Written by Paul on July 13th, 2008
In this month’s Inc. magazine, A.G. Lafley, CEO of Procter & Gamble and Ram Charan took on a toy company with $4 million in revenue and 30 employees. The result was a seven-step routine for innovation:
- Select the strategy: Looking for an underserved market.
- Connect to customers: The social network as idea collector.
- Generate ideas: Brain-storming done right.
- Select an idea: Time to separate the good from the great.
- Prototype and test: Bring on the customers.
- Go to market: Cookies versus cookie dough.
- Adjust for growth:
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I'm a Partner at 500 Startups, an entrepreneur and have learned a little bit about metrics, process and growth - on both the personal and business side of things. You should follow me on Twitter and AngelList.
Written by Paul on July 9th, 2008
Putting all of your eggs in a single basket is never a good idea – the problem is that too many of us do it anyways. Worse, many people seem to think that all it takes is “one good idea” to make millions. These people are crazy – you should ignore them.
On a side note, it always makes me laugh when Indian people use Bill Gates and Donald Trump as the standard by which success is measured. (Anyone that grew …
Written by Paul on July 7th, 2008
It takes courage to move out of your familiar boundaries and play on a new field. If you’ve been doing things the same way or have been around for a while, your behavior might feel very risky. But success belongs only to those with the courage to stand by their convictions and risk failure all the way.
In the words of David Cottrell:
Our comfort zones can be the greatest enemy to our potential.
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Written by Paul on June 5th, 2008
An article in this month’s Inc. magazine challenged A.G. Lafley, CEO of Procter & Gamble and Ram Charan to take on a toy company with $4 million in revenue and 30 employees. The result was a seven-step routine for innovation:
- Select the strategy: Looking for an underserved market.
- Connect to customers: The social network as idea collector.
- Generate ideas: Brain-storming done right.
- Select an idea: Time to separate the good from the great.
- Prototype and test: Bring on the customers.
- Go to market: Cookies versus
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Written by Paul on April 2nd, 2008
I was catching up with an old friend yesterday and we started talking about how busy our respective circle of friends had become over the last few years. “You probably wouldn’t understand,” he said, “but while you get to do the cool stuff, the rest of us seem to be stuck in the daily grind.”
Huh? Where’d that come from? What do I even say to that?
That got me thinking for a while. Then I realized that he saw me …
Written by Paul on March 28th, 2008
Many people will tell you that the only way to reach your goals is to get started today. I’m not going to dispute that but I will tell you the secret to actually follow through and reach your goal: find a goal buddy.
What is a goal buddy?
- A goal buddy provides motivation. He or she will help you stay on track as you work towards your goals, give you a hard time when you slack off and praising your continued efforts
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Written by Paul on March 23rd, 2008
One of the most common questions I get asked is this: “How do you get so much done?”
Friends are looking for my secret formula or the key to my efficiency, but I’m always sorry to tell them I don’t have any secrets. I do the same things that other effective people have done and that this blog will hopefully teach you to do.
Try these tips on for size:
- Ask yourself, “What needs to be done?” Notice that you’re not asking yourself,
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