growing businesses that need to develop both staff and technology to thrive.
Cultivating Luck in Business Endeavors and Relationships
Brendan McAdams and Sean Murphy discuss cultivating luck in business endeavors and relationships.
Kristin Zhivago: The Promise Keeper
Kristin Zhivago’s “The Promise Keeper” outlined the need for business processes that support your brand as the promise that you keep.
Reflections on Serendipity
For startups, regardless of the niche or product being sold, visibility is arguably one of the single most critical challenges faced. You can have the coolest solutions in the world, but if nobody knows it exists, it’s essentially worthless. And this is why visibility is so important. In this video we share our reflections on …
Brian Norgard Offers Pithy Insights From the Trenches of Entrepreneurship
I am not sure which of these tweets brought Brian Norgard (@BrianNorgard) to my attention; he offers pithy insights from the trenches of entrepreneurship.
Vicky Hora on Awesome Coaching and Mentoring
Four excerpts from a fantastic briefing at the Lean Culture Meetup by Vicky Hora on coaching and mentoring.
Zoom In for Traction, Then Slowly Zoom Out for Impact
Founder: Sean Murphy’s advice to “zoom in for traction” encouraged me to shift my focus from a region to a single city. This allowed me to generate references that encouraged other prospects to sign up.”
Rob Fitzpatrick: Five Mistakes Bootstrappers Should Avoid in 2021
Rob Fitzpatrick, author of the Mom Test, offers some evergreen advice on mistakes bootstrappers should avoid in 2021 (especially if they have not made already and won’t see them coming.)
Be Open Kimono With Partners
Work with trusted partners open kimono: disclose relevant financials, plans, and internal processes to increase synergy. Play a long game.