An apt metaphor for business start up.
Larry Ellison : I don't know of any place or time that does not create possibilities. Stay informed of your field.
Take risks while you can ( Jawed Karim's decision to move to Palo Alto to join Paypalby dropping out of the second semester.)
Stay flexible.
Don't listen to so called 'experts'. There are no experts.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Jawed Karim
Youtube co-founder shares his story of a start up from concept to hyper growth.
How did they come up with the idea? Why is it so successful?
If you have a good idea and make a video and upload it , you will have millions of viewers. The dancing video by Mike Garding is a prime example.
Killer Applications, for example like Wikipedia and Flickr, anyone can implement them i a matter of weeks although scaling it could be more complicated.
Livejournal(1999) allowed one to broadcast personalised content. It also showed people are willing to share their personal stories.
Hotornot ( 2000 ) allows you to rate photos. Anyone can upload or download. It was profitable even before google adsense.
Wikipedia - are people really willing to put in their own time to produce content. It was a more like a social experiment.
Friendster ( 2002) was not the first social network. Six degrees came out but relied heavily on email.
Flickr (2004) photosharing plus delicious. There was no concept of tagging with others.
Why is it possible now and not before and what problem does this solve.
If you have a good idea why hasn't it been developed until now. For you tube the enabling technology was around. The broadband was not available in 2000.Macromedia Flash 7 is now taken for granted, first time macromedia included video playing. The video camera also came up with capability. Also cheap hosting had become available.
A couple of hundred thousand to sixty million in five years they managed to scale paypal.
Just because 'experts' reject an idea it doesn't mean its a bad idea.
There are no experts, you are the expert.
The Next Big Thing will exploit newly emerging secondary technologies.
Watch these enabling technologies to see what will be possible.
An excerpt from Jawed's talk about marketing a new website, just send emails to your friends.
Well guys, we just launched this website.
Can you help us spread the word?
Since we just launched we don't have any girls on it ...YET.
Can you guys upload your own videos? Let me know what you think.
How did they come up with the idea? Why is it so successful?
If you have a good idea and make a video and upload it , you will have millions of viewers. The dancing video by Mike Garding is a prime example.
Killer Applications, for example like Wikipedia and Flickr, anyone can implement them i a matter of weeks although scaling it could be more complicated.
Livejournal(1999) allowed one to broadcast personalised content. It also showed people are willing to share their personal stories.
Hotornot ( 2000 ) allows you to rate photos. Anyone can upload or download. It was profitable even before google adsense.
Wikipedia - are people really willing to put in their own time to produce content. It was a more like a social experiment.
Friendster ( 2002) was not the first social network. Six degrees came out but relied heavily on email.
Flickr (2004) photosharing plus delicious. There was no concept of tagging with others.
Why is it possible now and not before and what problem does this solve.
If you have a good idea why hasn't it been developed until now. For you tube the enabling technology was around. The broadband was not available in 2000.Macromedia Flash 7 is now taken for granted, first time macromedia included video playing. The video camera also came up with capability. Also cheap hosting had become available.
A couple of hundred thousand to sixty million in five years they managed to scale paypal.
Just because 'experts' reject an idea it doesn't mean its a bad idea.
There are no experts, you are the expert.
The Next Big Thing will exploit newly emerging secondary technologies.
Watch these enabling technologies to see what will be possible.
An excerpt from Jawed's talk about marketing a new website, just send emails to your friends.
Well guys, we just launched this website.
Can you help us spread the word?
Since we just launched we don't have any girls on it ...YET.
Can you guys upload your own videos? Let me know what you think.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Justifying Your Price
One day a woman spotted Pablo Picasso in the market and pulled out a piece of paper. “Mr. Picasso,” she said excitedly, “I’m a big fan. Please, could you do a little drawing for me?”
Picasso happily complied and quickly drew a sketch for her on the paper. As he handed it back, he smiled and told her to “take care of it. That will be worth millions one day.”
The woman looked flustered and said, “But it only took you thirty seconds to do it.”
Picasso laughed, “But it has taken me thirty years to be able to do it in thirty seconds.”
