Some Lessons, etc Duncan Lamb [email_address]

A couple of things Some random (business) wisdom I’d like to share that I’ve learned the hard way The best time to start a business is absolutely, positively, now

Some random (business) wisdom I’d like to share that I’ve learned the hard way

The best time to start a business is absolutely, positively, now

Career The steps of a career:

The steps of a career:

Stage 1 – What you know

Stage 2 – Who you know

Stage 3 – Who knows you

Your Network is your Net Worth

Get in a new network in 6 months Show up Ask Questions Volunteer Contribute

Get in a new network in 6 months

Show up

Ask Questions

Volunteer

Contribute

Your world is a small pond

Money comes and goes, get used to it in this line of work Relationships are what the world, and your future, is based on

Money comes and goes, get used to it in this line of work

Relationships are what the world, and your future, is based on

What is the number one factor in a business’s success?

The experience of the CEO/Founder/etc

Catch-22 – how to get it?

EXPECT Failure – Remember Mark Cuban Just please don’t repeat the same mistake twice

EXPECT Failure – Remember Mark Cuban

Just please don’t repeat the same mistake twice

Keep taking shots. You may always suck as a shooter, but you’ll make more baskets than the next guy.

Learn Business Fundamentals

Build in a freakin profit Stop thinking tech – think emotional impact. Think how you’ll change people’s habits to their liking. Think how they’ll keep more money. Think MEANING. Learn how to bootstrap

Build in a freakin profit

Stop thinking tech – think emotional impact. Think how you’ll change people’s habits to their liking. Think how they’ll keep more money. Think MEANING.

Learn how to bootstrap

Learn how to monetize Learn some business models that always work You date ideas, you never marry them

Learn how to monetize

Learn some business models that always work

You date ideas, you never marry them

Have an exit strategy

Learn how to sell – nothing happens until someone makes a sale – sales solves all TALK ABOUT YOUR IDEAS – seriously, they are cheaper than you think Nobody wants to steal them. Well, nobody that matters.

Learn how to sell – nothing happens until someone makes a sale – sales solves all

TALK ABOUT YOUR IDEAS – seriously, they are cheaper than you think

Nobody wants to steal them. Well, nobody that matters.

There has never, ever, in the history of mankind, been a better time to start a major business

Why? More connected world More disposable income And cheaper stuff! = more disposable income…. Easier ways to monetize

More connected world

More disposable income

And cheaper stuff! = more disposable income….

Easier ways to monetize

Outrageously Rapid Development times

More APIs every day REST standards Programming methods – Cake, RoR “ The Cloud” – cheap, free? Incredibly sophisticated, and moreso every day.

More APIs every day

REST standards

Programming methods – Cake, RoR

“ The Cloud” – cheap, free? Incredibly sophisticated, and moreso every day.

Brainstorm Borrow ideas – use them in other contexts Abstract out a narrow idea Go ahead, be insanely niche – more money than ever Mobile? Facebook? Destroy an industry – and be prepared to be destroyed Add value

Borrow ideas – use them in other contexts

Abstract out a narrow idea

Go ahead, be insanely niche – more money than ever

Mobile?

Facebook?

Destroy an industry – and be prepared to be destroyed

Add value