tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25513160302661176212024-03-21T08:18:37.729-05:00Official Harlan Tytus Beverly BlogHarlan T. Beverly writes from Austin, Texas about Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Business for Engineers and Other Logical Thinkers.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-10679664910891097402017-03-17T09:17:00.003-05:002017-03-17T09:21:23.265-05:00Tytusblog has officially moved to it's permanent home.Dear friends and followers.<br />
<br />
I wanted to let you all know that the <a href="http://fastai.com/tytusblog/" target="_blank">Tytusblog continues</a>.... however, it is moved to a new platform.<br />
<br />
Goodbye dear blogger. Hello <a href="http://fastai.com/tytusblog/" target="_blank">WORDPRESS</a>!<br />
<br />
Visit the new blog (and it has all the old posts too) here:<br />
<br />
<h2>
<a href="http://fastai.com/tytusblog/"><span style="font-size: 28px;">http://fastai.com/tytusblog/</span></a></h2>
<br />
Thanks,<br />
Harlan T Beverly, PhDAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-72028031320508179402017-01-01T11:16:00.000-06:002017-01-01T11:16:40.480-06:00New Year's 2017: Startup Resolution RevolutionThis is an opus, a plea, a dream. This is 2017. <br />
Let us agree to put an end, to the old startup trend.<br />
Old startup was weak, it had a faint reek.<br />
It smelled of false hopes, of untested dreams.<br />
<br />
In 2017, we dream big still, but without the frill.<br />
We dream and we test, and leave out the rest.<br />
We give all we have to Lean, Lean Startup I mean.<br />
No false hopes, just tested and true. Lean Startup starts with you.<br />
<br />
It's a revolution, not just a resolution.<br />
It's a way of life, not just a passing trife.<br />
Your way is simple, if you choose to accept it.<br />
Just test your idea, before you reject it.<br />
<br />
Get started today, if you want to, you may.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAoFPIHBu6U" target="_blank">Don't fear the failure spider</a>, to fail is more righter.<br />
It's right to fail small, so try it all.<br />
Lean Startup is trying, with the minimum of lying.<br />
<br />
If your a funder, I plead. Demand more than greed.<br />
Demand proof of their traction, before you do the deed.<br />
Make sure they are tested, and validated and nested.<br />
Make sure their growth, value, and problem, are all three fully vested.<br />
<br />
So, this opus to you, this silly sentence so true?<br />
It's about you and your startup, and starting up too.<br />
Get started with Lean, <a href="http://leanstartings.wixsite.com/leanstartings" target="_blank">buy my book to help the team</a>.<br />
Make progress without funding, and deliver the dream!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://leanstartings.wixsite.com/leanstartings" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkS5g30cVxQ/WGk4htu4_2I/AAAAAAAABjE/ekfJLWztBlEv2Vdf-5Bblr09xQQBlRwNwCLcB/s320/harlanhead.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://leanstartings.wixsite.com/leanstartings" target="_blank">Harlan T. Beverly, PhD<br />The University of Texas at Austin</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-2675456687424727492016-11-03T11:51:00.001-05:002016-11-03T11:53:53.141-05:00The 3 Things Great Managers AND Employees Do ~ ConsistentlyWhen it all comes down to it, great managers get results. How do you get results? It's not planning, it's not charisma, it's not even passion. All of those things are great but useless without these 3 things.<br />
<br />
If you are not doing these 3 things, and doing them well, you are probably going nowhere fast. That's a strong statement, let's see if you disagree... comments welcome!<br />
<h3>
1. Prioritize</h3>
If you just do whatever you think of, you are going to get behind. You MUST prioritize those things you KNOW will get results above those things you THINK will get results. And even those things you just think will get results, prioritize those too, to the ones you think will be most likely to get the results.<br />
<br />
<b>PRO TIP</b> - Every morning, get on an exercise bike and open <a href="http://toodledo.com/">http://toodledo.com</a> or <a href="http://trello.com/">http://trello.com</a> (2 good online tools). Prioritize tasks to ones you think are most important to get results.<br />
<br />
<h3>
2. Draft Quickly</h3>
If you aren't getting things done quickly, you'll never even get through all the important things, let alone to those things you think will get results. The best managers and employees create drafts of stuff (whatever it is) very quickly. Then, they refine the draft later up until the point where the quality meets expectations, then stop. They don't over-engineer, over-design, or over-think their work: it's done it's done. Ship it. This is a key to shipping, get to a draft and see if it's good enough. Ship when it is.<br />
<br />
<b>PRO TIP</b> - Writer's block? Just write it in super simple plain English. That usually reads better anyways. Remember, emails should be 2 or 3 sentences MAX! I like to send emails of 4 or 5 WORDS when I can.<br />
<br />
<h3>
3. Delegate / Get Help Fast</h3>
Overloaded managers need to learn this trick: find someone you trust and ask them to "own" part of your project. This is not asking for group-work, this is asking them to "own it" and get it done. I've <a href="http://tytusblog.blogspot.com/2016/10/5-ways-to-empower-employees.html" target="_blank">blogged a lot about ownership</a>, and for good reason... it's been a key to my personal success for years. Not having it, but giving it out!<br />
<br />
Not a manager? This applies to you too. Delegate ownership of your work if you are overloaded. Even better, ASK FOR HELP FAST! If you are blocked, even 1% blocked, asking for help to get unblocked will keep you moving, make your boss happy, and more importantly, teach you something that will probably prevent you from getting blocked again in the future.<br />
<b><br /></b> <b>PRO TIP </b>- Develop skills that help you get unblocked. For example, learn how to Draft Quickly! Also, learn how to "<a href="http://wix.com/" target="_blank">make a simple website</a>".<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AquLOKy2wL8/WBtqekwdX3I/AAAAAAAABfE/rU64uVXLwy8Rt5rtTdQmrhPspn-0fOssACLcB/s1600/10417482_10152420651406154_4143055666540810968_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AquLOKy2wL8/WBtqekwdX3I/AAAAAAAABfE/rU64uVXLwy8Rt5rtTdQmrhPspn-0fOssACLcB/s400/10417482_10152420651406154_4143055666540810968_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harlan T. Beverly, PhD on a Business Trip to Mexico</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-9202791587906612982016-10-26T15:15:00.000-05:002016-10-26T15:15:14.695-05:005 Ways to Empower EmployeesWhat is empowerment? To empower is to give power to someone else, hence taking it away from yourself or someone else, and giving it to them. In the context of a job, it usually means giving 'ownership' of a task or project to someone and then stepping back. You will still have to do work, but you will only do work that the empowered one asks of you. There is plenty of research that shows the benefits to <a href="https://joe.org/joe/1999october/comm1.php" target="_blank">Morale</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141008121948.htm" target="_blank">Productivity</a>, and <a href="http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/eb028481" target="_blank">Results </a>by empowering employees. In fact, I've written about this before in <a href="http://tytusblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/green-and-clean-management-empowerment.html" target="_blank">my green & clean post</a>, but this article will give you 5 methods to empower employees, that maybe you never thought of before.<br />
<br />
1. Be Explicit<br />
You can't empower someone without both letting that person know, they are in charge, and really also the entire organization. Here's a great way to do it by email: "Hello everyone, just want everyone to know that I'm stepping away from Project X and putting XXX in charge. She/He's empowered to take all actions necessary to get the job done within the approved budget."<br />
<br />
2. Set Boundaries<br />
Empowerment can be daunting, especially when it's used infrequently, for the first time, or with new employees. In these cases, it's best to set boundaries! Set a budget, explain the goals very clearly, explain what all the resources available are, and be sure to include yourself in those available resources.<br />
<br />
3. Help Prioritize<br />
In any organization, there is usually a lot going on, so much so that many employees feel overwhelmed and not sure what to work on in any given moment. You can help by being clear with each individual what their priorities should be. If you have projects that just need "a little attention each day" set a specific amount of time you think would be appropriate. In general, set a clear priority to all work/tasks and try not to change it. Remember, something you are empowered to do, will naturally be a higher priority.<br />
