The document describes the journey of an entrepreneur's idea from its inception to becoming a successful product or company. It follows the idea as it grows in the entrepreneur's mind, receives a name, faces challenges in being developed into a product, and requires funding from investors. The entrepreneur must then separate from the product to allow it to mature on its own. The document suggests that while ideas and products may start out easy, building a great company that can generate an "exit" is difficult and takes longer than anticipated. It advocates keeping one's eyes on the end goal of an exit when making decisions along the way.

1. Genexodus™ ≈ From Beginning to Exit≈ ™ Genexodus and “From Beginning to Exit” are trademarks of Curtis V Palmer ALL CONTENT IS COPYRIGHT 2009 BY CURTIS V PALMER d/b/a Genexodus

2. Genexodus 1:1The Beginning In the beginning, there was an Idea. A simple, basic Idea. And it was good.

3. Genexodus 1:2The Idea Grew Once the Idea took hold of an Entrepreneur, it grew. The Entrepreneur mulled the Idea, massaging it, adding to, taking a bit away. The Idea started to consume the Entrepreneur’s time and demanded focus and attention.

4. Genexodus 1:3O, What is My Purpose? Once again, the Entrepreneur admired the new Idea. Why did the Idea exist? What would it be when it grew up? Would it care about the Entrepreneur when it was “out on its own”? These and many other thoughts caused the Entrepreneur to ponder its future.

5. Genexodus 1:4What Name Be Ye? When its Purpose was determined, the Entrepreneur decided that the Idea needed a name. The Entrepreneur wanted the Idea to stand out, not only on its merits… but to be known throughout the world. A unique name would not only set the Idea apart from other lesser Ideas, but would help it make friends and prepare it for great things as it matured.

6. Genexodus 2:1Casting Off Before going too far, the Entrepreneur was faced with serious questions: Does the Journey cross a pond, a sea, or an entire ocean? Can the other side be seen? Should the Entrepreneur find another way there? Faced with the decision to sink the Idea or move on, the Entrepreneur makes the move and casts off on the Journey.

7. Genexodus 2:2Wither Direction? The Entrepreneur, having made the Idea in his own image, looked over the ocean that was the Market. There were two choices before him. One was bloody red with competition, and the other uncharted, yet uncontested.

8. Genexodus 2:3The Purge Woe to the Entrepreneur who succumbs to the temptress who wishes to derail the focus set before the Entrepreneur. She will make it seem that everyone will like the Idea and attempt to water down the Idea so much that it becomes mist. The Idea would not appeal to everyone, no matter the ambitions of the Entrepreneur. To try to appeal to all markets would bring suicide or starvation.

9. Genexodus 2:4It Only Takes a Hammer It was time for the Idea to transform itself into a truly magnificent Product. Looking back on the early moments of the Idea, only now did the Entrepreneur understand that it would have been foolish to build the Product before the Idea was worked out. Focus, Analyze, Focus better, Analyze better, Build.

10. Genexodus 3:1Seeking Bags of Money After living hand-to-mouth for several months, the Entrepreneur envisioned a day where his financial woes would be over. Food would be plentiful. Shelter would be secure. All the resources necessary to grow his company would be at hand. He felt that it was time to go before the Elders and ask for an unlimited, guaranteed supply of cash to spend in any way he chose.

11. Genexodus 3:2Defying the Wizard Rather than first creating a narrative, the PowerPoint Wizard was summoned. This Wizard recommended following a Template, replete with its bullets and title slides. 30 minutes later, the Entrepreneur had fashioned a Pitch in the image envisioned by a few dozen Microsoft programmers. (Or, the Entrepreneur dusted off an old presentation and shuttled a few things around to make it up quickly.)

12. Genexodus 3:3The Pitch And so it came it to pass that Elders came forward and asked the Entrepreneur to share the good news about the Company in their presence. The Elders set the time and place. The Entrepreneur did not panic, but began diligently preparing his thoughts.

13. Genexodus 3:4Cleaving the Product The Elders, choosing to invest, made the unthinkable demand… “You must cleave yourself from the Product and let us Guide it to maturity.” The Product had long ago been viewed by the Entrepreneur as a personal appendage. The Elders’ request was akin to cutting off a limb. A decision must be made. Allow the Product to live on its own with outside sustenance from the Elders or forever be attached and live off the Entrepreneur?

14. Genexodus 4:1Sacrifice at the Alter The Product was taking on a life of its own. It demanded that the Entrepreneur bring his Family before the “Alter of Startups” high atop Mount Accomplishment. Higher and higher, the Entrepreneur led his Family up the mountain. The Family was numb by this time because the Product had long since begun to dictate how they should all live. Once before the Alter, the Entrepreneur…

15. Genexodus 10:1Getting to The Exit … yet to be written …

16. Genexodus Revelations Ideas are easy.Products are easy.Great companies are hard. The whole process always takes longer than ever imagined or expected. Keep your eyes on the ‘exit’ when making every decision, lest you get there and find you aren’t in a position to leave.

17. ≈ www.Genexodus.com ≈ ALL CONTENT IS COPYRIGHT 2009 BY CURTIS V PALMER d/b/a Genexodus