Don’t Listen To The Critics

There is always someone who knows better. Someone who will tell you, with conviction, that you’re wrong. That what you’re doing won’t work. Ever.

Sometimes these people have an informed opinion and you should listen. Oftentimes they don’t.

The Rate Of Change

At Singularity University we have a slide which shows you the ever-increasing rate of (technological) change.

In 1903 the Wright brother’s completed the first powered flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Only 66 years later, on March 2nd, 1969, the Concorde brought…

Coachability

Coachability (Noun) — The state or condition of being coachable.

Being coachable is one of the, if not the, most important quality you, as an entrepreneur and founder of a startup, must have.

Rain Making

I believe one of the, if not the, most important skill you need as an entrepreneur is your ability and willingness to make it rain.

As much as you need to be able to create a compelling vision, turn that vision into a solid strategy and robust tactics; attract and hire the right…

Not All Riches Are in Silicon Valley

I regularly talk to entrepreneurs from all around the world who envision Silicon Valley to be the holy land of (tech) entrepreneurship. Don’t get me wrong — it’s pretty darn nice here (and trust me: You pay dearly for it… A semi-decent flat in the Valley is easily…

Big Game Hunting

It’s sexy to have a top 10 iPhone app in Apple’s and/or Google’s App Store. It feels good to have a web-based product which is used by millions of users all around the world. It’s darn cool to have build a brand which people recognize.

Let’s Talk About Leadership

When most people think about entrepreneurs and startups they see the driven, creative genius founder spinning up new ideas and pushing her team to get the idea turned into a product and subsequently into the market.

On Finding The Right People

Recently I observed yet another situation where an organization I work with had to let go of someone who just didn’t work out. Nothing wrong with the person per se but just not a good cultural fit. What’s remarkable in this situation — as is in many others — the hiring team…

Question Everything (From Time to Time)

Pretty regularly (typically once a month) I stop what I’m doing, get away from everything and reassess the current path of action. We get so engrossed in what we’re doing, sucked into the present and singularly focussed on the chosen path of action that we…