<br />
4. Be Supportive<br />
Supporting means touching base and reminding the person who is empowered of their resources (including you). The more junior the empowered person, the more you should touch base.<br />
<br />
5. Don't Take it Back!<br />
Yes, you should be measuring and tracking results, but when things aren't going how you think they should, RESIST the temptation to jump in and take over. If you do, you've destroyed empowerment, and it's hard to get it back. They'll always know that you could jump in at any time, and start to expect it if they fail. You have to let them fail, if its going to fail. This is the hardest, why? Because you know you can do it, and probably better... but YOU MUST RESIST! Just offer support, help prioritize, and get out of the way. Long term, if there is a performance issue, you can address it later, for now, don't break the empowerment you gave, or it will kill your credibility.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHOvIDsiauc/WBEOkJxQTkI/AAAAAAAABeM/MqmuifnzJYU-I_LE2-ryyWmdNi1_t_IhgCLcB/s1600/1923926_40640386153_9742_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHOvIDsiauc/WBEOkJxQTkI/AAAAAAAABeM/MqmuifnzJYU-I_LE2-ryyWmdNi1_t_IhgCLcB/s400/1923926_40640386153_9742_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-50128270809967753202016-10-14T12:22:00.002-05:002016-10-14T12:22:49.904-05:00Getting a Job in a StartupRecently, I have noticed a few misconceptions and confusions about getting a job at a startup.<br />
<h3>
Dollhouse</h3>
<div>
A startup is not like a dollhouse! It is not simply a smaller version of a house (e.g. like a dollhouse). A startup is not a small version of a company. There are usually no departments (it's almost always 1 person per role). There is no such thing as "that's not my job", everyone does whatever is needed at a startup, and that can change week-by-week. So, stop thinking you can apply to be the "strategic financial analyst" for a startup. That job doesn't exist, be the CFO or Direct of Marketing instead... since those titles mean "you do everything".</div>
<br />
That said, there are two phases where you can join a startup, the founding phase, and the funded phase.<br />
<h2>
Founding Phase </h2>
In this phase, you are too early to get paid. You won't. There is no money.<br />
However, you will be able to call yourself a "cofounder", and you will (or should) get stock. A "founders share" which is somewhere between 10-20% or so.<br />
<br />
The key here is believing and showing that for now, you can you do the whole thing! What thing?<br />
One of four roles:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Technical - you can build the prototype (yourself, no help)</li>
<li>Sales - closing deals, has a network in the industry and can get the sale. (especially important in B2B companies)</li>
<li>Marketing - All aspects of marketing, including "making the website look pretty" along with: target customer, research, brand, design, lead generation (especially in B2B), content, business cards, etc. Also, Sales, in the case of B2C (because sales and marketing are basically the same thing in B2C direct startups)</li>
<li>Finance/Ops (rare) - this is not often needed, but sometimes a founder needs help with finance/ops. You'll have to do it all: accounting, finance, planning, manufacturing, legal, etc. (FYI: the original idea person is the founder, the others are cofounders)</li>
</ol>
<br />
By the way, yes, you can work a side-job during this phase, but usually at least 1 of you needs to be "full-time" on it. (or you won't get hungry enough to make it actually launch)<br />
<h2>
Funded Phase </h2>
During this phase, you get "hired", and have to "interview". You have to"apply" to a job opening. Good news is, you will get paid (usually less than market rates). Bad news is, you will not get "much" stock (just a few stock options, like less than 1/4percent, maybe more if you are an executive).<br />
<br />
How do you get a job in the funded phase?<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Know your role: in this phase, it's still about what you can do for the company... it has to fit into a box of either: sales, marketing, tech, or ops. And you have to be willing (and eager) to do anything "legal" to help the company succeed, including get coffee/etc.</li>
<li>Find the job: by networking for sure, but even more so, just by looking on LinkedIn or even craigslist. Find the open position somehow! Then apply to it. By resume, usually, and even better by referral (hence the networking). Make sure the referral has your resume too though, even startups use those.</li>
<li>Interview: yep. You'll have to do that. We're looking for passion, excitement, and SHOW US how you "have done this job before". That is critical. Don't apply for a job at a startup that you've never done... we don't (usually) have time to train you.</li>
</ol>
<h3>
Transitioning from Founding to Funded Phase</h3>
Not all the cofounders join the company in a "paid role" once you get funded. Usually just 1 or 2 do, then more as the company grows. Some cofounders never get a paying job out of it... and that's normal. (hey you get to keep your stock though, at least whatever % you have vested).<br />
<br />
<h3>
Why Startup vs. Enterprise/Big Company</h3>
Simply because it is more fun. Why? Because you get to do more things! Everyone is passionate. And most importantly, what you do matters (to the big picture of the company)!<br />
<br />
So, get out there, apply already, and have fun doing it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ft-iZMparTQ/WAEUNzx_ctI/AAAAAAAABZ8/zjrHJroMXqsXm7-IQz8I4t32rkFNWzp3wCLcB/s1600/fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ft-iZMparTQ/WAEUNzx_ctI/AAAAAAAABZ8/zjrHJroMXqsXm7-IQz8I4t32rkFNWzp3wCLcB/s320/fun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-83476868374005613352016-09-26T13:55:00.001-05:002016-10-04T13:29:20.270-05:008 Startup Things I learned from Austin Game Conference 2016This year I was delighted to be asked to put together a panel for the 2016 Austin Game Conference. It was a revival of an old conference that has been sorely missed in Austin. <a href="http://austingamecon.com/sessions/why-your-game-company-cant-get-funding/" target="_blank">My Panel, "Why your game company can't get funded"</a> was highly attended, and I think (hope) highly rated. The slides are attached below.<br />
<br />
However, one of the main reasons to participate in a conference isn't to "preach" but to "learn". I learned a lot by going to this year's <a href="https://twitter.com/austingamecon" target="_blank">#AGC16</a>, here are 8 things I learned about startups.<br />
<br />
1. Games need funding. Not just game companies (which is what 3 of the 4 people on my panel talk about), but games themselves, small indy studios. I'm so glad I had Mike Wilson of <a href="http://www.gambitious.com/" target="_blank">Gambitious </a>on the panel to talk about how he supports indy games. When I asked, almost the entire room was seeking funding for their game. That's like over 200 people! Cool! <a href="http://www.gambitious.com/" target="_blank">Gambitious can help!</a><br />
<br />
2. Companies that help games are fundable. There were several companies at AGC who were "supporting games", and their business models are not hit-driven, since they make money when the game sells. I had previously listed one such company here, but took it down due to their request to NOT say their pricing. I'm disappointed at that, but have removed it to respect their wishes. That said, I cannot recommend a company that is going to be obtuse about pricing... so I will not be recommending that company.<br />
<br />
3. Companies around games, get acquired. While at the show I stopped by the twitch booth, who was there? Curse. Apparently, <a href="http://twitch.tv/" target="_blank">Twitch</a> bought <a href="http://curse.com/" target="_blank">Curse </a>that week, really cool!<br />
<br />
4. Big traction, even without great monetization, can lead to exits! See the above point about Curse being bought by Twitch. Twitch understands monetization, and Curse needed that help. Smart buy Twitch, smart!<br />
<br />
5. Huge ideas, get funding in a big way. This was the first I was exposed to the company called <a href="https://www.magicleap.com/" target="_blank">MAGIC LEAP</a>. They are hiring in Austin, and I'm intrigued! Some kind of stealth AR company, funded by Google, a $1B valuation. Yep! Big!<br />
<br />
6. Great ideas need to be launched to become great. I ran into an old friend, and they had to take a break from their startup. As a result, their startup kinda stalled. Fortunately, they are back at it, but it reminded me: unless and until you launch, you aren't really doing it. So DO IT! Launch!<br />
<br />
7. Not every company should do a conference. There were a large number of booths with no point. Not hiring, not fundraising, and frankly, looking a little bored. If you are going to do a conference, have a reason!<br />
<br />
