Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2021

The attitude of taking nothing for granted, of disbelieving the conventional wisdom, of challenging the way things are done, is essential for a winning entrepreneur. Bend the conventional rules of what is possible. You have to overcome existing players, and the human resistance to change.

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Startup Entrepreneur IBM IBM 162

Xconomy

OCTOBER 19, 2017

The conventional wisdom about Silicon Valley is that it’s a playground for the underdogs, a fertile ground for young entrepreneurs building startups that are going to “change the world.”

Company 77

Company Companies Entrepreneur Startup 77

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 9, 2011

So embedded is this conventional wisdom in Silicon Valley that it feels like heresy to even question it. Conventional wisdom says that you gain far more in working as a team than you lose by diluted by half before you start. It’s only 3 minutes, 44 seconds. I covered what I call “the co-founder mythology.&#

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Startup Equity Funding Summary 393

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2022

Some of the most creative entrepreneurs (and teenagers) always seem jump to opposite end of the spectrum from conventional wisdom. It’s imagining original themes, people with new roles, and things with unique designs. Think the opposite. But many times, to think differently and creatively, you have to think illogically.

Startup 141

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Course 141

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2023

In fact, if you look at the leaders around you, they are not afraid to say no to the conventional wisdom, and they gain respect for doing it. Just say no clearly, and smile as you say it. You don’t have to be viewed as a yes person to be viewed as a leader. That’s the best way to change the world and save yourself, so start today.

Startup 117

Startup Entrepreneur Tips Conference 117

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

Conventional wisdom is that after a great idea, the next steps are raise some money, build a product, then go sell the product. All too often, founders fall in love with their products or technology, ignore negative feedback from customers, and spend years building a product based on a vision that no one else shares.

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Technical Review Customer Custom Entrepreneur 143

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2023

Listen to conventional wisdom and advisors, then chart your own path. There will always be uncertainty, and we will always be humans, using judgment calls in lieu of knowledge and real information. Explore the root cause of every failure.

Entrepreneur 144

Entrepreneur Startup Activity Ideas 144

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 1, 2022

Do you have the intestinal fortitude to walk away rather than be “corrupted by financial interests,” or to ignore conventional wisdom and follow your own instincts? I challenge each of you, as you reflect on your own vision and entrepreneurial plans, to take a lesson from Larry and Sergey. This world needs more exceptional people.

Startup 131

Startup Google Advertising .Net 131

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2015

Conventional wisdom says I shouldn’t tell you this because I invested in their main competitor, MakeSpace. I know my MakeSpace friends will forgive me because I just don’t believe the conventional wisdom is right. This morning Clutter.io Congratulations.

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Funding Competition Marketing Summary 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2017

Conventional wisdom has them looking for a painful problem, a very large opportunity, and minimal competitive barriers to entry. Most successful business people, whether retired or still active, love to share the wisdom they gained from their own experience. Entrepreneurial skills can limit investing success.

Entrepreneur 56

Entrepreneur Mentor Satisfaction Class 56

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2019

Visionaries are often “outside the box” of conventional approaches and move toward long-term change and innovation. Willing to take bold actions. These actions somehow always seem to embody a balance of rational (right brain) and intuitive (left brain) functions. Radiate charisma.

Ideas 101

Ideas Startup Entrepreneur Resource 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2021

But the conventional wisdom is that employees work for money, above all else. Most successful entrepreneurs will tell you that their primary motivation is to “change the world” and to build something lasting, not to make a lot of money.

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Organization Guide Mentor Training 137

SoCal Tech Calendar

OCTOBER 17, 2008

Challenging the conventional wisdom that promotes a false antagonism between the marketplace and environmentalism, Steve Glenn will speak to the new economic opportunities that lie at the intersection of business, environmental responsibility and clean technologies - and how his company, LivingHomes, embodies this new paradigm.

