Let me start with a disclaimer: I want to make it clear that this isn't going to be another one of those blogs that claim to tell you "the secrets of startup success", and certainly not "how to market your business with 5 easy steps". If it ever becomes that, you can definitely assume it was hacked - maybe then shoot me an email to let me know. However, if that's not the case, then someone will have to find me and splash me in the face with some ice-cold water.
Actually, I'm a budding entrepreneur and am more interested in learning than preaching. As I mentioned in the static pages and in my first blog post, my goal is specifically to discover general principles that might enable someone starting with a vision for massive change - though starting from scratch - to realize it by entering the market and eventually reaching the envisioned scale (and just as importantly, the envisioned breadth of applications and markets). This can be a disruptive technology, a paradigm-shifting business model, a concept that leads to major social or political change, etc. Later, we'll get into examples of things that do or don't quite make it into the "massive" category. Of course, then, the whole point will be to attempt to extract some common threads or general themes that describe the challenges characteristic of this type of thinking, and to discuss how one might overcome them.
The author goes into all the different ingredients, and I wouldn't even call them ingredients for a successful venture. Rather, I'd say they're the ingredients for a successful entrepreneur. One of these is definitely worth mentioning though: dedication and perseverance. This is one of those things that may seem blatantly obvious. Sure, it's obvious and it's easy for us to talk about, but it's all very much easier said than done! And when you see how a real person dealt with real challenges with this indomitable determination and steadfastness, these ideas comes to life and become easier to internalize. It certainly helps place the small rejections into perspective in view of the bigger picture of long-term significance and value.
Interestingly, quite a few ingredients Schussler made sure to highlight in his entrepreneurial journey seem to be universal, and they apply as much or possibly more to tech innovation. Two things particularly come to mind. The first is to show rather than tell: build a prototype, perhaps even a paper prototype. In Schussler's case though, this seems to have been the first key to his success. Boy, did this guy go all out in the prototype phase! And for him, it certainly paid off. When you read the story, you'll see why it couldn't have worked any other way. The second thing is the need to do solid research to understand your customer and your market, a major theme in the Lean Startup methodology and the Customer Development approach, though in Schussler's case, the research that needs to be done for some of these concepts can't be exactly "lean".
Well, I certainly don't want to ruin it for you. It's worth a read just for the stories alone. So, if you want to be entertained with a quick and easy read, and at the same time ponder your own entrepreneurial journey, pick up a copy. Those of you who've read it: what do you think?
Actually, I'm a budding entrepreneur and am more interested in learning than preaching. As I mentioned in the static pages and in my first blog post, my goal is specifically to discover general principles that might enable someone starting with a vision for massive change - though starting from scratch - to realize it by entering the market and eventually reaching the envisioned scale (and just as importantly, the envisioned breadth of applications and markets). This can be a disruptive technology, a paradigm-shifting business model, a concept that leads to major social or political change, etc. Later, we'll get into examples of things that do or don't quite make it into the "massive" category. Of course, then, the whole point will be to attempt to extract some common threads or general themes that describe the challenges characteristic of this type of thinking, and to discuss how one might overcome them.
Before going into any of this though, I feel that there are some obvious, not-much-debated prerequisites. The first is an entrepreneurial attitude, which some might argue is innate, but I would argue can be acquired (I tend to believe almost any talent/skill can be acquired with enough focused effort, at least to a level of comfort and proficiency, even if not to a level of being "world-class"). The question is as to whether or not a person wants to acquire this entrepreneurial gusto or drive or whatever cheesy name you want to give it. That desire may be innate or it may be a result of being fed up with the nine-to-five life, but it doesn't matter where it comes from. If you have that attitude and want to make sense of it, articulate it, and get inspired to convert it into action; or if you have the desire to acquire the attitude, then you might consider reading It's a Jungle in There: Inspiring Lessons, Hard-Won Insights, and Other Acts of Entrepreneurial Daring ... by Steve Schussler.