8. A conference is a startup too! This one was a reboot of an old conference, but to me it really did feel like home. All the old-school folks, and a lot of the new folks too, all making new connections and renewing old ties. The venue was great, the A/V worked, and everything (especially the opening night party) was great. The only part that was missed (for me) was water for the speakers... Chris promises me they'll fix that next year! All-in-all, a great start to a great conference, I hope it lasts for years to come!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="485" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/eQwOdbn6t7fBRE" style="border-width: 1px; border: 1px solid #ccc; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%;" width="595"> </iframe> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 5px;">
<strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/hbombers/why-your-game-company-cant-get-funding-2016-austin-game-conference" target="_blank" title="Why your game company can’t get funding 2016 Austin Game Conference">Why your game company can’t get funding 2016 Austin Game Conference</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="https://www.slideshare.net/hbombers" target="_blank">Harlan Beverly</a></strong> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-3974929576709739532016-09-11T21:28:00.001-05:002016-09-16T14:35:13.495-05:00Speaking Opportunities Help Your Personal BrandWhat do you want to be known for? The guy or gal that never shows up? The friendliest person who never sparks controversy? Or, maybe the most energized and opinionated person in the room?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Me, I have opinions. The only way anyone will care about them though is if I show up. And the best way to show up is for a speaking opportunity. That's why I try to accept as many as I possibly can.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Do you have a unique brand to yourself? Do some volunteering, and let people know, <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">You'd love to speak. It will help your brand grow!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Recently l, I spoke at Sartup Grind Austin. I got extreme. I know, maybe too far? It's okay, I will hopefully be remembered as a result! Don't just have an opinion, have a FUCKING EXTREME opinion. If nothing else, it will spark discussion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">A few "extreme points" I made:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">1.) Austin is great because we genuinely want to see each other succeed. We can celebrate successes of our peers and it motivates us more!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">2.) California sucks because it is the opposite of Austin. People there engage in success theatre, and then make </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Each other feel bad to get motivated.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">3.) Just do something! Stop making plans and instead, launch something already! Lean Startup trains this, and my message, now part of <a href="http://leanstartings.com/" target="_blank">my new book http://leanstartings.com</a> is that you can learn to launch: my book teaches you how to build a webpage and collect money in about an hour. No More Excuses!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">So, get out there, show up, volunteer, have a message, and speak when invited. I do!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">See me next at <a href="http://austingamecon.com/glance/" target="_blank">Austin Game Conference on Sept. 21st! Game Funding Panel!</a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://leanstartings.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d-7SnArGNXo/V9YS1Mhu6hI/AAAAAAAABYo/_3_enAPfB18/s640/blogger-image--1873346316.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-84878508341495286552016-09-07T13:47:00.001-05:002016-09-07T16:23:38.569-05:00Our Need for Validation & Startup PassionWhen I started my first company in 2004, I was unsure. Unsure of myself, my idea, and my ability to execute. That self-doubt can be crippling; it makes you hesitate to go all in, to really believe. And if you don't believe, nobody else will. You. Have to have the passion to show it.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That is one reason that finding an investor seemed so important to me on my first company. I thought I needed their validation, even more than their money. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Validation from a VC is the worst place to get that though! I didn't learn that until my second company. It is far far better to get validation of your idea from preorders or even better, from paying customers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I guess that is why I love The Lean Startup by Eric Reis so much. It gives you permission to make an MVP and get going fast, get validation of all your assumptions from real customers!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, The Lean Startup fails a bit too. It doesn't tell you what it will be like, that you will hit bumps, and that you must persist (more than just pivot) but persist-pivot! It also fails to tell you how to actually build that MVP and get it going! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's part of Europe I wrote my book: <a href="http://leanstartings.com/" target="_blank">Lean Startings</a>. Through storytelling, you learn what it means to persist, to fail, and to succeed. You also learn how to build that website, how to take preorders or orders, and ultimately how to fulfill and satisfy customers! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Please get my book; I wrote it for you!</div>
<div>
<a href="http://leanstartings.com/">http://leanstartings.com</a> </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4_hlMRTXRiM/V9Bgs7u1AoI/AAAAAAAABX8/DDeAB2VzEEc/s640/blogger-image-135396302.jpg" /><a href="http://leanstartings.com/" target="_blank">http://leanstartings.com</a></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-16037854305729514412016-09-06T15:32:00.001-05:002016-09-06T15:58:03.081-05:00UT Austin Campus-wide Cofounder Speed Date 9/29 6 PM @ McCombs School of Business<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<h2>
UT Austin Campus-wide Cofounder Speed Date 9/29 6 PM @ McCombs</h2>
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-weight: bold;">Being run by Dr. Harlan Beverly, McCombs lecturer of Lean Startup Essentials (MAN 338) at UT Austin (open to students campus-wide)</span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; language: en-US; line-height: 40.0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; mso-line-break-override: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="color: #a53010; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 44pt; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1.5pt;">Join a Student Startup </span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; language: en-US; line-height: 40.0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; mso-line-break-override: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="color: #a53010; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 44.0pt; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1.5pt;">-or- </span><span style="color: #a53010; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 44pt; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1.5pt;">Find a Cofounder</span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; language: en-US; line-height: 40.0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; mso-line-break-override: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="color: #a53010; font-family: "calibri"; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1.5pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 32pt; line-height: 40pt;">RSVP Required</span></div>
<h4 style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<div style="direction: ltr; line-height: 40pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; line-height: 40pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="color: #a53010; font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 32pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/utcofounder">bit.ly/utcofounder</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 40pt; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="232" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-obDLcvC2Y24/V88nZ0IpIQI/AAAAAAAABXc/_tP5YeavzmIHD9FGn5cO4QVNKupZxlw-wCLcB/s320/IMG_4516b.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; language: en-US; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 53.3333px;">Who:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Any UT Austin full-time student interested in joining a student startup or finding a </span></span>cofounder</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 53.3333px;">Where:</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 53.3333px;"> McCombs School of Business, CBA 3.304</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 53.3333px;">When:</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 53.3333px;"> Thursday, Sept. 29 from 6 PM – 9 PM</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 53.3333px;">What:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Students will meet in a speed-date format for five minutes each. Students with a skill looking to join a startup (part of the RSVP process) will circle through the students with ideas looking for </span></span>cofounders<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 53.3333px;">. Each student will be given a stack of 20 business cards with their name, email and EITHER their startup idea or their skill. Matches will be made at the option of the student. Learn more at <a href="http://bit.ly/utcofounder">http://bit.ly/utcofounder</a> </span></li>
