Startup Advice
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Startup Advice
- How valuable is what I’m doing?
- What makes this hard for others to do?
- Could this get dramatically easier because of what others launch or how the industry evolves?
- If this does get easier, do I have a “Plan B” to create differentiated value?
Note: An early version of this post appeared in my personal blog (still a work in progress). Decided to
Dharmesh Shah • How To Build a Defensible A.I. Startup
On the risk of leaning too heavily into “best practices”
Identify a unique strength that your company/product has that aligns well with the current opportunities in your environment. Then leverage that strength in a way that others cannot easily replicate. Focus on what sets you apart and use it to create a sustainable competitive advantage.
Sean Colombo • The Secret to Duolingo’s Growth
Competing Against Luck: The Story of Innovation and Customer Choice
Clayton M. Christensen • 3 highlights
amazon.com
If you are hyper-fixated on an ideal user, you will begin to think of your product as a single player game. You’ll develop tools that enable 1:1 interactions between that ideal user and your product.
But once you start thinking of your ICP as a node in a network – with a white hot center that enables you to spread to acquire new nodes of a network –... See more
But once you start thinking of your ICP as a node in a network – with a white hot center that enables you to spread to acquire new nodes of a network –... See more
James Currier • Finding the White Hot Center
“Working on a startup is like riding a broken bicycle. You have to both ride and fix it at the same time.”
How We're Working Without Managers at Buffer
A solid foundation requires a robust team structure. Hiring individuals who not only have the requisite skills but also align with the company’s culture is crucial. However, building a foundation goes beyond just assembling a team; it involves nurturing and equipping them with the tools and knowledge to excel. Continuous training and professional
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
“All the talent in the world is meaningless without an atomic work ethic.”