Make a dent in the universe

To do great work, you need to feel that you’re making a difference.

You want your customers to say, “This makes my life better.” You want to feel that if you stopped doing what you do , people would notice.

Don’t think it takes a huge team to make that difference either.

Craigslist

Drudge Report

Scratch your own itch (organic ideas)

Build something that you want to use.

• James Dyson – Dyson
• Vic Firth – The Perfect Pair (Drumsticks)
• Bill Bowerman – Nike
• Mary Kay Wagner – Mary Kay Cosmetics

When you build what you need, you can also assess the quality of what you make quickly and directly, instead of by proxy.

Start making something

 

Stanley Kubrick: “Get hold of a camera and some film and make a movie of any kind at all.”

Ideas are cheap and plentiful. The original pitch idea is such a small part of a business that it’s almost negligible. The real question is how well you execute.

No time is no excuse

When you want something bad enough, you make the time – regardless of your other obligations. The truth is most people just don’t want it bad enough. Then they protect their ego with the excuse of time.

Draw a line in the sand

Great business have a point of view, not just a product or service.

A strong stand is how you attract superfans.

Whole foods

Vinnie’s Sub Shop

 

Mission Statement Impossible

Truly stand for what you vow for: live it or leave it

Outside money is plan Z

We’re in a service economy now. Service businesses don’t require much to get going. If you’re running a business like that, avoid outside funding.

Spending other’s money has a noose attached:

• You give up control
• “Cashing out” begins to trump building a quality business
• Spending other people’s money is addictive
• It’s usually a bad deal
• Customers move down the totem pole
• Raising money is incredibly distracting

Start a business, not a startup

The problem with this magical place is it’s a fairy tale. The truth is every business, new or old, is goverened by the same set of market forces and economic rules. Revenue in, expenses out. Turn a profit or wind up gone.

 You need a commitment strategy, not an exit strategy

A business without a path to profit isn’t a business, it’s a hobby.

Less mass

Mass is increased by:

• Long-term contracts
• Excess Staff
• Permanent decisions
• Meetings
• Thick process
• Inventory(Physical or mental)
• Hardware, software and technology lock-ins
• Long-term road maps
• Office politics

Again, Jason Fried is my hero. Everything I don’t like about my office is mentioned by him.

Rework is a extremely fast and good read. Part of it is Jason’s writing style is easy enough for you to skim through. Finished the entire book on my flight to China.

Notes extracted from my kindle(I’ll post notes one chapters per day):

Learning from mistakes is overated 

Contrast learning from mistakes with learning from your successes. Success gives you real ammunition.

Planning is guessing

Sometimes you need to say, “we’re going in a new direction because that’s what makes sense today.”

It’s OK to wing it . Just get on the plane and go. You can pick up a nicer shirt, shaving cream, and a toothbrush once you get there.

Workaholism

If all you do is work, you’re unlikely to have sound judgments. Your values and decision making wind up skewed. You stop being able to decide what’s worth extra effort and what’s not.

Enough with “entrepreneurs”

Let’s retire the term “entrepreneur”. It’s outdated and loaded with baggage. It smells like members-only club. Everyone should be encouraged to start his own business, not just some rare breed that self-identifies as entrepreneurs.

So let’s replace the fancy-sounding word with something a bit more down-to-earth. Instead of entrepreneurs, let’s just call them starters. Anyone who creates a new business is a starter. You don’t need an MBA, a certificate, a fancy suit, a briefcase, or an above-average tolerance for risk. You just need an idea, a touch of confidence, and a push to get started.

WOW! Such a great book. Plain and simple. Yet so many good points that this post has almost 5000 words.

Overall, it’s a great read. On the surface it seems to apply to Web App Developers only. The methodology, advice on skill sets (i.e. writing) actually applies to everyone.

The book has a free html version that can be read here.

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