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.
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Rules of Thumb
Finding Common Ground and Workable Solutions
Some thoughts on finding common ground and workable solutions when trust is low and conversations are challenging.
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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.
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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.
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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. One question that comes up in December and January, and sometimes in February and March, is “who can recommend a good accountant to help me file a corporate tax return?” It turns out it is better
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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.
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Cultivating Luck in Business Endeavors and Relationships
Brendan McAdams and Sean Murphy discuss cultivating luck in business endeavors and relationships.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.)
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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.
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A Practical Introduction to Social Capital for Entrepreneurs
This is a practical overview of social capital, an essential concept for entrepreneurs despite being hard to measure. I offer suggestions for growing your business network, and enhancing your reputation, explaining why increasing social capital creates value for your startup.
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Use the Cult of Done Manifesto to Avoid Procrastination and Perfectionism
The Cult of Done Manifesto offers thirteen principles for getting things done. I found them useful for avoiding procrastination and perfectionism. Here are the principles along with my commentary and suggestions for entrepreneurs.
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Making Business Decisions in Uncertain Times
Business leaders today are faced with business challenges and a level of uncertainty that is unprecedented in recent memory. Established approaches and well-tried options no longer work, forcing us to make business decisions in uncertain times. This article collects some useful tips for making better business decisions that I have learned over the last 40
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Rules of a Scientist’s Life, Applied to Entrepreneurs
Alan Marnett published eleven “Rules for a Scientist’s Life” in 2013. It’s a good list that can be applied to entrepreneurs as well.
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Getting Work Done: Leveraging Calendars, Task Lists, and Project Plans
A collection of practical suggestions for getting work done curated from a roundtable conversation among entrepreneurs at an Oct-25-2019 Bootstrappers Breakfast.
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David Jeske: Google’s Perspective on Agile
David Jeske divides the agile principles into high level, individual empowerment, and contract development. He embraces the first two, rejects the third.
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