The document outlines the journey of a private tutoring agency and its evolution through various phases from 2007 to 2012, including key challenges and successes. It emphasizes essential entrepreneurial mindsets such as agile growth, networking, and productivity hacks, and provides resources for further learning and self-improvement. Additionally, it advises on strategies for securing employment in startups and highlights the importance of creativity and diverse skills.

1. @NickMillerZA

2. A web-powered private tutoring agency
A rental property management & payment system
A boutique search marketing agency

3. Mindset shift milestones
Unintentional start 2007
PCS/NVP 2007
Getting a business partner 2008
Launch in London (-ve) 2008
Outsourcing to India (-ve) 2009
Reading rework 2010
One Focus 2011
Silicon valley trip 2012

4. Silicon Valley Internet Startup Model
Caricature from Quora*
Idea/team/prototype
Seed funding (Y-Combinator or family/friends)
Get users (get featured on TechCrunch)
Attempt to scale
Go broke (very likely)
Become cash-flow positive (unlikely)
Get bought (very unlikely)
IPO (extremely unlikely)
Repeat
* http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-typical-milestones-and-timeline-for-an-internet-startup

5. 3 key mindsets
Agile growth (based on agile development)
Value time & focus & direction
Launch regularly
Move Fast and Break Things
Build an awesome culture
Team shapes culture
Lead with humility
Be good not popular/cool
Have fun vs Get rich
“A successful entrepreneur is not defined by how much money they've
made, but by how much fun they've had - Chriso Davel
#NetProphet” (From 11am today)

6. Networking
Purpose
Leveraging: Strategic over generic connections
Be on their radar
Be creative
Lift from airport
Intern/volunteer at great companies
Ask for introductions with a purpose
Volunteer as an assistant
Quality >> Quantity
I have about 3-5 useful connections

7. Productivity Hacks
Do your most NB task before 11/12am
Don’t check your email (Tim Ferriss)
Read once a week: getpocket.com
Save interesting reads for later reading
Get the SelfControl app
http://visitsteve.com/made/selfcontrol/
Wunderlist
Visualise Priority & Progress

8. Getting hired in a startup
Be creative in your application
Know what the company does
Know what the role entails
Have an online portfolio of your work
Github/LinkedIn/website/blog
Be diverse
Broad range of skills are useful in a startup

9. Resources
Get a twitter account and follow:
@KISSmetrics: Web marketing
@tom_peters: Redefining Management
@VinnyLingham: South African entrepreneur in SV
@hackernewsbot: Y-Combinator updates
@the99percent: Creative Business portal
@jeffmess: Needs more followers

10. Resources continued
Rework by @dhh and @jasonfried
Lynda.com: Intro-level up-skilling of yourself
Experts-exchange.com/Stack-overflow/Quora: Crowdsourcing
#Breaktherules: breaktherules.students@gmail.com
Kickstarter.com
Read “The Hacker Way” by Zuckerberg

11. Thanks! Questions?
@NickMillerZA