Picasso happily complied and quickly drew a sketch for her on the paper. As he handed it back, he smiled and told her to “take care of it. That will be worth millions one day.”
The woman looked flustered and said, “But it only took you thirty seconds to do it.”
Picasso laughed, “But it has taken me thirty years to be able to do it in thirty seconds.”
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Always leave it better than you found it
The Boy Scouts have a rule: "Always leave the campground cleaner than you found it." If you find a mess on the ground, you clean it up regardless of who might have made the mess. You intentionally improve the environment for the next group of campers. Actually the original form of that rule, written by Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, the father of scouting, was "Try and leave this world a little better than you found it."
Similarly , in planting trees, you leave behind something for the next generation.
Similarly , in planting trees, you leave behind something for the next generation.
Business Owners and Marketing
here are business owners right now… tonight…, laying in bed, tossing and turning, because they are about to loose their business. Not because they aren’t good at what they do, it’s because not enough people know what they do.
It’s all about MARKETING.
It’s all about MARKETING.
Jim Rohn
”It’s not the wind that will affect you, it’s how you trim your sails..”
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
-Jim Rohn
"in order for “it” to get better, “YOU” must get better"
“You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.”
“When you know what you want, and want it bad enough, you will find a way to get it.”
“IT is not too expensive. The problem is YOU cannot afford it.”
“Money isn’t everything but it is right up there with Oxygen!”
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live”
“It is not about what you get, it’s about what you become.”
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
-Jim Rohn
"in order for “it” to get better, “YOU” must get better"
“You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.”
“When you know what you want, and want it bad enough, you will find a way to get it.”
“IT is not too expensive. The problem is YOU cannot afford it.”
“Money isn’t everything but it is right up there with Oxygen!”
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live”
“It is not about what you get, it’s about what you become.”
We are all Dying
How’s your Mother Johnny?”
“Ahh, Frank, she’s dying….”
“We all are, Johnny. Act accordingly.”
Jack Nicholson - The Departed
“Ahh, Frank, she’s dying….”
“We all are, Johnny. Act accordingly.”
Jack Nicholson - The Departed
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Monday, October 04, 2010
Sunday, October 03, 2010
The Lonely Polygamist
'A dysfunctional family is a family with more than one member in it.'
'the best literature does that..extreme comedy and extreme tragedy in the same place'
'not a book about polygamy but a book about family...polygamy is a kind of exaggeration of a regular family and its so exaggerated that it somehow more clearly shows us ourselves.'
'the best literature does that..extreme comedy and extreme tragedy in the same place'
'not a book about polygamy but a book about family...polygamy is a kind of exaggeration of a regular family and its so exaggerated that it somehow more clearly shows us ourselves.'
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Critical Thinking Time
Set aside time for deep thinking, about 4 sessions of 50 minutes per week.
Ask yourself 'What don't I see?' Keith Cunningham
If then strategies, strategic alliances.
London Underground Map
A design classic.
Connection is the Thing
1932-1933 Throw away scale, throw away geography, connection is the thing. Connect with the destination.Harry Beck's mantra as he designed the iconic London underground map . He was rejected many times until the authorities finally gave in and decided to run a limited print of 500 and proved to be an instant hit.What is it you need to throw away, and which connections should you be making?