</ul>
</h4>
</div>
</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XkflF8EmQLQ/V88mzP51SEI/AAAAAAAABXY/8nrjqyQtIsMBGPD_OKTgOiAVTTfmCmoCQCLcB/s320/campuswidespeeddate.png" width="239" /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "century gothic";"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-1537242990486553982016-08-08T21:55:00.001-05:002016-08-09T09:12:59.732-05:00Give a sh## = the secret to success!Forgive my crass title, but so many people these days cuss to do harm. I cuss to make points! (Just ask my students at UT Austin).<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The point? Give a Shit! Really! If you do, you will:</div>
<div>
1.) get the job</div>
<div>
2.) get more responsibility</div>
<div>
3.) get a raise</div>
<div>
4.) get a promotion</div>
<div>
5.) achieve your dreams</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As soon as you stop giving a sh##, bad things happen.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Persistence is one of the keys to entrepreneurial success, and that means simply keep on giving a shit. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Be relentless.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iDh81u3G5_Y/V6lGPXjOHZI/AAAAAAAABVY/BiS8Es6b8FU/s640/blogger-image-11724447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iDh81u3G5_Y/V6lGPXjOHZI/AAAAAAAABVY/BiS8Es6b8FU/s640/blogger-image-11724447.jpg" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-72958320143998282122016-04-22T10:52:00.001-05:002016-04-22T10:52:42.925-05:00A formula to tell if your idea is good: for Engineers & logical thinkers.Is your idea good? This comes up in a ton of contexts, from entrepreneurship and startups to brainstorms and even into big companies and small projects. Even if you are just coding up something, you are usually working from an idea.<br />
<br />
Wouldn't it be nice to know if your idea is good, perhaps even BEFORE you've tried it?<br />
<br />
The following logical flowchart is designed with that in mind. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
Step 1: Do you think your idea is good?<br />
IF YES: Proceed to next step.<br />
IF NO: STOP! BAD IDEA!<br />
<br />
Step 2: Do others think your idea is good?<br />
IF YES: Proceed to next step.<br />
IF NOT: STOP! MEET with those others and talk through what's not good about it, improve it, then go back to Step 1!<br />
<br />
Step 3: Will your idea take less than 1 day to build and test?<br />
IF YES: GOOD IDEA! Build and test it! It's almost always worth it to test an idea you think is good, and get the results of the test.<br />
IF NO: Proceed to next step.<br />
<br />
Step 4: Can you build a "fake version" of your idea in less than 1 day and test it?<br />
IF YES: GOOD IDEA! Build and test it! It's almost always worth it to test an idea you think is good, and get the results of the test.<br />
IF NO: Proceed to next step.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Step 5: Can you build a "REAL or fake version" of your idea in less than 1 day and then test it in less than 1 week?<br />
IF YES: GOOD IDEA! Build and test it! It's almost always worth it to test an idea you think is good, and get the results of the test. Sometimes the testing takes longer (like an A/B experiment requires time to gather data). Still, worth it! <br />
IF NO: Proceed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Step 5: Is there a way to measure if your idea is good?<br />
IF YES: Proceed. <br />
IF NO: Rethink the idea to include a way to measure if it's good or not, then go to Step 1.<br />
<br />
Step 6: Work hard to see if you can build it faster in a way that can get you 'measurable results' if your idea is good or not.... and then build it and measure it.<br />
<br />
That's it!<br />
<br />
I know maybe you were thinking there is some algorithm to "actually" tell you if your idea is good or not... newsflash, it cannot exist. What can exist though is a new kind of thinking: think measurement first! If you can't tell if your idea is good or not (by some measure) then why even ask the question?<br />
<br />
No go out there and Measure!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-44264840688388670242016-02-12T10:23:00.001-06:002016-02-14T22:39:13.336-06:00Solving the full problem by focusing on the target marketGot an idea for a startup? Great! Now, tell me, what problem does it solve?<div><br></div><div>Well, if you are having trouble articulating that, or, if you want to improve your chances of succeeding... Read on!</div><div><br></div><div>So many ideas solve nobody's problem. And so many ideas solve a problem only partly; or barely.</div><div><br></div><div>If you want to succeed in: your Kickstarter, your indiegogo, your launch, your business - you need to be thinking - what is the full problem!</div><div><br></div><div>Here are 3 tips to help you think about the problem you are solving.</div><div>1. Target market! - really try to narrow down on whom is the target market! Gender, age, and psychographics! As specific as possible. Remember, nothing can solve everyone's problem, but something can solve someone's problem completely and make them very happy!</div><div>2. Think solve problem, not your idea. Probably your great idea helps solve the problem, but most likely you can add 2 or 3 components (even if it's just documentation) to really completely solve the problem.</div><div>3. Cut out anything that is not truly necessary to solve the problem for the specific target market you have in mind!</div><div><br></div><div>Now, get out and solve something!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-86631458947186073792016-02-12T10:21:00.001-06:002016-02-12T10:39:25.848-06:00Defining Entrepreneurship and StartupThis is a call for a more universally agreed on definition of entrepreneurship, startup and small business.<div><br></div><div>My proposal is simple:</div><div><br></div><div>Startup - a new business of any kind (big, small, or entrepeurial)</div><div><br></div><div>Entrepreneurship - the study of "novel" businesses which has the opportunity to "grow big"</div><div><br></div><div>Entrepreneur - a person who has founded or cofounded a "novel" startup which could or did "grow big".</div><div><br></div><div>Small Business - a private non-novel business, with a known risk/reward profile based on prior businesses of that type.</div><div><br></div><div>Discuss...</div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-8461379885531116872016-01-21T11:02:00.001-06:002016-01-21T11:02:16.864-06:00The Lean Startup Toilet Bowl Trap of Getting Nowhere Slowly<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DH7DvWGrlDM/VqEOzQqHX8I/AAAAAAAABPI/yWlBbBG21bw/s1600/11709524_10153354466676154_2219003195990111829_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DH7DvWGrlDM/VqEOzQqHX8I/AAAAAAAABPI/yWlBbBG21bw/s320/11709524_10153354466676154_2219003195990111829_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>Progress. That's a nice word. "We're making progress...", says the workers cutting the road through the forest. Then, a wise leader climbs a tree and says "but you're going the wrong way!"<br />
<br />
That's all fine and good, and a good lean startup does this often. It's called "Pivot" and it's central to the Lean Startup concept. But what happens when you just keep pivoting? Aren't you chasing your tail? Suddenly, you have a road to nowhere, or worse, a road that goes in circles.<br />
<br />
This is a TRAP! Your "lean startup" just got into a slowly dieing spiral of doom. Your dream is getting flushed in the toilet because you keep climbing that tree and realizing that you're going the wrong way!<br />
<br />
Here's an example of the Lean Startup in the Toilet Bowl Trap:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>You build a website and collect some preorders (yeah, progress!)</li>
<li>You ship the preorders and get feedback from customers that they love/hate certain features (yeah, progress!)</li>
<li>You fix the product based on the feedback, and nobody buys it (yeah, progress!)</li>
<li>You PIVOT to a new product and collect some preorders (yeah, progress!)</li>
<li>Jump to step #2, repeat, all the way to the toilet's flush.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
