The Best Bad Plan
You often must choose from alternatives that all have problems or to triage and identify where you efforts will have the most impact in a bad situation. Reconciling yourself to the “best bad plan” is a key skill for entrepreneurs.
skmurphy
Dr. Atul Gawande on Managing Complexity and Uncertainty
Managing complexity and uncertainty was the focus of Dr Atul Gawande’s commencement address at Williams College on Sunday, June 3rd, 2012 (Reprinted in New Yorker as “Failure and Rescue“). The entire talk is worth reading and offers a medical case history as a compelling context for his points. “…the critical skills of the best surgeons
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Subsidizing Startups Does Not Produce Entrepreneurs
While subsidizing entrepreneurs may produce startups, subsidizing startups will not produce entrepreneurs.
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Three Insights from Walter Bagehot’s “Physics and Politics”
Three excerpts from “Physics and Politics” that highlight impact of rapid change, value of perseverance, and importance of collaboration.
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Innovation Often Obsoletes Assumptions, Political Boundaries, and Work Process
Innovation often obsoletes assumptions: when a business adopts a new technology to support a process it often changes political boundaries and alters existing relationships.
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Finding Silicon Valley in Two Passages from E. B. White’s “Here Is New York”
Two excerpts from E. B. White‘s 1949 essay, “Here Is New York,” that I thought were also applicable to life in Silicon Valley.
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The Benefits of Collaborative Writing, Interviewing, and Improvisation
Our collaborative writing approach has no backstage: clients see our ugly early first drafts, but this “wiki style” collaboration allows rapid iteration.
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Startups Should Focus on Impact and Innovation Before Growth
Growth is an outcome of impact. Focus on impact and innovation before investing efforts in growth. Once you have identified an opportunity to make an impact you can plan for growth.
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Amar Bhide: Start With Affordable Bets in Markets Too Small to Interest Large Players
In the “Origin and Evolution of New Business” Amir Bhide advises startups to start with affordable bets in markets too small to interest large players.
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Quotes For Entrepreneurs–September 2012
You can follow @skmurphy to get these hot off the mojo wire or wait until the end of the month when these quotes for entrepreneurs are collected on the blog. Enter your E-mail if you would like to have new blog posts sent to your inbox.
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Startup Founders Announced for Working For Equity Panel at SVCC 2012
For the third year in a row I will moderate a panel of startup founders sharing lesson learned bootstrapping a technology startup at Silicon Valley Code Camp. This “Working for Equity” session will be on Sunday Oct 7 at 9:15am. Here is the announcement Many of us in Silicon Valley seek to found or be
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Joel Mokyr on Creative Forces and Cardwell’s Law
Cardwell’s Law (named for British historian Donald Cardwell): every society, when left on its own, will be technologically creative for only short periods. I explore the implications for Silicon Valley and for entrepreneurs.
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Q: Can a Custom Solution Be The Basis For A Product?
A custom solution that has been adopted by a paying customer can be the basis for a successful product. This is a common way to get started.
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Mastermind Open House 11am Sat-Sep-22-2012 at GroundFloorSV
Mastermind Open House 11am Sat-Sep-22-2012 at GroundFloorSV When: 11am to 1pm Sat-Sep-20 Where: Ground Floor Silicon Valley, 2030 Duane Avenue, Santa Clara, CA Register: https://www.meetup.com/SKMurphyMastermind/ Cost: No Charge for Open House but a monthly charge will apply if you want to join a regular group We launched two new Mastermind groups about six months ago
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Consider What’s Changed And What You Bring To An Opportunity
When you are trying to choose from a range of opportunities, a key step is to consider what’s changed that makes this a compelling opportunity for you.
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See You at Lean Startup Conference 2012
Here’s why I am excited about attending the Lean Startup Conference on Dec-3-2012 and offering a workshop there with Scott Sambucci on “Engineering Your Sales Process” on the day after. Q: What aspect of lean startup methods most inspires you? Lean Startup methods recognize that new markets in particular require a scientific approach that relies
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Good Surveys Spark Conversations, Poor Ones Exhaust Prospects’ Patience
While good surveys spark conversations with prospects and customers, poor surveys waste their time and exhaust their patience.
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Entrepreneurial Passion and the Science of Startups
Successful entrepreneurs have a passion to see their inventions adopted as innovations not admired as works of art. This is the science of startups.
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Take a Moment To Remember 11 Years Ago
Take a Moment To Remember 11 Years Ago; The 9-11 attack may be the question for my middle age that “where were you when John Kennedy was assassinated?” was in my youth.
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I Am Reading “The Wide Lens” by Ron Adner
I am reading “The Wide Lens” by Ron Adner for a second time this year. It’s that good. I encourage you to pick up a copy and read it
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