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Los Angeles Technology Angel Company 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2021

In fact, if you look at the leaders around you, they are not afraid to say no to the conventional wisdom, and they gain respect for doing it. Just say no clearly, and smile as you say it. You don’t have to be viewed as a yes person to be viewed as a leader. That’s the best way to change the world and save yourself, so start today.

Tips 159

Tips Startup Entrepreneur Conference 159

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2022

They apparently ignored all conventional wisdom and advisors, and struck a deal which crashed both companies, now a case study in many business schools. Thankfully, most mistakes won’t be as spectacular as the America Online merger with Time Warner for $350 billion, back in 2000, engineered by then superstar entrepreneurs Stephen M.

Startup 118

Startup Case Study Competition Entrepreneur 118

Berkonomics

APRIL 9, 2015

In venture capital, the conventional wisdom is that one in ten investments will more than pay for the complete loss of half of those ten investments. [Email readers, continue here…] I was once in the record business. Speak about insanity. Only two percent of all records released broke even.

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Course Research Venture Capital Resource 120

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Target The Untargeted, Offer Value And Ignore Conventional Wisdom. Question conventional wisdom. That’s right, all of the growth hacks described below were created by High School (and Junior High) dropouts. If you haven't already subscribed yet, subscribe now for free weekly JohnGreathouse.com articles!

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Education Zag Entertainment Sales 100

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 18, 2013

In fact, in many cases his insights are especially relevant because he is not mired in the conventional wisdom of the tech community. Rather, keep your eyes and ears open for instructive wisdom, irrespective of its source. Thus, do not solely seek mentors from within your industry. It''s Getting Better All The Time.

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Mentor Startup Technical Review Software Review 263

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 13, 2016

At least that is the conventional wisdom. Sometimes a competitor is just too entrenched, too strong, too well equipped to directly face in battle. Yet, there are constant examples of new entrants into a niche that grow, prosper and sometimes even become dominant. So when do we know which course to take? Quietly abandon a niche?

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Resource Competition Examples Customer 120

InfoChachkie

MAY 12, 2014

The successful parallel entrepreneur is a rare species given the conventional wisdom that founders should focus their efforts one venture at a time. Thanks for passing down your invaluable wisdom during your lectures at UC Santa Barbara. In 2008, Adam simultaneously founded three ventures while working a day job.

Entrepreneur 211

Entrepreneur Santa Barbara Email Startup 211

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 10, 2019

They consistently take bold steps to stay ahead of the curve, often contrary to conventional wisdom. Exceptional outcomes don’t come from standard answers to pre-defined questions by conventional leaders. These few seem more adept at executing market and technology turns, not just incremental evolution.

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Summary Organization SpaceX Ideas 95

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2014

In part this is because conventional wisdom for angels was that it didn’t make sense to write a $1 million+ check in later rounds to follow your prorata. ” In fact, I was at a recent early-stage VC/LP conference where this was accepted as conventional wisdom. Sometimes entrepreneurs get screwed.

Guide 336

Guide Venture Capital Startup Writing 336

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2020

Listen to conventional wisdom and advisors, then chart your own path. There will always be uncertainty, and we will always be humans, using judgment calls in lieu of knowledge and real information. Explore the root cause of every failure.

Startup 125

Startup Entrepreneur Activity Ideas 125

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 8, 2015

Visionaries are often “outside the box” of conventional approaches and move toward long-term change and innovation. Willing to take bold actions. These actions somehow always seem to embody a balance of rational (right brain) and intuitive (left brain) functions. Radiate charisma.

Ideas 115

Ideas Startup Entrepreneur Resource 115

InfoChachkie

MARCH 1, 2011

Although this approach was common in the UK, it ran counter to the then current Conventional Wisdom in the US music industry. Although this approach was common in the UK, it ran counter to the then current Conventional Wisdom in the US music industry. However, by the release of Sgt. However, by the release of Sgt.

