Entrepreneurs Do Not Noodle They Do

The toughest part of any business is the beginning. As Griffin says, "Lots of people talk about how they would like to leave a major firm to start a new one however when the time is right the majority of them don't take it on." The key is to Start by starting. Once you've set the ball in motion and are made a decision, there's no other way to go other than forward. Mark Sister, an entrepreneur and investor, shares the idea: "You can read lots of books and blogs on being an entrepreneurial person, but the reality is that you'll be able to learn once you're out and actually do it Entrepreneurs do not "noodle"; they "do.'"

Griffin adds, "Getting things accomplished is a skill that is often undervalued." Implementation is a lot more challenging than many people are aware. There is no matter how long you think about an idea. In reality, the execution of an idea doesn't always match the picture you have in your mind. You won't know the process of development until you actually try it. For those who are just starting out Griffin's book can be the ideal starting point. However, reading isn't a substitute The secret lies in the action.

"Do Everything You Can to Get Product-Market Fit"

What you're making whether it's a product, service, a book it's useless if it isn't able to find a customer to reach. Behind every concept is an hypothesis, a belief that the idea could be valuable to a specific target market. However, you won't know if it's true until you try to test your theory. Bill Campbell, a well-respected businessman in Silicon Valley, states: "At the very heart of any excellent company is the entrepreneur who creates a value proposition to start with, to ensure that the core value of the product (a genuine and substantial solution to a significant customer issue) can be evaluated and found out."

The process of finding this fitting is so vital it is Marc Andreessen simplifies it even more: "The life of any company can be broken down in two phases: before the product-market fit (BPMF) and following product-market fit. If you're BPMF be focused on achieving a market fit. Do everything you can in order to reach a level of product-market-fit." Every venture can fail if there isn't a the right fit.

"It's Not about How You Pedal Your Car But How Clearly You Look"

If you ask successful founders what the secret to their success the usually get is concentration. Sam Altman states: "Stay focused ....Eliminate distractions. The most difficult aspect of running a business is that there's a hundred things can be done but only five are important and only one matters more than the rest. Thus, determining an essential that you should be focusing on and not focusing on the rest is essential."

Continuously focusing and identifying the right path is an essential element of success, and when you don't, it's your chances of failure increase. Griffin says: "The cause of a company running out of cash is typically that the business has lost its focus and has shifted resources to other activities which aren't on the path to success. Insomnia or cash shortages are typically a result of bad choices, such as premature scaling or trying to accomplish multiple things simultaneously or shifting too frequently."

Sometimes, entrepreneurs confuse success by taking on a lot and speeding up. It's easy to get caught into the excitement of new opportunities hitting you from every angle. Ann Winbald, a partner at Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, summarizes the situation, "It's not about how you can pedal at a high speed but how well you concentrate." When you're going quickly, but you lose sight of your destination It's not going take you to the destination. Blinders were developed to serve a purpose.

"The Strategy is "The Story"

There is a prevalent cognitive bias, called illusory superiority, which is when people think their worth as being above the average, even though they're actually only average. The same is true for strategies. Many companies think that they have a strategy , or a very strong one even though they do not have one even. Sam Altman states: "Have an approach. The majority of people do not." A plan is crucial, it's the lighthouse which will serve as your guide to ensure that you remain in the right direction.

Griffin defines a strategy the following manner: "A business strategy is the method by the way a company tries to be different." This is true for all ventures, which includes individual ventures which aren't necessarily startup. Strategy is what you do and it's your mission or your purpose. Ben Horowitz, of Andreessen Horowitz provides the following description regarding strategy:

"When the company is in trouble You talk to your employees and they tell them "We have no strategy. We don't know where we're headed. The strategy tells the narrative. The strategy isn't distinct. The trick is in the narrative you tell. It's about the why. If you're not able to communicate that in a highly convincing way, who's going to be following you? This is why people start their day and get to work. The narrative must convey at an essential level why you're here. What is the reason why the world needs your business? Why should we be doing what we're currently doing. What's the reason?"

"Missionaries, Not Mercenaries"

Okay, you've launched your journey. There's a chance that you'll run into a blockage. Then you hit another wall. Then you hit your tenth one. The idea starts to creep in It's a simple question: Wouldn't it be simpler to just quit? In the case of a mercenary you'll be tempted to give up each time. The most crucial thing for successful as an entrepreneur is being an "missionary not an entrepreneur." It's that seemingly unfounded belief that is able to keep you from falling over. According to Sam Altman puts it, "Every business has a rough beginning. It is essential to show an almost unbelievable degree of commitment towards your business in order to achieve success."

It's not just about being a good person because you'll be in tough times. That's inevitable. One of the key factors is that you must make an idea a reality. In most cases, you're the only one who is convinced of the idea in the beginning. That's the hard part. There's a part of being a missionary that's in itself a challenge to be a contrarian. Herd-mentality is a common occurrence and that is the reason you must figure out ways to stand out. The issue came up repeatedly throughout the text:

• Kirsten Green Forerunner Ventures: "The method I use to stay away from the ruckus is to maintain an opinion, and stand up for something."
• Ben Horowitz, Andreessen Horowitz: "Think for yourself. This is the distinctive quality of the most successful entrepreneurs."
• Steve Blank, entrepreneur: "Founder meet the criteria of composers. They have an insight that no one else can do."

A missionary is able to see something that is unique and pursues their vision because they believe it will be beneficial. It's difficult to not admire those who are willing to perform this. Of obviously, when it's first started, it's not always a path that people are happy with or accept. It's more straightforward to judge a choice as to be the right one once it's been proven effective. Prior to that it's difficult to are able to comprehend the reason you've chosen to go through a muddy watery pond with no clarity about whether you'll emerge from the other side intact and better that when you first got there. The only light source you'll be able to see is your own. how much fun are having?

When you read these five guidelines, it's easy to pause and reflect on about how difficult this all sounds. However, when you've found the right route and follow it, it won't seem like it's difficult. It is a natural process. If you don't like your work, you're in the process of undervaluing your time. Time is a limited resource that you cannot purchase back. We often don't think about this. It is also true that very few make use of it effectively. (I am aware of this through my the experience.) The most profitable trade you can make for time is to spend it on activities you love. There's only positive when you trade time for something you are a believer in. Chamath Palihapitiya, VC and former Facebook executive says: "What you value is the results you get." Select the items you value with care. The rest will figure itself out.