Startup Advice
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Startup Advice
To help you make it through the darkness, here’s a series of concrete actions you can take today to try to turn things around:
- Talk to more users (actually do it)
- Change your target audience/ICP
- Change your positioning/messaging/pitch
- Try a “kickstarter” to get the word out
- Find something that is working and pivot fully to that
- Give it a bit more time
- G
Lenny Rachitsky • What to Do if Your Product Isn’t Taking Off
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the companies that have a reputation for building the best products of this generation—Slack, Figma, Superhuman, Notion, and Linear—are basically new versions of successful predecessors. These companies didn’t distract themselves with four-step strategic maneuvers or clever wedges into a new category that they... See more
Benn Stancil • Why Are We Surprised That Startups Are So Freaking Hard?
the strategy was to do the work
be brave, be bold, and learn to say “no” to customers.
Do it in the right way, calmly and in direct conversation, and explain why the no is necessary. But say no and stick to it.
Your business will thank you for it.
Do it in the right way, calmly and in direct conversation, and explain why the no is necessary. But say no and stick to it.
Your business will thank you for it.
Jan Cavelle • 3 Ways ‘Scope Creep’ Can Ruin Your Startup
A PM I once worked with was struggling to persuade somebody of something. I told him to ask them the question, “What data would I have to show you to get you to change your mind?” If they didn’t have a clear answer, then he would know this was an idea they held on faith, a bit like a religious belief. No amount of data can sway a person from their... See more
Deb Liu • Changing Your Mind
Build a cross-company network of change agents.
You need to start by building out a layer of high-performers within your own team. Before you go broad, adapt and iterate on the culture you want to build among that group. Then, just as they are ready to move up in their career ladders, facilitate cross-functional moves into key roles for them. This... See more
You need to start by building out a layer of high-performers within your own team. Before you go broad, adapt and iterate on the culture you want to build among that group. Then, just as they are ready to move up in their career ladders, facilitate cross-functional moves into key roles for them. This... See more
Superhuman
Constraints breed creativity.
By running your startup with the stated goal of being cashflow positive, you force your team to take ownership of every dollar just a bit more and consider outside-the-box solutions earlier. It also can influence team members to be willing to go beyond their stated areas of ownership to get things done.
By running your startup with the stated goal of being cashflow positive, you force your team to take ownership of every dollar just a bit more and consider outside-the-box solutions earlier. It also can influence team members to be willing to go beyond their stated areas of ownership to get things done.