So, how do you get out of this toilet bowl trap?<br />
<br />
First, remember, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results.<br />
<br />
You have to do something different!<br />
<br />
In many cases, the problem is not 'your product' or 'your idea', but the marketing instead!<br />
<br />
Instead of constantly pivoting on "product" you might need to pivot on some of the other 4 P's of Marketing:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Place: Maybe your lack of orders is because it's not available where the customers are... and particularly where the customers are that are in the buying mood for what you offer!</li>
<li>Price: Maybe your lack of orders is related to the pricing or pricing structure of your product. Maybe you need to sell it in parts, or with different options. It could even be too low!</li>
<li>Promotion: Maybe your lack of orders is related to how you are attracting customers. Sure, you're getting a lot of 'views', but are those customers: the right ones, in the right mood (buying), with the right goals, with the right problems, with enough education about your solution, etc.? Or Maybe, your just not reaching your right audience, or just not 'appealing' enough to their needs (messaging).</li>
</ol>
<div>
So, avoid the Toilet Bowl Trap: run Lean Startup Experiments on more than just 'the product'...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Enjoy!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-20347240476313223332016-01-20T13:34:00.001-06:002016-01-20T13:37:29.317-06:00Effort and Leadership - 3 Tips to Motivate your EmployeesI am very proud to be able to train in <a href="http://niblocksata.com/about" target="_blank">ATA Martial Arts with Chief Master Niblock</a> at his school here in Austin, Texas (Round Rock). Today, like many other days, Chief Master Niblock gave us not only a great physical workout, but also great lessons in life and character.<br />
<br />
[paraphrased] "You have students or employees who don't give 100% effort, but have you looked in the mirror. YOU, the leader, need to be giving 100%, or you can't expect it from your students." said Chief Master Niblock. "It has to be every day. Nobody wants an employee who only gives 100% on Mondays, so you have to give 100% every day if you expect it in return."<br />
<br />
I was inspired, as I often am when getting to train with such an awesome instructor. We all need our mentors and people to look up to, and Chief Master Niblock is that to me. Without further ado, I give you 3 tips to motivate your employees, inspired by Chief Master Niblock.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Lead from the Front</b> - You need to be giving 100% effort every day, not just on Mondays! You cannot and should not expect more from your employees (even in a Startup) than what you are willing to give yourself. And you need to give this effort "from the front" so that everyone can see you.</li>
<li><b>You set the Tone</b> - If you are down, or having a bad day, it's likely they will too. Somehow, you've got to find silver linings, shiny day's ahead. Positivity is contagious too... you just have to set the tone.</li>
<li><b>Be Fanatical about your Vision</b> - Especially for a startup, you have to be absolutely focused on your vision and achieving it. This means saying 'no' to all the distractions that come up, and saying 'yes' to anything that might move your vision forward. Every day, you need to share your vision with the team, loudly, proudly, and with that Positivity. Your vision will become contagious too. Suddenly people will start making decisions in an empowered way that will move forward your cause, not just "work for work's sake".</li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HUIwGC-GeE/Vp_fvWKXGWI/AAAAAAAABOw/to0MkxeIQ20/s1600/harlanchop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HUIwGC-GeE/Vp_fvWKXGWI/AAAAAAAABOw/to0MkxeIQ20/s1600/harlanchop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harlan Beverly Training in ATA Martial Arts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b>Bonus Tip for Investors/Board Members - </b>This tip is for board members and investors... you need to make sure you consider the Agency Problem. You cannot expect your startup Management Teams to put forward 100% effort if they are not incentivized to do so. That means believing in their vision/mission, and making it worthwhile if they succeed. The trickle down effect of an improperly incentivized management can lead to an entire organization that's not giving 100% or is giving it to the wrong things.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-38170854997953765772016-01-10T23:18:00.001-06:002016-01-10T23:18:51.913-06:007 Key Lessons Entrepreneurs Should Learn from CES 2016<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I just got back from my 10th year of CES the biggest consumer electronics show in the USA. Here are the things entrepreneurs messed up heartily!</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SAkbZLn_tBA/VpM7Oggq-gI/AAAAAAAABOQ/BMPa3WuriOg/s640/blogger-image-59442086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SAkbZLn_tBA/VpM7Oggq-gI/AAAAAAAABOQ/BMPa3WuriOg/s640/blogger-image-59442086.jpg"></a></div></div><div>1. Lesson one</div><div><br></div><div>Be prepared for success. At least a dozen startups in Eureka park (the startup area of CES) had run out of fliers and business cards by day 3. Seriously? There are investors walking around as well as buyers and distribution and you have no card for them? (P.s. See our website is not an answer). Kinko s is an answer.</div><div><br></div><div>2. Lesson two</div><div><br></div><div>Not everyone is important. In fact most of the joes walking around cannot help you. So, what do you do? You have to ask people about them before you tell them all about you. If you learn they are a reporter, great! Share the vision. If you learn they run a recipe website (like me) maybe you don't need to share your founding story, just tell me what you do and be polite.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Lesson three</div><div><br></div><div>For goodness sakes make it easy for people tonl figure out what you do! I should not have to read your entire wall and your brochure before I it out. Make it a one line statement, big and bold and in front of me. This will help a lot with 1 and 2 above by the way... The important people will find you. Others who figure you out may not need that flier you ran out of. And for goodness sakes don't make it a goal to hand out fliers!</div><div><br></div><div>4. Lesson four</div><div><br></div><div>Have a goal! Many of the 200'or so startups I spoke to had no goal for the show, none. "We're just here showing our stuff off" is not a goal. Get Press, sales, investment, leads, those are goals.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Lesson five</div><div><br></div><div>Let people know your goal and do stuff that will help you get that goal. An hourly giveaway is not going to attract investors. A party? Hah! How about setup meetings in advance? How about have a "investor area" of your booth to chat with any that come</div><div>by?</div><div><br></div><div>6. Lesson six</div><div><br></div><div>Do not drink on the job. It's sloppy and shows a lack of selfcontrol. If you drink, do so after the meetings and don't overdo it... CES is a long show, and being late to open just looks really really bad!</div><div><br></div><div>7. Lesson seven</div><div><br></div><div>Don't hire or bring show workers who know nothing about your products or services. Especially don't leave them alone. "Im sorry, nobody is here who can answer that" is not a good answer. You just lost a huge sale, forever.</div><div><br></div><div>So, was CES a good show for me? Yes! I leave CES 2016 feeling great about technology! The future gets cooler every year, and it is no surprise nor secret that it's startups leading the charge!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fiVyXhlW5Lw/VpM7N9G-hjI/AAAAAAAABOI/mzbH98rORyQ/s640/blogger-image--1230656032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fiVyXhlW5Lw/VpM7N9G-hjI/AAAAAAAABOI/mzbH98rORyQ/s640/blogger-image--1230656032.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-83712816775165481122015-12-28T13:27:00.002-06:002016-01-12T12:52:03.154-06:00Harlan Teaching "Lean Startup Essentials" at the University of Texas Austin - Spring 2016<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">This coming semester, I will be teaching Lean Startup Essentials! The 2-3:30pm section (section 2) still has seats open. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">NOTE: THIS COURSE IS OPEN TO ALL UT STUDENTS ( from any College, not just McCombs School of Business )!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">LEAN STARTUP ESSENTIALS (MAN 337) - SPRING 2015</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> Tuesdays & Thursdays from 2pm-3:30 in </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">CBA 4.344</span></div>
<br />
