Business plans get beat up a lot. The realization that I’ve come to over time is that the entire development paradigm needs to be the context. I’m talking stepping back and looking at the entire plan-launch-monitor-adjust process. Business plans are just one facet of the equation. More precisely, it
The Key to Venture Investing, It’s Personal
In business, and definitely in life, it’s always been about who knows, likes, and trust you. Andrew Hargadon has written an excellent piece that examines (via Ben Horowitz ), the investing framework of Ron Conway one of the Silicon Valley's uber angels. Key points: Social capital (connections)
Is it Time for Business Models to Reboot?
Would you be willing to blow-up your successful business for the opportunity for it to survive. Mitch Joel thinks that many businesses need to pull a Hernan Cortes (Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire) and force new business models by eliminating the
Top 5 Insights From Mobile Upfront 2010
I had the pleasure last week of being able to attend the 2010 Mobile Upfront Conference. Yes, most of the panel dialog was around advertising but I have two very sound reasons for being interested not only in the space but also in the insights of those in the interactive/digital media world that
Do you see Pop-Up Strategic Alliances in your future?
To some of us when we hear the word pop-up our mind immediately pulls up a picture of children's books, frozen treats, or being interrupted while surfing online by a completely uninteresting promotion. Well, you might just have to reboot your thinking, especially if you're looking to leverage unique
Part 1: Competitive Advantage without Michael Porter?
I was posed with a simple yet very poignant question today on Linked-In, is Michael Porter's Competitive Advantage Model incomplete? First off, here is the boiled down version of Michael Porter's concept. There are two types of competitive advantages a business can obtain: low-cost and
From the Crate: The Past is not Prologue
I was cycling through iTunes U and ran across a Fuqua School of Business Distinguished Speakers video of Ron Nicol, Managing Director at BCG. Ron provided his insights on many current issues, but what really stood out was his prediction that what we currently consider emerging markets will birth the
5 Reasons to Go Strong…Make that Smart
The world is a global marketplace, period. The velocity of change is accelerating. Customer’s expectations have become increasingly precise. We don’t know it all, and more importantly there’s not time to learn it all. Success only comes when others embrace your efforts and