Short answer: No. You can stop reading this article now and get back to work building your business. Doing anything else (especially like stopping to create a business plan) is purely wasting your time. In all seriousness though, why is the question of a business plan still so prevalent amongst founders? Why is it that...
“There’s nothing new under the sun.” We’ve all heard it… but what then is creativity, what is inspiration? Is it the artist or entrepreneur creating something completely unique, or combining previously separate things in new and innovative ways? Does it matter? Whoever said creativity was the key to success? The starving artist is a trope for...
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re either: a) a founder/CEO or b) someone considering starting a company. Either way, if you want to build something big and lasting, this is for you. There are many formulas for business success, but many more pitfalls. There’s a reason 70–90% of businesses fail (depending on your source)....
Lessons from Blue Apron, Uber, Amazon, and Facebook Remember the beach? It was always a battle to build the best sandcastle. But inevitably the tides turned and waves washed away your creation… you were devastated. I hope you learned your lesson. Moats are the most important aspect of any business. A defensible moat is the...
Profits accrue to people on top. That’s the way most markets work, especially those with strong network effects (for more on 5 types of network effects and how to hack them, see this post). As an angel investor, my job is to spot startups and trends looking to disrupt incumbents and create massive new markets...