If you are a UT Student, you can login with this link to register:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/registrar/course_schedule/20162/results/?ccyys=20162&search_type_main=INSTR&instr_last_name=Beverly&instr_first_initial=H&x=34&y=20">https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/registrar/course_schedule/20162/results/?ccyys=20162&search_type_main=INSTR&instr_last_name=Beverly&instr_first_initial=H&x=34&y=20</a> <br />
<br />
<b>Want to know what this course is all about? </b><br />
First, hear what some students had to say:<br />
"great class"<br />
"awesome teacher"<br />
"course was awesome"<br />
"most practical class ... at UT"<br />
"unique content and very useful"<br />
<br />
<b>Okay, interested? Here's the course description:</b><br />
<br />
This course uses the "Lean Startup" concept as a canvas to give students the essential knowledge needed to either start their own business or join a startup and be a major contributor. In addition to learning about entrepreneurship, the legal aspects of starting a business, and the life and experience of working at a startup, students will get hands-on skills they can use in any startup or to start their own business. Every student will practice these skills in-class by building a real startup business (based on a pre-set collection of products and services). This course focuses on the “Lean Startup” methodology, but will also cover the traditional new venture development and the entrepreneurial process (problem identification, innovation, business plans, fund raising, launching, and managing a startup). This course will also cover the essential knowledge derived from entrepreneurship research covering proven keys to success as well as scientific research about what it takes in an individual and group to succeed in entrepreneurship. The final project is one of the pre-set business ideas, up, running, and operating in the build-measure-learn cycle that is the core of the “Lean Startup” methodology.<br />
<br />
Prerequisites: None.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<b>Need more? Here's a link to the syllabus for this Spring: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B19bmn5A18VtMTVONVpoSFl4TFU/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B19bmn5A18VtMTVONVpoSFl4TFU/view?usp=sharing</a> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Got a question, email me! </b><br />
harlan.beverly@mccombs.utexas (and dot edu of course)<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-47254540411177758532015-12-22T10:54:00.000-06:002015-12-23T14:26:24.528-06:00Small Thinking; why Austin entrepreneurs need to think bigger!I teach a class at UT Austin called "lean startup", I also help run the UT Texas Venture Labs and I volunteer at Capital Factory. I mentor or advise dozens of startups. I also run my own startup and have started 3. All this is to say, I am plugged in to startups in Austin. As with all my blog posts, this is not anything official from UT or anywhere else, just my own opinions.<br />
<br />
I see probably 50 (or more) startup pitches per year. One thing I have noticed recently, since <a href="http://austininno.streetwise.co/2015/10/27/vc-data-austin-startup-funding-series-a-late-stage/" target="_blank">Venture Capital has mostly dried up in Austin</a> and worldwide, people have stopped thinking big. I see so many deals where "the startup" is really "a product or service". For example, your app idea, your IoT idea, your new restaurant concept, and so on. If it could be done on Kickstarter or bootstrapped in a year or two, it's probably not big thinking.<br />
<br />
This article is a call to get entrepreneurs to THINK BIGGER! It is also hopefully a few tips for entrepreneurs to do just that.<br />
<br />
First, let me explain what I consider 'small thinking'. Small thinking is when an entrepreneur is so focused on 'the first product' or 'getting to revenue' that they fail to communicate (or possibly fail to think) what the big picture is. If you are not thinking past 'your first move', you are playing Startup Chess with a massive handicap. If you don't have 'a second move', you are failing to plan. In both cases, you are not THINKING BIG!<br />
<br />
Now, let me explain what I consider 'big thinking'. Big thinking isn't doing, it's thinking, and maybe talking. Doing is what you are doing first and now (probably being Lean and Agile and building an MVP and focusing on Getting Customers and Feedback)... all very smart and important stuff. However, while you are off 'Doing' that important stuff, you should be 'thinking' and probably 'communicating' your big vision a bunch more than you are. <br />
<br />
Big thinking is having a big vision for wanting to 'change' something. 'Change' is the operative word, and it implies a disruption in the status quo. Big thinking is having <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451639619/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451639619&linkCode=as2&tag=tytusblog-20&linkId=F5FKTXYX7JSKWTV4" target="_blank">'the end in mind'</a> before you begin. This is more than a personal financial goal (which is also important). This is understanding where your company might play in the big picture of the world. This requires understanding 'the world' e.g. your market today, and where your market will be after you have risen to power and achieved your 'big vision'.<br />
<br />
Here's the problem. Many companies in Austin simply do not have this 'big vision' in mind for their company. I ask you, how is your company going to change the world? How are you going to "shake up" your industry. If you do not have an answer, then you are not Big Thinking.<br />
<br />
I urge you now, go out, and think bigger! If you do it, WHILE staying focused on "DOING LEAN" there are so many awesome benefits. Here are some personal examples I will share.<br />
<br />
At my first company, Bigfoot Networks, our "big vision" was to End All Lag! In fact, we even had a website, t-shirts and events, all around "Ending Lag Now!". We had a clear big picture mission, near 0-latency & 0-lag online gaming. We were going to change the world... and as a result:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>The press cared about our story... even though many didn't believe we could do it, it was still a story (rather than a non-story).</li>
<li>Employees LIKED working for Bigfoot Networks... we all understood our mission and it gave us energy to tackle the day-to-day "Doing" because we knew where we were 'Going'. </li>
<li>As a result, my attrition rate was lowest at Bigfoot Networks than any other company. And my recruiting was the easiest.</li>
<li>I was able to raise 'big' VC money, not because of our results (which were average), but because of our vision (and technology to back it up).</li>
</ol>
<div>
At Karmaback, my second company, our vision was also clear... we wanted to 'Prove Social Marketing Works", and create analytics behind social network marketing. What is interesting here is that we did so many 'day to day' "Doing" that did not line up with this goal (to pay the rent) that we ultimately lost sight of this vision... when that happened, we had to sell the company. It just wasn't honest to say "this contracting job" had anything to do with our vision. Had we stayed truer to our vision, Karmaback probably would have been even bigger and sold for much more.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, I hope you can see where I am headed. Have a big vision, execute on a plan towards doing it, and change the world! If your company does NOT have a 'change the world plan'... maybe it needs to get one. Personally, I am on a mission to make sure all my endeavors have one. At U.T. Austin, "what starts here changes the world"... and I'd like to see all of Austin take the charge and "THINK BIGGER"!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eJwljbb-Avc/Vnl_vhZbXnI/AAAAAAAABNA/dsRp2fhs-w8/s640/harlan_and_daughter_think_bigger.jpg" width="480" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harlan T. Beverly, PhD + Daughter, think BIGGER in Denali National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-43107342748521565352015-10-07T09:48:00.000-05:002015-10-07T09:48:09.766-05:00Otaku Marketing PlansOtaku is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otaku">a Japanese term</a>, now used throughout the marketing world, to mean a person or group of people obsessed with a particular topic/problem/or interest. Recently, I was astonished to learn that there is an Otaku group who are obsessed with a specific kind of ice - nugget ice. I learned this from doing a deep analysis of what causes IndieGogo campaigns to succeed or fail. You see, there is an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otaku">Opal Ice Maker</a>, which does 1 thing ~ makes nugget ice ~ that recently raised $2.5 Million dollars on indiegogo. And this got me thinking....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AKES1mUTzc/VhUuPjdHMcI/AAAAAAAABJo/_TV3QVon0U0/s1600/nuggeticeopalice.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AKES1mUTzc/VhUuPjdHMcI/AAAAAAAABJo/_TV3QVon0U0/s320/nuggeticeopalice.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Who in their right mind would PRE-ORDER a $450 ice machine?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Clearly, I'm not an Otaku for nugget ice.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But also as clear, this marketing plan worked. And it was a pretty simple plan really, and had almost NOTHING to do with advertising or promotion. I've written extensively in the past about <a href="http://tytusblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-build-marketing-plan.htm">marketing plans</a>, and how <a href="http://tytusblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/tytusblog-62811-marketing-is-more-than.html">marketing is SO MUCH MORE than just advertising</a>. This Opal Ice Maker is clearly a perfect example. So, what made this successful? And how can you build a marketing plan just like it?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ol>
