Sam Schutte
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Andrew Shell
According to Thomas Thurston as a startup you are 30 to 40 percent more likely to survive with a disruptive strategy which he defines as cheaper and worse in performance then the existing competition. http://bit.ly/9SCRXk
What do you think of his “Lower cost, lower performance, and gets better over time” strategy?
104 weeks ago from Upstarts!, Entrepreneurs, Innovation and Trends Group and Web Startups2 more
Ryan Healy, Photis Patriotis and Alan Koskelin recommended this
Nathan Snell:
I'm in the process of starting my own SaaS business. I personally think the 37Signals approach would ultimately be more effective, both for sales ...MoreI'm in the process of starting my own SaaS business. I personally think the 37Signals approach would ultimately be more effective, both for sales and brand building, than what's described in the article (low performance low cost). Esp low cost. Pricing, to me, is probably the most difficult to determine.
Eg: Don't focus on doing everything. Focus on making 1 or 2 core features super simple, intuitive, and super helpful. If you can get people in the door doing those, then you can begin to slowly build your product out more and get even more people in the door because you can rely on your core being kickass.
103 weeks ago
Eg: Don't focus on doing everything. Focus on making 1 or 2 core features super simple, intuitive, and super helpful. If you can get people in the door doing those, then you can begin to slowly build your product out more and get even more people in the door because you can rely on your core being kickass.
103 weeks ago
TroyW:
@Nathan--Remember, 37signals IS lower performance...it's competing with things like MS Project, and has seized a (large) market that needs ...More@Nathan--Remember, 37signals IS lower performance...it's competing with things like MS Project, and has seized a (large) market that needs project-planning software, but that isn't building a skyscraper (for which only MS Project, at a minimum, would work). You gotta be very careful to ID what your product is *really* about and what its *true* competition and target is. In my experience (I'm the guy that does this for people), founders/engineers sometimes have a hard time with this.
Basically, you're best off by appealing to nonconsumers, at least at first. In the above example, people who would never dream of buying MS Project (and here's the challenge: they probably don't know MS Project exists, or could exist, and they are pretty technologically inept...let's go ahead and say profoundly inept).
I urge and exhort everyone on this thread to read Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore. This is a foundational model of technology sales that should be taken into account by anyone trying to wrestle a startup into being. Nathan, you're right: pricing is very tricky. But there's a lot of frameworks and research on this out there...check it out, starting with Moore.
103 weeks ago
Basically, you're best off by appealing to nonconsumers, at least at first. In the above example, people who would never dream of buying MS Project (and here's the challenge: they probably don't know MS Project exists, or could exist, and they are pretty technologically inept...let's go ahead and say profoundly inept).
I urge and exhort everyone on this thread to read Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore. This is a foundational model of technology sales that should be taken into account by anyone trying to wrestle a startup into being. Nathan, you're right: pricing is very tricky. But there's a lot of frameworks and research on this out there...check it out, starting with Moore.
103 weeks ago
Mehul Kar
starting a business while going to school full time. good idea or not?
Mehul Kar:
@lindsey sounds like a full plate. remember the episode of Big Bang Theory a couple weeks ago when Burnadette says to Sheldon "what happens when ...More@lindsey sounds like a full plate. remember the episode of Big Bang Theory a couple weeks ago when Burnadette says to Sheldon "what happens when you don't sleep for a long time?" The something something shuts down in your brain. i.e. rest and activity are the steps to progress :)
@Zach thanks. I'm trying to think of some offbeat qs. Basic M.O.: put aside all the BS job q's and ask q's that I love answering myself (because I have good answers to them). If their answers match up, then we're on the same page. Then I just have to decide if I want to go the "same page" route or the "variety/balance" route.
116 weeks ago
@Zach thanks. I'm trying to think of some offbeat qs. Basic M.O.: put aside all the BS job q's and ask q's that I love answering myself (because I have good answers to them). If their answers match up, then we're on the same page. Then I just have to decide if I want to go the "same page" route or the "variety/balance" route.
116 weeks ago
Zachary Stark Jones:
I think you want to have a mix of standard / formal questions, then transition into an offbeat portion. You want to put forth capability, which ...MoreI think you want to have a mix of standard / formal questions, then transition into an offbeat portion. You want to put forth capability, which is the normal practice of q's; obviously you want to challenge people and have some questions that you expect would be beyond the ability of those you're interviewing. They flag the rare person that can answer them, and for the test they should paint a path of professional growth during tenure - you an take care that they do not belittle or make the person feel incapable by communicating, in closing that portion of the interview q's, a reinforcement of what those questions are designed to do: paint the road forward. The offbeat q's then get them out of the interview-mode and get them revealing their true passions and nature.
Read up on some NLP if you haven't. Listen to their use of words and look for negs, inhibition, and thinking-models that their language belies. Note those during the interview. Decide which can help or hurt and ask your next questions to confirm strengths or weaknesses to business issues relative to their nature. This forms the basis of your professional mentorship and employee / peer coaching.
