Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Sculpting an Entrepreneurial Elephant
In a college art class (a long time ago) we were told to sculpt a “successful elephant” with a lump of clay. The puzzled guy next to me asked how to start making a successful elephant. Consistent with my smart-ass nature, I said, “remove everything that doesn’t look like an elephant”. I meet a young…
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The Customer as a Development Partner
Develop Your Product/Service Around What The Customer Wants To Pay For I have been mentoring and coaching aspiring entrepreneurs for a few years and there are often two big problems with their perspective: They assume their idea is really valid and don’t bother to verify the existence of the problem or the need for a…
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Three Critical Questions for Entrepreneurs
Whether you’re a consultant, an app creator, or creating a product for sale, you are providing a solution to a problem. On one hand, if there is no problem, then nobody needs a solution and you don’t have a product. On the other, if everyone has the problem, you have a great position to start…
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Have an idea and no clue what to do next?
Most books I’ve read on becoming an entrepreneur seem to be either academic or written by wildly successful businessmen whose vision of “startup” was very different than mine. I’m not that guy. All six of my startups started with just me and an idea…and blind courage. The Startup Assembly Manual is a logical and sequential…
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Embarrassing Entrepreneur Mistake
After selling my businesses, I was all full of myself and decided to get involved in some angel investing. This is where I started to learn about entrepreneurial miscalculations, which started to form the realistic and experience-torn foundation of the Startup Assembly Manual. Without names, this is the story and lessons I hope to pass…
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Define Success: Lifestyle or Pot of Gold?
Somebody asked me how many millions I got when I sold one of my businesses. He seemed a little stunned when I told him I didn’t. I told him that it was never about the money; it was mostly about doing something I was good at and enjoyed and found rewarding and interesting, and secondarily…
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After an entrepreneur STARTS a business
The dream of every entrepreneur is to start and run a business that will provide a rewarding, challenging, and fruitful life. Or maybe it’s reaching that pot of gold in three to five years—or someday. Most founders I know see overcoming the challenges as the fun part, where the journey is as—or more—important as creating…
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ACE Methodology – Personal Assessment 1
The concept behind the ACE Methodology for Startups applies itself well to most endeavors intended to create success. The Startup Assembly Manual uses it to lay out a road map for entrepreneurs and people with an idea but no clue what to do with it. ACE is Assessment, Confirmation, and Execution. The Assessment stage leads…
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Where is the Starting Line?
I think the average Joe (or Jane) like us goes farther trying to hit singles and doubles than always swinging for home runs. I have been the guy with the “next great idea” and not had a clue what to do with it. Don’t read me wrong. I have been mostly successful during my years…
Got any book recommendations?