Author, Investor, Speaker, Mentor
When it comes to telling the story behind their success, most people will either tout the value of hard work, or tell the story of how a single decisive moment changed their life forever. In reality, you have to do both. If you focus solely on hard work, you overlook the importance of being ready … Continue reading Hard Work AND Decisive Moments
I was affected and inspired by Paul Tough’s recent book, “How Children Succeed.” In this book, Tough combines neuroscience, educational research, and striking stories to explain how both sides of the political spectrum are both right and wrong about how to fix America. Conservatives are correct that character is the keystone of success. Over, and … Continue reading Grit, Policy, and Politics
We believe that life experience confers wisdom. Several of the most successful sales executives I know have told me that the most important thing they look for when interviewing job candidates is someone who has experienced a devastating blow…and recovered from it. What’s less clear is why this experience confers wisdom. Is it the result … Continue reading Learning Wisdom At The School of Hard Knocks
I’ll freely admit, I never thought much or or about Bebo, the social network that Michael Birch sold to AOL for a pricey $850 million in 2008. Bebo occupied the same space in my mind as Hi5, Tagged (which, ironically enough, now owns Hi5) and a similar bunch of whimsically named also-rans. As a result, … Continue reading Michael Birch’s 8 Years to Overnight Success
Something many entrepreneurs don’t realize is that the farther you go with your startup, the tougher it gets. When you start with an idea, it’s easy to be excited. Since it only exists in your head, it morphs every day, possibly even with every conversation. And because it hasn’t reached the market yet, your mind … Continue reading The Farther You Go, The Tougher It Gets
I had the great pleasure the other day to see the Chuck Jones exhibit at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Chuck Jones was a legendary animator who worked on the great Warner Brothers shorts starring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, the Roadrunner, and many more. He also created the classic animated specials for … Continue reading Chuck Jones and the Power of Scaffolding
As an entrepreneur or a company, you should appreciate the underrated power of quitting. While we often glorify a never-say-die attitude, and celebrate the entrepreneurs who build great companies despite near-universal criticism, extreme persistence comes at a price. I caught up with a friend yesterday, a high-profile entrepreneur who will remain nameless (I forgot to … Continue reading Little Bets and the Power Of Quitting
Persistence isn’t using the same tactics over and over. That’s just annoying.Persistence is having the same goal over and over. —Seth Godin Typical Seth. It might not be a novel thought, but he manages to express it in just the right way.
One of the most important principles of marketing is persistence. Every marketer I’ve ever worked with has said that a target has to be exposed to your message at least six times before it sinks in.At first, I wasn’t certain if I believed them. After all, six times seems kind of arbitrary, and I never … Continue reading If at first you don’t persuade, try, try again (The Rule of Six)