I do these things in my own business process, and for my clients. Let me know if you turn out to need help in these areas.
116 weeks ago
Read up on some NLP if you haven't. Listen to their use of words and look for negs, inhibition, and thinking-models that their language belies. Note those during the interview. Decide which can help or hurt and ask your next questions to confirm strengths or weaknesses to business issues relative to their nature. This forms the basis of your professional mentorship and employee / peer coaching.
I do these things in my own business process, and for my clients. Let me know if you turn out to need help in these areas.
116 weeks ago
Ryan Healy
What are everyone's thoughts on Bloom Energy? They've been getting some serious press with 60 Minutes and now the whole world writing about them. John Doerr says that its like the Google IPO http://tcrn.ch/9KtiuO.
It sounds like they're really on to something, of course I would hope so after raising $400 million before they even came out with a product!
117 weeks ago from Entrepreneurs, Shotgun Startups and Upstarts!1 more
Jason Drohn:
I hope it's a success too. The amazing thing is that it's being beta'd commercially. If the product can fly with Google and FedEx, it's bound to ...MoreI hope it's a success too. The amazing thing is that it's being beta'd commercially. If the product can fly with Google and FedEx, it's bound to be a winner.
I for one was excited when I read about it a few weeks ago.
116 weeks ago
I for one was excited when I read about it a few weeks ago.
116 weeks ago
Jennifer Anthony:
I have no idea, but I really hope they succeed! While I was watching the co-founder/CEO on 60 minutes, I noticed his face was just lit up with ...MoreI have no idea, but I really hope they succeed! While I was watching the co-founder/CEO on 60 minutes, I noticed his face was just lit up with excitement when he spoke about the technology he is working on and his dreams for the future. It was motivating actually. :)
116 weeks ago
116 weeks ago
Shabeer
I am partnering with one of my friends to start a company in hospital decisioning software area. Does anyone in this forum know who is the right person in a hospital to call to market our product? Our company website is http://serenussolutions.com. Appreciate any inputs.
Sam Schutte:
@Bradley - you're totally right. The politics at hospitals are monumental.
117 weeks ago
117 weeks ago
Zachary Stark Jones:
Sounds like @Sam-Schutte just gave you the counsel I'd suggested you find. Now you need to determine your value-proposition relative to each of ...MoreSounds like @Sam-Schutte just gave you the counsel I'd suggested you find. Now you need to determine your value-proposition relative to each of the targets he mentioned - or pick the one that seems like the slam dunk and laser in on it. Do you know who, or what practice, is your competition for how decisions are currently made in your focus area of knowledge/practice?
117 weeks ago
117 weeks ago
Ed O'Brien
Hello Everyone
I am helping a small accounting firm to improve their service and reduce costs per account. I would like to scan some of their stuff for data entry in another country, is there a way to encrypt it? What is the safest way to do this? Any help would be great, Thanks
James DeRosia:
You could do what government contractors used to do when I was in the aerospace industry: use WinZip to zip and password protect the files then ...MoreYou could do what government contractors used to do when I was in the aerospace industry: use WinZip to zip and password protect the files then send them off and send the password separately. I'm know there are a lot better ways to do it, but this is by far one of the easiest. Most commercial document software products will let you password protect like Microsoft office products and adobe acrobat too.
119 weeks ago
119 weeks ago
Sam Schutte:
If I recall correctly, password protection in WinZip is really weak and easy to hack. Try 7-zip - it's got customizable levels of security and is ...MoreIf I recall correctly, password protection in WinZip is really weak and easy to hack. Try 7-zip - it's got customizable levels of security and is open source.
117 weeks ago
117 weeks ago
Donna Fenn
Hello everyone! Our group is growing nicely, but we've only heard from a fraction of you. If you haven't already, could I twist your arm to take minute to introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you'd like to get out of this group? Thanks!
121 weeks ago from Upstarts!
Brian Jensen:
Hey everyone! My name's Brian, I recently quite my job in wine sales to write a business plan for a very unique cafe concept that focuses on ...MoreHey everyone! My name's Brian, I recently quite my job in wine sales to write a business plan for a very unique cafe concept that focuses on freelancers in Southern California. While I sometimes miss the comfort of my old pay check, I'm truly learning something new every day that I would probably never know had I not taken this risk. Next task: finding investors...Ed, let's talk!
117 weeks ago
117 weeks ago
Delta Waters:
hey! Delta here...I have been wanting to be a "solopreneur" since I sold pretty rocks to my friends in 5th grade. I am going live with my ...Morehey! Delta here...I have been wanting to be a "solopreneur" since I sold pretty rocks to my friends in 5th grade. I am going live with my (very-simple-yes-I-did-it-myself) website on 1 March to write resumes for grads and those with gaps in their work history. All my other biz ideas have stalled and so I am wanting to hear how 'yall move forward successfully in the business side of things. Since I have a "micro business" I wear many hats. As the Talking Heads sang, "How do I work this?" Thanks for all that you guys do. We rock!
116 weeks ago
116 weeks ago
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