Product 232

Product Marketing Sales Customer 232

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2014

Some may be repeating long held conventional wisdom that is not necessarily still relevant while others might have views that sound like total heresy. Because I’ve asked more than 100 VCs similar questions I start to notice patterns in thinking. Some of these patterns may apply to me some may not.

Startup 407

Startup Framework CTO Coach Sales 407

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2019

Conventional wisdom is that after a great idea, the next steps are raise some money, build a product, then go sell the product. All too often, founders fall in love with their products or technology, ignore negative feedback from customers, and spend years building a product based on a vision that no one else shares.

Startup 98

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 98

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 24, 2019

Do you have the intestinal fortitude to walk away rather than be “corrupted by financial interests,” or to ignore conventional wisdom and follow your own instincts? I challenge each of you, as you reflect on your own vision and entrepreneurial plans, to take a lesson from Larry and Sergey. This world needs more exceptional people.

Google 98

Google Startup Advertising .Net 98

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

Some of the most creative entrepreneurs (and teenagers) always seem jump to opposite end of the spectrum from conventional wisdom. It’s imagining original themes, people with new roles, and things with unique designs. Think the opposite. But many times, to think differently and creatively, you have to think illogically.

Entrepreneur 91

Entrepreneur Ideas Course Social Media 91

InfoChachkie

MARCH 1, 2012

Thus, when Come Together – The Business Wisdom of The Beatles was released, my hopes were high for a great read. After alternating very conventional C and D chords, John plays a B7 chord at the end of the line “I think you’ll understand.” You and your competitors are probably using the B7 in all the conventional ways.

Tips 259

Tips Startup Entrepreneur Product 259

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2017

Visionaries are often “outside the box” of conventional approaches and move toward long-term change and innovation. Willing to take bold actions. These actions somehow always seem to embody a balance of rational (right brain) and intuitive (left brain) functions. Radiate charisma.

Entrepreneur 67

Entrepreneur Ideas Startup Resource 67

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

When I began gathering examples of Oprah’s wisdom, I expected to identify a handful of quotes relevant to entrepreneurs. To my surprise, I identified dozens of worthy bits of wisdom. Contrary to conventional wisdom, entrepreneurs are typically not blind to risk. One is that I can live my life fearlessly.”.

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Tips Startup Networking Entrepreneur 279

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2013

Buck the conventional wisdom. Challenging convention can open the door to competitive advantage. It’s easier than dislodging well-recognized existing products, and waiting for customer change, even if your solution is better. Save your bucks and get notice without expensive advertising.

Entrepreneur 117

Entrepreneur Startup Advertising Social Media 117

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Despite conventional wisdom, it is not PowerPoint that sucks, its presenters who do not know how to use presentation tools that blow. When viewing a TEDTalk, notice how the speakers time the builds of their slides to accentuate their key points and craft a story that engages their audiences through the beginning, middle and end.

Slides 258

Slides Duarte Santa Barbara RSS 258

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2013

Visionaries are often “outside the box” of conventional approaches and move toward long-term change and innovation. Willing to take bold actions. These actions somehow always seem to embody a balance of rational (right brain) and intuitive (left brain) functions. Radiate charisma.

Ideas 104

Ideas Startup Entrepreneur Resource 104

Xconomy

JULY 10, 2016

According to Arch Venture Partners co-founder Bob Nelsen, Bock had an “amazing ability to ignore all of the conventional wisdom, and maintain a singular focus, and to get all of the best people together—even when they were arch-rivals… He could get people to paint the fence.”. They had a lot of fun.”. Larry Bock. “I

San Diego 40

San Diego Startup Avalon Venture Capital 40

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2015

They consistently take bold steps to stay ahead of the curve, often contrary to conventional wisdom. Exceptional outcomes don’t come from standard answers to pre-defined questions by conventional leaders. These few seem more adept at executing market and technology turns, not just incremental evolution.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur IBM IBM Summary 105