<li>The Opal Ice Maker is targeted specifically and exclusively to people who love nugget ice, and would die to have it at home... Clearly, there is a passionate following of nugget ice, and this entire product was built EXCLUSIVELY for that audience. (I would never buy one, for example).</li>
<li>The Opal Ice Maker 'completely' solves the problem of making your own nugget ice at home.... it does exactly what it says it will do, and most people cannot even imaging using 24 pounds of nugget ice at their home, even at a party!</li>
<li>They went after and got people who love nugget ice, targeting people who 'like sonic drivethru' (who have the nugget ice), and other chains where people frequent just to get their ice fix.</li>
<li>It's not a low price, but a high price... because Otaku people would pay it, and a high price signals quality.</li>
</ol>
<div>
So, to replicate this marketing plan all you need to do is:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Find a problem that a very specific small Otaku group have, and are extremely passionate about.</li>
<li>Completely solve the problem.</li>
<li>Target and reach out to that group directly (ads, PR, gorilla marketing).</li>
<li>Charge a high enough price to signal quality.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Now, go out and market!</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-86769927263978149042015-09-18T09:11:00.001-05:002015-09-18T09:11:49.548-05:005 Ways to Test your Startup Idea - LeanSo, you have an idea? An invention even? How do you know for sure it is any good? Here is 5 ways you can test your idea without building it first.<div><br></div><div>1.) create a free website at http://wordpress.com and make 2 pages. Page 1 describes your idea, and includes a link to Buy Now! Page 2 says "sorry" out of stock and asks for an email. Now send everyone you know to the page... And see how many you 'sell'.</div><div><br></div><div>2.) Setup some interviews with people who should really want your product/service. Ask them about the idea and ask how much they might pay for that... judge the amount as validation!</div><div><br></div><div>3.) Go to a trade show and try to hand out a flier about your idea... Judge people's reaction and ask them what they think.</div><div><br></div><div>4.) Search the web for similar products and especially for targey customer types actually complaining about the problem your idea solves. Hear nothing/find nothing.... Probably not good for your idea.</div><div><br></div><div>5.) Make a mockup of your idea and stand at a corner where target customers might walk by. Ask people if they would like to learn and what they would pay for that. </div><div><br></div><div>The key idea is: will your target customer pay for the idea?</div><div><br></div><div>Go out and see BEFORE you build it.</div><div><br></div><div>Thats lean startup.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-54379471034600383882015-09-09T08:41:00.000-05:002015-09-09T08:41:07.394-05:00Redefining IntelligenceYesterday I was lecturing to a bunch of awesome UT Students and I was asked for an example of one of 'my' lighthouse principles. I said 'fairness', because I do believe in fairness; primarily fairness of opportunity. When I said this fairness principle applies to 'grading', the students were quite happy about that!<br />
<br />
A similar value of mine is 'effort'. That if people will apply enough effort they can achieve anything.<br />
<br />
So, how does this relate to intelligence? <br />
<br />
Well, two things, a child can be intelligent, but not given equal opportunity (fairness), and thus fall behind others... and specifically fail to learn how to effectively learn (i.e. they might be quick to learn, if they had the opportunity). Thus when that child does poorly in school, and drops out, and stops learning new things, are they less intelligent? Society says no... I think the answer should be 'yes'.<br />
<br />
Second, and opposite, a child can be considered a 'slow learner', but who puts in maximum effort, and learns how to learn (for them), and gains average grades in school but sticks with it. This child learns advanced mathematics, science, history, and more... is this 'slow learner' still considered as not very intelligent? Society says yes... I think the answer is no. This child is MORE intelligent than the quick learner who (for reasons in or out of their control) does not put in enough effort to continue learning.<br />
<br />
Here's what this all means: I believe that intelligence should be a measure of the knowledge that a person has gained and retained. This is not how fast or how easy it is for that person to learn new things, because with enough effort, that can be overcome. This is instead how MUCH that person has learned, whether by whatever amount of effort it might have taken.<br />
<br />
The quickness of how fast someone can learn (or memorize or problem solve), is a totally separate trait, barely worthy of consideration (e.g. IQ is useless). Thus we must not call the lazy quick learner who does not apply themselves as intelligent. We must not accept the messed up education system that does not give the quick learner enough opportunity. Even more so, we must not call the 'not as quick' learners less intelligent, instead we must give them 'fair' opportunity to apply effort to gain intelligence.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-koHJPp2z6dA/VfA2zX4aIOI/AAAAAAAABGo/hTO8--E-EVk/s1600/Our_Community_Place_Sandbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-koHJPp2z6dA/VfA2zX4aIOI/AAAAAAAABGo/hTO8--E-EVk/s320/Our_Community_Place_Sandbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-7687959168466191362015-09-02T08:22:00.000-05:002015-09-02T08:22:20.291-05:00Losing your temper in business. The take 5 rule.I've done it. We've all done it. At some point in your life, you lose your cool. You get mad, and you show it ~ sometimes quite visibly. But what happens when you lose your temper in business? What can happen? And what are the long lasting effects of losing your temper in the office? Here's my experience and what you can do to avoid or minimize problems when it inevitably does happen to you.<br />
<br />
1. I've lost my cool numerous times in the office, usually I get red in the face, start to frown dangerously, and get real quiet.... I can tell you from experience, that look usually shuts people down and RARELY does it get beyond this point for me. Yah, it's clear I'm mad, but people that have worked for me know that I'll cool down in a few minutes... especially if....<br />
<br />
1.b. The best tactic not to go beyond this point (turning red/ frowning) is to say "let's <b>take 5</b>" and walk outside or get some water... remember to breathe, and that life is bigger than whatever you are mad at. After 5 min. you should be cool enough to talk rationally again.<br />
<br />
2. Occasionally, even after 5 min., I'm still angry. Heck, I can still be mad after 2-days, and sitting down with that person again just sparks back up the anger. I can't keep "<b>taking 5</b>" constantly. What to do?<br />
<br />
2.b. The best thing to do is to try to take an '<b>active listening</b>' approach. This involves starting at the beginning (after a take-5 or when you're cooled down), asking again about the problem, then most importantly <u>repeating the problem back to the person from their point of view</u>. They will feel heard and then they will be ready to listen. Explain your problem. <u>Ask them to say it back to you.</u> Then ask them to explain what they want. Say it back to them. Tell them what you want. Ask them to say it back to you. Now find a solution.. you'll both be read to figure it out.<br />
<br />
3. So... uhoh. I yelled. I screamed. I lost it. Have I done that? sure. Just never let it get physical... more on that later. All you did was yell... maybe you cursed... What do you do now???<br />
<br />
3.b. My best advice is to <b>quickly acknowledge you lost your cool and you need to "take 5"</b>. The world is not over. This happens. Has happened to me. Nothing too terrible is going to happen. Follow 2.b above, and all will be okay. After your <b>take 5</b>, acknowledge that you were wrong to yell, but you are still angry, and then move to <b><u>active listening</u></b>.<br />
