What follows is the entry for August 15, 1851 by Henri Frederic Amiel in his Journal where he explores how to be ready, how to focus on the essential and how to fulfill your purpose. I have added some details on my own shortcomings: procrastination, disorganization, and a rock-paper-scissors approach to picking the next task […]
Henri Frederic Amiel on How to Be Ready Read More »
Some extracts with commentary from Ben Aaronovitch’s “Moon over Soho.” It’s the second in his “Rivers of London” series of novels about Peter Grant, a London Police Constable and apprentice magician. I have selected them to revisit yesterday’s “Nature, Technology and Magic” post.
Moon over Soho: Nature, Technology, Magic Read More »
What seems natural, artificial, or supernatural is a function of familiarity. Nature is the background or context for innovation. The challenge is that we live in a world and culture formed by millennia of innovation so that some incredibly advanced technologies seem natural. The difference between technology and magic is not that one works more
Nature, Technology and Magic Read More »
“The Ocean at the End of the Lane” is an autobiographical fantasy novel written by Neil Gaiman in 2013. He explores how we carry the lessons of childhood and the wisdom of a seven year old with us throughout our lives.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman Read More »
If you have bootstrapped your startup to the point where you have a business that both merits and would benefit from outside investment then you may need to consider seeking investment. Here are some common formats we have seen for an investor presentation.
Investment Presentation Formats Read More »
My interview with Gabriel Weinberg was originally published Sep-8-2010. He was doing research for what became his fantastic book Traction. We talked for the better part of an hour and a half and I can remember he kept returning in different ways to what was needed to close your first dozen enterprise customers. He recently
Your First Dozen Enterprise Customers Read More »
I have known Jennifer Berkley Jackson of The Insight Advantage for the better part of a decade. I met her at a Breakfast for Management Consultants and have stayed in touch ever since. She wrote a great blog post last year on “Win/Loss Analysis, Your Secret Weapon for Success” and we recently sat down to
Jen Berkley Jackson on Win Loss Interviews Read More »
We recently helped a client frame the exploration of an opportunity for acquiring a small software firm. Here are some questions to consider if you are contemplating the sale or acquisition of small software company.
Q: How To Evaluate Acquiring a Small Software Firm Read More »
Q: My software consultancy has reached the point of needing to hire someone to help manage the sales pipeline. I’ve hired all kinds of technical related folks, but never for sales.
Q: How To Find Help Selling Professional Services Read More »
The History Channel’s “Men Who Built America” documentary recaps the history of the creation of key American industries: railroad, steel, petroleum, automobile, and finance. Covering a period from roughly 1850 to World War 2 it offers reenactments of key events in the evolution of American business. It’s worth an entrepreneur’s time to reflect on the lives on
Men Who Built America Read More »
I got to know Edith Harbaugh (@edith_h) when she was moderating the Lean Startup Circle Group and published two guest blog posts by her: “It’s Your Execution, Not Your Idea” and “Managing Email Conversations With Customers.” I also invited her to take part in a webinar on Innovator’s DNA: Experimenting Skill. During the roundtable conversation
Founder Story: Edith Harbaugh of LaunchDarkly Read More »
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch infuses magic into the police procedural. The narrator is Peter Grant, a young London Metropolitan Police Constable newly apprenticed to a wizard. It’s a strangely compelling read that I could not put down until I finished it. The novel is deeply rooted in the day to day realities of
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch Read More »
You can follow @skmurphy to get these quotes for entrepreneurs hot off the mojo wire or wait until they are collected in a blog post at the end of each month. Enter your E-mail address if you would like to have new blog posts sent to you.
Quotes For Entrepreneurs May 2015 Read More »
While asking for a letter of intent may seem like a useful shortcut to assessing prospect intent, it normally causes many more problems than it solves.
Assessing Prospect Intent Read More »
I will be giving a evening workshop May 14 at PATCA on marketing professional services online. This is an interactive session for professional consultants.
Online Marketing For Professional Services May-14 at PATCA Read More »
Many a successful has been started based on careful observation, in particular seeing what’s missing. This post uses excerpts from The Verger by W. Somerset Maugham to highlight some practical truths of entrepreneurship.
See What’s Missing: Careful Observation Key To Success Read More »
The process of maturing from boy to man, from a son to father to grandfather, moves forward imperceptibly on a day to day basis but inexorably year by year.
Entrepreneurs who limit themselves to what they could learn if their prospects lacked the power of speech adopt what I call a veterinary marketing model. It’s not a viable approach to market exploration.
Q: Is Veterinary Marketing A Viable Approach To Market Exploration? Read More »
A collection of quotes of interest and use to entrepreneurs: these quotes for entrepreneurs were identified in April 2015 around theme of entrepreneurship as a calling.
Quotes For Entrepreneurs–April 2015 Read More »
Any innovation effort is a painful struggle punctuated by false starts and dead ends. Your efforts are met with lack of interest even when a basic invention is working and active resistance when it starts to replace the tried and true. Like any childbirth the trick is managing the pain long enough to deliver.
Innovation: the Trick is Managing the Pain Read More »
