7 Very Common False Assumptions in Entrepreneurship

These are very common false assumptions in entrepreneurship. “What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” — Mark Twain I answered a Quora question about this. Here’s my list of seven: That being profitable means having cash in the bank. Seems obvious, … Continue reading 7 Very Common False Assumptions in Entrepreneurship

You Have to Know When to Quit

I recommend you read Nat Eliason‘s piece No More Struggle Porn. He’s attacking one of the more pervasive startup myths around, the idea that the struggle itself, the overwhelming and overpowering struggle that pushes everything else out of your life, is a good thing. He defines struggle porn as: I call this “struggle porn”: a … Continue reading You Have to Know When to Quit

The Natural Intersection of Entrepreneurship and Meaning

Thanks for Why should you build your business around happiness? over at typeform.com for the fascinating image featured here, about the intersection of entrepreneurship and meaning. It comes from an interview with Laurence McCahill of The Happy Startup School. Normal people care about meaning This matches my belief that making meaning or changing the world or having a … Continue reading The Natural Intersection of Entrepreneurship and Meaning

What Business to Start? Look in the Mirror. Depends on You.

I’ve always said that what business is right for you depends not on the market, or what’s hot, but on who you are. So look in the mirror. I get a steady flow of questions about what business to start, and I see them almost every day on Quora.com, my favorite question-answer platform. With this … Continue reading What Business to Start? Look in the Mirror. Depends on You.

What Business For You? Look in the Mirror. Two Good Posts.

I’ve always said that what business is right for you depends not on the market, or what’s hot, but on who you are. So look in the mirror. Today I stumbled on two excellent blog posts that put this in good perspective. First, What Kind of Startup is Right for You, a post by Nellie Akalp … Continue reading What Business For You? Look in the Mirror. Two Good Posts.

The Business Lesson on the Stairway to Heaven

What’s “the stairway to heaven” to you? Is it about God and Heaven? A metaphor for business growth, maybe? I think of the Led Zeppelin song and a picture on the album cover something like the one here. It’s a long stairway heading up into the sky, with landings or stopping points, and changes of … Continue reading The Business Lesson on the Stairway to Heaven

True Story: Home is Where Business is Good

We were in our early twenties, and he was in his late forties. We knew him as the quintessential Oregon lover, born and raised in Oregon, running a lumber business, loving the advantages and ignoring the disadvantages of living in Eugene. He was smart, successful, and very easy to like. We both liked and admired … Continue reading True Story: Home is Where Business is Good

10 Tips for Saving Your Life From Your Business

Your business or your life? The nagging question comes up a lot. Recently I saw this startling statement: Maximizing your chance for success means sacrificing health and family. That was in this post by Jason Cohen on VentureBeat. He’s serious. He quotes Mark Cuban and one other successful entrepreneur. He says you can’t get it … Continue reading 10 Tips for Saving Your Life From Your Business