<br />
4. So, you got physical? This has not happened to me. Hopefully you've <b>taken 5</b>, got away from the situation. In my companies, there is a rule: no-one can refuse or get upset about someone's need to take 5. I HAVE seen someone get physical at work 1 time. I was the manager.<br />
<br />
4.b. So, what happens if you get physical at work? I can tell you what I did. <b><span style="color: red;">I fired the person</span></b>, immediately. On the spot. No regrets, no 2nd chances. You get physical at work, you should be fired. Period. Hopefully your workplace has a <b>take 5 rule</b>... if not take it yourself. Getting docked 5 minutes of time is better than being fired.<br />
<br />
I hope this blog has left you with some thoughts.. feel free to post them below. I respond to all comments and questions.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-16165174457547972872015-08-12T16:58:00.002-05:002016-11-04T14:05:14.417-05:00Lean Startup Essentials: Harlan's new Class at University of Texas McCombs School of BusinessHello Friends and Followers! My NEW UT McCombs Undergraduate Class on Entrepreneurship - Lean Startup Essentials, begins this Fall 2015!<br />
<br />
* no pre-req.<br />
<br />
This class is designed for any undergraduate student at UT Austin who wants to learn about Entrepreneurship. You will learn all the basics (essentials), but in a way that also teaches the latest and greatest in startup trends: especially Lean Startup, the groundbreaking new trend in startup success. A great thing about the class is that it will also teach practical skills to actually launch a startup. In fact, <b>YOU WILL LAUNCH A STARTUP</b> <b>as part of this class</b> (albeit from a canned selection of products/services).<br />
<br />
<u>There are still open seats!</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
Simply search the catalogue for the course name:<br />
Lean Startup Essentials:<br />
<a href="http://registrar.utexas.edu/schedules">http://registrar.utexas.edu/schedules</a><br />
<br />
Please add... or consider drop->add to get into my class! It'll be really fun and send you on your way to a great career in a Startup (maybe your own!)!<br />
<br />
Here is the course official description:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
Course Unique ID: 04967 <br />
T,TH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.<br />
CBA 5.328<br />
Instructor: BEVERLY, HARLAN T<br />
MAN 337 LEAN STARTUP ESSENTIALS<br />
Prerequisite: None.<br />
<br />
Topic description: </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b>
This course uses the "Lean Startup" concept as a canvas to give
students the essential knowledge needed to either start their own
business or join a startup and be a major contributor. In addition
to learning about entrepreneurship, the legal aspects of starting
a business, and the life and experience of working at a startup,
students will get hands-on skills they can use in any startup or
to start their own business.</b><br />
<br />
Textbook: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phqU2mq0M2k/T6qPja3-CGI/AAAAAAAAAXs/IgS9hDjozlg/s1600/51vN15YCJyL._BO2%252C204%252C203%252C200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click%252CTopRight%252C35%252C-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-71438095155040725432015-08-04T10:43:00.001-05:002015-08-04T10:43:18.317-05:00Patent Thoughts for StartupsPatents are an odd thing... if you might have one, it's valuable. If you do have one, it's of little more value than maybe having one. Writing one is hard. Getting one is hard. Using one is nearly useless. So what should a startup do?<br />
<br />
In my 15 years and 21 patents worth of experience, this is what has worked for me. As with all such thoughts, this is not legal advice, simply my experience; I am not a lawyer.<br />
<br />
First, it is cheap and easy to file a provisional patent. Just got to http://uspto.gov and file it. Utility Provisional is what you want, and startups can usually pay even less by selecting small business option. Less than $200 is all you should need. Write it in plain English, what it is and does, and include at least 1 figure. Easy-peasy. Suddenly you get the MOST value out of a patent you can get, but it expires in 1-year so be careful! During that year, you can say "patent pending" and that's crucial for startups (sometimes).<br />
<br />
Next, don't bother filing the real (non-provisional) patent unless a.) you have the money [around $10K, because a patent attorney is a must]. AND b.) either the product is somewhat successful or the patent seems really good to you. Remember, you have 1 year to file it, and must reference the provisional... or you lose the date of the provisional filing.<br />
<br />
Last, why bother?<br />
<br />
Because, saying patent pending is good marketing (usually). Also because investors like it. After you are funded, they will like it if you keep building up your actual patent portfolio (of real patents, not provisional patents).<br />
<br />
Now, get out there and LAUNCH a real product, stop worrying about patents, just write your own provisional and move on! It won't matter unless your product is a success anyway!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551316030266117621.post-28760769420955189682015-06-13T09:41:00.000-05:002015-06-13T09:41:00.423-05:00Job vs. Career: How much should you like your job?Every job has fun parts and boring parts. Some jobs also have really difficult parts, which may be fun or may be boring. As a manager, I think a lot about my employees and how much they like their job. The answer can never be 100%, not even for me. So how much is enough? How much should you like your job?<br />
<br />
To answer that question, I want to break down life on the job into three parts: part 1 - the environment of the job, part 2 - the people you work with, and part 3 - the work itself. The reason to break this down this way is because the work itself is really only a part of the overall aspect of working.<br />
<br />
So, how much should you like your job? Well, let's look at each part.<br />
<br />
Part 1 - The Job Environment:<br />
You really should like all these things about your job environment: Temperature, Workspace, Bathrooms, Odor/Air Quality.<br />
Some things you can "not like" because it's just part of "having a job": hours, breaks, location (distance from your home)<br />
Extras: these things you can like, but don't expect them: perks, comfort<br />
<b> My count: you should like your Job Environment 4/7 or 57%. Above 57% and you may have yourself a career! Below, and you should look for a new job now.</b><br />
<br />
Part 2 - The People:<br />
You should not dislike more than 50% of your coworkers. You should respect your boss (not necessarily like him/her). Your boss should have a path for promotion for you in mind and want you to succeed.<br />
You do not have to like: everyone. You do not have to be 'social' with anyone from your job, if you are consider that a bonus.<br />
<b> My count: If you dislike more than 50% of your coworkers or do not respect your boss or your boss does not want you to ever get promoted (no path), then you should look for a new job. Otherwise, you may have yourself a career! Read on!</b><br />
<br />
Part 3 - The Work Itself:<br />
As said before, there are parts you like and parts you don't. It's true for every job, even CEO job (maybe especially!). Here's a checklist of should's:<br />
1. You should identify with the department you are in "engineering, marketing, sales, production, etc.".<br />
2. You should like the 'main thing' that your job is responsible to do. (build stuff, market stuff, sell stuff, etc.).<br />
3. You should find your work challenging but doable.<br />
4. You should be able to learn new things constantly in your job.<br />
5. You should not expect to do only stuff you like all the time. You may only get to do stuff you like about your job about 25% of the time.<br />
6. For doing stuff you don't like, you should not "absolutely hate" more than 25% of the stuff you do.<br />
7. That leaves about 50% of stuff you don't like but don't hate, and that's okay.<br />
<b> My Count: If you like at least 25% of the stuff you do, and don't hate more than 25%, and you identify with your department and find your work challenging and learn new stuff.... you have yourself a career. IF not, start looking for a new job... perhaps in a new department.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
So, do I like my job? The picture below should answer that:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tk37V-PGiUE/VXxAvS1n4fI/AAAAAAAAA-E/AFQtPj8rEKY/s1600/11188269_10153179760841154_5823595570499094651_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tk37V-PGiUE/VXxAvS1n4fI/AAAAAAAAA-E/AFQtPj8rEKY/s320/11188269_10153179760841154_5823595570499094651_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004493835199297259noreply@blogger.com0