This idea of doing only one thing was sparked by an event that happened this week. I decided to delete all podcasts on my phone and only keep the Tim Ferriss Show. In other areas of my life, I’ve done the same. “I’ve selectively gone into each area and chosen one thing” All the other things […]

At some point, every entrepreneur stops innovating. Let’s talk about how to put that off for as long as possible. Make no mistake, the end of the innovation cycle is inevitable. It’s also necessary. At my last startup, Automated Insights, two years after we were acquired, we decided to go all in and push the […]

Outside, a protest has taken over the streets. A moody cello player leaves his instrument and joins. Then a frustrated photographer. Cut to a lithe model in a silver dress. (Is that a Kardashian?) She observes the passing march, then rips off her blonde wig and joins the movement, too. The scene ends with a […]

This is the third article in my series on how to create a vision and a strategy, prioritise your work and create a roadmap for new and existing products. TLDR; The key is to move from high uncertainty to low uncertainty as quickly and cheaply as possible. There’s a sneaky problem with innovation: it always […]

Not every startup fits the popular Silicon Valley “We’re going to be a billion dollar tech company” model. In fact, the vast majority don’t. But, most of the startup literature (hence published startup advice) assumes you want to hit that $B mark. I understand. Starting a smaller business is much different than starting a billion […]

By Alisa Dereza Purpose – “If you have a purpose, everything comes easier.” → Nico Rosberg, the 2016 Formula One champion and tech investor, and Stephen Kaufer, the CEO of TripAdvisor – “Any idea needs to have an impact” → Olivier Robert-Murphy, Global Head of New Business, Universal Music Group – “Having purpose for the brand is important for customers […]

By Patrick Hall Avoiding costly pitfalls and time zappers. Marketing is the simplest idea with the most difficult execution in any area of business. At its core, marketing is simply identifying and speaking to a receptive audience. But in practice, getting the attention of would be customers has ballooned this simple idea into a $600 billion […]

By Alex P In the early days of your startup, there may be no decision you make as a founder that will be more critical than your initial hires. I’m talking about your first client engineers, server engineers, product managers, salespeople, designers, etc. If you hire the right people for these roles, your company, future employees, […]

What do you do when you’re overwhelmed with too many ideas? Do you abandon them, or do you finish what you start? Juggling multiple ideas and goals — to write, exercise, read more, wake up early and so on — is a tough gig that often begins with excitement, but ends with procrastination, and failure to finish any one […]

Anyone would agree that starting a business is no easy feat. It’s a job that demands your attention 24/7. Now imagine doing it while you are in school. Full-time. That’s what Michael Brenndoerfer, founder of cryptocurrency brokerage platform Cryptonite, did when he was pursuing his Master of Engineering (MEng) degree at UC Berkeley last year. […]