Make your idea simpler.
When you write out an idea it’s tempting to include everything. First, the part of the idea that was nifty; then the part of the idea that explained what you meant; and finally the words that convey the essence of…
gregmeyer
Have you sent a thank you note lately?
photo by dryicons.comWhen was the last time you sent a physical thank you note? And how about the last time you received one of these notes? Taking the time to write a note by hand is really worth it, even…
Customer Feedback is Gold
The most humbling way to know whether you’re building a great product is to get direct feedback. Try whatever you’re doing from the customer’s point of view. Now, observe the customer doing it with your mouth closed and your ears…
Read more books (please)
Read a fiction book. Read a non fiction book. Read a cookbook or a comic book for all I care. Just spend more time reading. I should say that I am very much in favor of a good blockbuster movie,…
Make your commute into “go time”
This essay is a contribution to the Startup Edition essay project. See other essays here. At 7:30 every morning, where are you? Are you in traffic, or just getting into your car? The bus, the train, or the carpool can be…
Don’t use your phone as an alarm clock
Don’t use your phone as an alarm clock. Use a plain old alarm clock instead. Pick a time and put your phone in the other room. Ideally, with enough time to think for a while before you go to bed.…
Customers are precious
“If you make customers unhappy in the physical world, they might each tell 6 friends. If you make customers unhappy on the Internet, they can each tell 6,000 friends” – Jeff Bezos It’s easier to keep a customer than get…
Writing as a practice: “One in a row”
It’s easy to say, “I don’t have enough time.” There is always something else to be done. You might be afraid to get the words out. Or you might not want to take the time to get them right. These…
If you love customers, set them free
This mailbox does not accept replies Do not respond to this mailbox. It is unmonitored. Fill out this form to unsubscribe. Press 4 to speak with an operator. No one is here to take your call at the moment. Do…
We do startups because we can’t not do startups.
This essay is written in collaboration with Startup Edition – find this week’s essays here. The startup life seems glamorous from afar, and sometimes from up close. There are rebels, pirates, and ninjas here. There are rags-to-riches stories and others who fall from…