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Story of Orabrush
You Tube enables normal people to take an idea and put it in front of many people.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Living Upside Down
I like this concept of Paloma Faith's living upside down. Full lyrics below:
Angels watching over me with smiles upon their face
Coz I have made it through this far in an unforgiving place
It feels sometimes this is too steep for a girl like me to climb
But I must knock those guards right down I do it in my own time
I don't care (care care)
I'm half way there (nowhere)
On a road that leads me to straight to who knows where
I tell you what (I tell you what)
What I have found (What I have found)
That I'm no fool (That I'm no fool)
I'm just upside down (Just upside down)
Ain't got no pain (Ain't got no pain)
I aint got no rules (Aint got no rules)
I think I like (I think I like)
Living upside down (Living upside down)
Watchin people scurry by rushing to and fro
Oh this world is such a crazy place it's all about the go go go
Sometimes life can taste so sweet When you slow it down
You start to see the world a little differently When you turn it upside down
I don't care (care care)
I'm half way there (nowhere)
And I'm just soaking up the magic in the air
I tell you what (I tell you what)
What I have found (What I have found)
That I'm no fool (That I'm no fool)
I'm just upside down (Just upside down)
Ain't got no pain (Ain't got no pain)
I aint got no rules (Aint got no rules)
I think I like (I think I like)
Living upside down (Living upside down)
(Whoa Whoa Whoa)
You gotta slow it down
(Yeah Yeah Yeah)
But then you pick it up
(Whoa Yeah Whoa)
C'mon and try a little topsy-turvy back-to-front the right way round
Take it slow slow slow (You gotta pick it up)
Yeah Yeah Yeah (See you slow it down)
Yo Yo Yo (Tell me something something)
I tell you what (I tell you what)
What I have found (What I have found)
That I'm no fool (That I'm no fool)
I'm just upside down (Just upside down)
Ain't got no pain (Ain't got no pain)
I aint got no rules (Aint got no rules)
I think I like (I think I like)
Living upside down (Living upside down)
I tell you what (I tell you what)
What I have found (What I have found)
That I'm no fool (That I'm no fool)
I'm just upside down (Just upside down)
Ain't got no pain (Ain't got no pain)
I aint got no rules (Aint got no rules)
I think I like (I think I like)
Living upside down (Living upside down)
Reid Hoffman
'If you are not embarrassed with your first version, you've released too late." - Reid Hoffman, founder LinkedIn
The Power of Rituals
Success is having a vision. Success is caring about other people.Cool things you do that no one else does.
Give my all every time.
A ritual to get into peak state.
What sets you apart, Michael? - Tony Robbins
Its my standards, every day I demand more from myself than anybody else can humanly expect. - Michael Jordan
What is an area of your life you want to improve?
Write down what it looks like at the moment?
What are the rituals that put me there?
What do you want, what is your vision?
What are the rituals that will get you there? ( something you do at a specific time consistently)
Rain
The nature of the rain is the same , it grows thorns in the marshes and flowers in the garden. Arab proverb
Why You Need to Floss
The Brits analysing the data from a Finnish study.
Gingivitis increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes etc.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Find the Joy in Your Life
I was touched by the ending scene in The Bucket List where Morgan Freeman tells Jack Nicholson in a letter to find the jou in your life.Go towards the joy of your life. Don't waste another moment.
The Best Possibility
Set yourself up for your best possibility.
John Butcher, founder of Precious Moments (sold in Hallmark stores)shares his story about Lifebook.
John Butcher, founder of Precious Moments (sold in Hallmark stores)shares his story about Lifebook.
Blind Painter
Here’s an inspiring story by the Texas Country Reporter:
Call it crazy, call it courageous, call it a case of blind ambition. For john, it’s simple really: epilepsy took away his vision but it didn’t change the fact that this aspiring author has stories to tell. Sight or no sight some dreams die hard.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Vision and Purpose
5 Questions:
1} Who am I? (Identity)
2} Where am I from? (Source)
3} Why are you here? (Purpose)
4} What can I do? (Potential)
5} Where am I going? (Destiny)
Monday, September 06, 2010
Call of the Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is the creative force in economics.He looks at a desert and wilderness and sees a garden.
They could lose it all and do it over and over again.
When your butt is in the corner you will be surprised at what you can achieve.
They could lose it all and do it over and over again.
When your butt is in the corner you will be surprised at what you can achieve.
Become Legendary
Look me in the eyes. It's okay if you're scared, So am I. But we're scared for different reasons. I'm scared of what I won't become, and you're scared of what I could become. Look at me. I won't let myself end where I started, I won't let myself finish where I began. I know what is within me, Even if you can't see it yet. Look me in the eyes. I have something more important than courage, I have patience. I will become, what I know I am.
Harley Davidson Story
Focus on Strenghts
Build Slowly
Sell to big customers
Leverage big brands- who you can partner up with who knows their brand. Harley Davidson partnered up with the Police Department and the Allies
Innovate
Build Slowly
Sell to big customers
Leverage big brands- who you can partner up with who knows their brand. Harley Davidson partnered up with the Police Department and the Allies
Innovate
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