On building of All Trades

Management systems have been designed to provide reliability and efficiency, not adaptability and agility. Many of the tools and practices of modern management are geared towards solving problems and eliminating deviations in processes, behaviors, and practices. Because of this framework, management training and leadership development is often... See more

Pick a customer instead of an idea: “One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was that when you're starting a company, you often think you're picking an idea, but you're really picking a customer. It's actually pretty easy to change your idea, but it’s way harder to change the customer you're serving,” says Agrawal.

We get excited about our smart idea; we race it to market; we expect the cavalry to arrive and make this easier. But the reality is that doing a handstand “takes about six months of daily practice. If you think you should be able to do it in two weeks, you’re just going to end up quitting”—or, for the founders who endure, end up surprised by how... See more

Earn people’s trust, again and again

In a world of factory farmed unicorns that boom, bust, and let their customers down in the process, we have to show that we are committed to sustainability and longevity.

You can either build your dream, or help someone build theirs.

Contrary to what most founders assume, having more resources doesn’t make things easier. Instead, it introduces the challenge of resource allocation — deciding where to invest time, money, and personnel for the best return. As your startup grows, and as you hire more employees, it means you’re going to have more mouths to feed and more people with... See more

The lack of a clear direction is a major roadblock for purpose-driven brand owners. 

We find they are often wearing so many hats it’s hard to focus. 

One moment you’re the product creator. 

The next you’re the CEO. 

Then you’re writing emails. 

Next, you’re launching Facebook ads.

All the while you’re trying to keep track of critical metrics that... See more

Learning is complicated.

While we’re doing it, it’s easy to imagine that those around us are completely sure of themselves, moving forward in a well-lit space.

In fact, if you visit a growing company, a useful school or anywhere that growth is happening, you’ll quickly see that everyone is stumbling forward in the shadows.

That’s part of the deal.