Schussler embodies that attitude and does a great job of articulating that entrepreneurial persona in his book. He's not a tech entrepreneur and you might argue his vision wasn't "disruptive" in the usual sense of the word: it had to do with the restaurant business, and generally, I might say that disruptive innovation in the restaurant business would have to be something that ends up applying to most or all restaurants. In contrast, Schussler is an innovator and a leader particularly in the world of themed restaurants, which is a specific niche that he was passionate about and wherein he achieved impressive success. But his book doesn't need to speak of global paradigm-shifts for you to read it. It speaks of something much more basic than that: what it means to be an entrepreneur at all, which is even more fundamental. Having that entrepreneur persona is a huge part of being a tech innovator for example, and many of the principles Schussler discusses would have direct parallels for the technologist. They are definitely an essential and foremost piece of the puzzle. In fact, some of the traits and attitudes he emphasizes are especially needed for disruptive innovation, even more than they might be for niche areas. In other words, you might be able to get away with missing some of these if you want to be an entrepreneur, but you got to have them all if you want to be a true innovator. So, you might say they're the essential first ingredients to massiveness.
Schussler embodies that attitude and does a great job of articulating that entrepreneurial persona in his book. He's not a tech entrepreneur and you might argue his vision wasn't "disruptive" in the usual sense of the word: it had to do with the restaurant business, and generally, I might say that disruptive innovation in the restaurant business would have to be something that ends up applying to most or all restaurants. In contrast, Schussler is an innovator and a leader particularly in the world of themed restaurants, which is a specific niche that he was passionate about and wherein he achieved impressive success. But his book doesn't need to speak of global paradigm-shifts for you to read it. It speaks of something much more basic than that: what it means to be an entrepreneur at all, which is even more fundamental. Having that entrepreneur persona is a huge part of being a tech innovator for example, and many of the principles Schussler discusses would have direct parallels for the technologist. They are definitely an essential and foremost piece of the puzzle. In fact, some of the traits and attitudes he emphasizes are especially needed for disruptive innovation, even more than they might be for niche areas. In other words, you might be able to get away with missing some of these if you want to be an entrepreneur, but you got to have them all if you want to be a true innovator. So, you might say they're the essential first ingredients to massiveness.
Here is a review I wrote not too long ago:
"An easy and enjoyable read about what it means to be an entrepreneur. Steven Schussler is an 'over-the-top entrepreneur', and it's worth the read just for his stories, but also for the useful insight these stories communicate. A lot of it is common sense, but the importance of some of these elements can be easily missed - so it serves to highlight how critical they are, and does so by example. Most of all, it's great to be able to identify with the entrepreneurial and creative bent of the author, and realize you're not alone and that others who have set their minds to achieving their creative endeavors have experienced great success!"Ultimately, the message is about being creative, taking pride in that creativity, but just as importantly, putting that creativity into action. It's also about people and how valuing others results in actualizing the value they bring to your own success. What I got out of it personally was a sense of identification: I'm not alone or in any way strange in my nagging need to exercise creativity in my work, or in my need to do work that is vision-driven, not merely task-driven. I felt that some of what he was proposing already gelled with the way I thought about the world, such as an incessant search for problems to solve. Some other elements of the book gave me some areas to ponder: how can I be more resourceful? Seriously - this is a resourceful guy if there ever was any - comically resourceful! Or how can I more actively show appreciation for the people I'm working with - or even just the people in my life? It's easy to feel appreciation, but it takes some active effort to show it.
The author goes into all the different ingredients, and I wouldn't even call them ingredients for a successful venture. Rather, I'd say they're the ingredients for a successful entrepreneur. One of these is definitely worth mentioning though: dedication and perseverance. This is one of those things that may seem blatantly obvious. Sure, it's obvious and it's easy for us to talk about, but it's all very much easier said than done! And when you see how a real person dealt with real challenges with this indomitable determination and steadfastness, these ideas comes to life and become easier to internalize. It certainly helps place the small rejections into perspective in view of the bigger picture of long-term significance and value.
Interestingly, quite a few ingredients Schussler made sure to highlight in his entrepreneurial journey seem to be universal, and they apply as much or possibly more to tech innovation. Two things particularly come to mind. The first is to show rather than tell: build a prototype, perhaps even a paper prototype. In Schussler's case though, this seems to have been the first key to his success. Boy, did this guy go all out in the prototype phase! And for him, it certainly paid off. When you read the story, you'll see why it couldn't have worked any other way. The second thing is the need to do solid research to understand your customer and your market, a major theme in the Lean Startup methodology and the Customer Development approach, though in Schussler's case, the research that needs to be done for some of these concepts can't be exactly "lean".
Well, I certainly don't want to ruin it for you. It's worth a read just for the stories alone. So, if you want to be entertained with a quick and easy read, and at the same time ponder your own entrepreneurial journey, pick up a copy. Those of you who've read it: what do you think?
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