Year: 2013

Don’t worry about demand spikes–worry about if there is demand (puzzles vs. mysteries)

by Chris Yeh

I sometimes run into entrepreneurs who are very focused on making sure that they have the infrastructure to meet demand.  They don’t want to disappoint their users or damage the reputation of their startup.  Those are both very worthy goals. But this loses sight of an important fact: Don’t worry about demand spikes–worry about if … Continue reading Don’t worry about demand spikes–worry about if there is demand (puzzles vs. mysteries)

Mental models for startup entrepreneurs

by Chris Yeh

Farnam Street is one of those wonderful blogs that doesn’t cover the startup industry, but does help you think.  One of their recent posts discussed the importance of mental models: “Small models of reality need neither be wholly accurate nor correspond completely with what they model to be useful. Your model of an iPhone may … Continue reading Mental models for startup entrepreneurs

The Drivetime Startup Doctor Is In

by Chris Yeh

For years, I’ve successfully sold my expertise to raise money for cancer, and to contribute to the Unreasonable Institute.  But these were broad fundraising efforts, with contributions entitling donors to anything from an email to an in-person lunch. Recently, a couple of folks reached out to me on Clarity, which made me think more about … Continue reading The Drivetime Startup Doctor Is In

The Four Types of Story

by Chris Yeh

I consider myself a student of storytelling; last summer, I even worked with my kids to teach them Freytag’s Pyramid (with mixed success). That’s why, when I heard Mary Robinette Kowal talk about her storytelling rubric on Writing Excuses (one of my favorite podcasts), I had to sit down and blog about it, despite it … Continue reading The Four Types of Story

Don’t “manage earnings.” Instead, “build value.”

by Chris Yeh

I continue to get great insights out of the life of Warren Buffett. One of Buffett’s famous principles is the story of Mr. Market.  Here’s an excerpt from his 1987 Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letter: http://bit.ly/11jHDaG “Without fail, Mr. Market appears daily and names a price at which he will either buy your interest or sell … Continue reading Don’t “manage earnings.” Instead, “build value.”

Why most startups have to fail, and why that’s a good thing

by Chris Yeh

Some people think I’m a pessimist for pointing out the long odds against any particular startup succeeding.  It’s not fun to hear that even venture-backed startups have a 90% chance of failure. But startup failure isn’t just reality; it’s also a necessity…and even a benefit. 1) The number of companies getting started far exceeds the … Continue reading Why most startups have to fail, and why that’s a good thing

Success comes from phase changes, not incremental improvements

by Chris Yeh

In chemistry, the concept of a phase change refers to the transition between different states of matter, like ice melting into water, or water boiling into steam: http://bit.ly/1aQ23cz I believe that the same principle applies to startups and entrepreneurial careers.  Success comes from phase changes–truly discontinuous shifts–rather than simple incremental improvements. One such phase change … Continue reading Success comes from phase changes, not incremental improvements

Be careful what you measure

by Chris Yeh

Back in the 1990s, when I started my first company, I recruited Jim Fitzsimmons to take over as CEO so I could finish my MBA. (Side note: Jim was an All-American basketball player in college, when he starred for Harvard along side future broadcasting legend Jim Brown.  Jim and I would occasionally play ball together … Continue reading Be careful what you measure

When in doubt, try something

by Chris Yeh

Like millions of people, I recently read the New York Times article about the 7-minute workout: http://nyti.ms/18IjmzB This workout, which originally appeared in the American College of Sports Medicine’s journal, consists of 12 simple exercises which, when performed at a high intensity for short periods with even shorter rest periods, provide a comprehensive whole-body workout. … Continue reading When in doubt, try something