My first startup, Me…

While my book “What you know about startups is wrong.” is due out January 2018, there are some pieces that didn't make it into the book.

The mainstream news is jam-packed with stories of entrepreneurial risk-takers like Musk. As a result, the number one urban…

The psychosis of an entrepreneur

Going it alone as an entrepreneur is often a recipe for disaster.

I’m not saying you don’t have what it takes; I’ve just seen far too many solo entrepreneurs fail. Startup success is not just about the entrepreneur and their idea. It has a lot to…

Hire a Unicorn Salesperson

If you are reading this because of the above title, you already need to adjust your thinking. My first sales hire was a total bust. I was 26 years old and came from a civil engineering firm. I hired someone on commission only — a terrible move. Would you work for someone with no…

Father’s Day Retrospective. Lessons learned from my Dad at age 15.

My dad died suddenly when I was 15 years old. He was a bit of a trailblazer, the first of his friends to migrate to the US in the 1960's, landing at the University of Minnesota. I’m not sure how that process even…

The Root of Culture is Cult: What You Know About Startups Is Wrong

How to Navigate Entrepreneurial Urban Legends That Threaten Your Relationships, Your Health, Your Finances, and Your Career

Gender conversations over chai

I used to host this “salon” at my house called “Chai with KP” on Friday mornings. It was a time when people could get together and talk about different subjects, strengthen relationships and gain insights. One Friday morning, the topic of gender issues came up. It was a…

What serial entrepreneurs can learn from Dave Grohl

First of all, I am a huge Dave Grohl fan. So I have been looking for reasons to incorporate him into my writing. Then, sitting here on a layover watching Foo Fighters Live at Wembley stadium an idea was sparked.

How to bootstrap and still scale your startup

I launched my first tech startup when I was 22. I was working in civil engineering by day, and coding on nights and weekends. I was both sales and development. I went full time at 25. I owned sales while my partner owned development. All of my…

Tell me your story, here is mine.

Most of my entrepreneurial career has been spent chasing markets. In the last few years, though, I’ve had the fortune of the market moving my direction. It’s a lot less exhausting and disappointing. And I’ve gotta admit — as a civil engineer/serial…

I’m an Expert! You could be too.

Building an effective team is one of the hardest tasks for any entrepreneur. It’s like how I shop for my house (yes, I am comparing people to furniture). I go out looking for a dining table, but end up finding a sofa that I love at a great price. I need a sofa too, but I…