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Happy Links
March 29, 2006 in Happy Links- The Printable CEO™ Series
Dave Seah offers up a nifty system for prioritizing, tracking and managing your time. There are a few cool spinoffs too (like this one with some insights on time tracking by Blue Flavor). - Springwise (profiled here on WH) used to only offer monthly updates of their goodness, now it's daily. Nice.
- Fulfilling Your Own Wishes
Paul Scrivens of 9rules challenges us to consider if what we do every day is pushing us toward what we wish for. "I suggest you look at the things you wish for and ask yourself if you are actually striving for them and if not, how come?" - Finding Happiness in a Harvard Classroom
NPR ran a piece outlining tips for happiness. I read that and figured that those were some great principles to found a business upon. - It's a bad time to start a company
This is absolutely required reading for my competitors. Run, don't walk. (Note, this is Caterina of Flickr founding fame, not some lightweight. Now, seriously, all my competitors, go read it, now.) - Shaking up tech publishing
David of 37s fame has some helpful (if immodest) chest thumping about self-publishing. - Q: How can we get our company funded
Seth jumps on the "screw VC funding" bandwagon with this piece that offers an alternative to the strict VC-shunning, self-funded approach. (in short: sell a project, not the whole company). - Greg at Venture Voice has finally added a blog component to his popular podcast. Good stuff too.
- trendwatching.com
I'm not quite sure what to make of this, but it's impressive. They are "an independent and opinionated trend firm, scanning the globe for the most promising consumer trends, insights and related hands-on business ideas." They "help marketers, CEOs, researchers, and anyone else interested in the future of business and consumerism, to dream up new goods, services and experiences for (or even better, with) their customers." - Video presentations done at Google
Featuring a tour of the facility, presentations made by some heavyweights in the business world, and even a few from the top Googlers themselves. - SEOMoz hands out some "Web 2.0 awards" Several juicy resources there.
Reader Question: Jason Fried and 37signals
March 23, 2006 in Reader QuestionWin a free copy of 37signals' latest book Getting Real Contest Completed.
Ok gang, you're all invited to vote in the poll below and share the rationale for your vote in the comments of this post. Two lucky commenters (one at random, one with the most thoughtful rationale) will receive a FREE copy of 37signals' latest ebook Getting Real. I'll hand out the free book copies on Monday, 27 March 2006.
Update:
Ok, I selected 3 winners.
I think Carolyn Wood provided the most thoughtful rationale arguing for "their ideas" and Rob Drimmie for "their software."
The random winner (slips of numbered paper picked blind by my 3yr old son Owen from a bowl) was Tim (yes he was pretty proud of himself after I asked him to "pick one from the bowl" and he picked out the number "one.")
Congrats to the winners, you'll get an email from Matt at 37signals with your download link shortly.
Thanks to 37signals for the prizes, and thanks to all of you who submitted thoughtful entries, I'm not sure about anyone else, but I enjoyed reading through them.
Oh, and my vote? Their ideas.
Technology moves at too rapid a pace to imagine that it will be their software. 10 yrs really is a long time. I have confidence that 37s can create lasting software, but I think their biggest impact will be that they were front and center championing this shift, which in many ways is the antidote to the dotcom bust.
With the generosity of Jason and crew in sharing their ideas on business, marketing and software development, and backing it up with an impeccable case study (their own success); I suspect in 10 years time a lot of water will have passed under the bridge, but that these solid ideas, and the businesses and approaches that sprang up as a result, will be a lasting legacy.
Happy Links
March 16, 2006 in Happy Links- Entrepreneurial Proverbs by Marc Hedlund
This has already gotten a fair bit of play but with good reason: These are some great nuggets of advice. My favorite? "Pay attention to the idea that won't leave you alone." - The Cost of Bootstrapping Your App: The Figures Behind DropSend (part two)
Another helpful installment from Ryan Carson. - SXSW 2006 Interactive Panels Podcasts
Now that the conference has concluded, many of the presentations and panels are available via podcast. A few successful entrepreneurs in the mix make some of these well worth listening to. Fried, Coudal and Newmark in particular. - Startup Reality Distortion Effect #1: Giving Your Software Away For Free
This whole young blog by Dharmesh Shah is excellent actually, this one riffs against the common practice of entrepreneurs giving away their software for free and advocates charging even at the early stages (to gain benefits beyond even the revenue), and even charging your early adopters (give them special treatment instead). This reminds me of Guy Kawasaki's adage that sales fixes everything. Jason Fried, Guy and now Dharmesh have been raising this point lately, and I think it's an excellent one. - Speaking of Guy Kawasaki, he's the latest inductee to the 9rules Network
Hey Guy, I was a member before you were even blogging ;) - Tips for Startup Companies
A few helpful tips by successful entrepreneur Philip Greenspun. - Ten Reasons Young People Are Afraid to Start Their Own Business
If you're whining about very many of those things, I'm not sure this will help, but if find yourself on the fence with one or two and need a hand talking yourself into taking the plunge, these ideas provide a helpful nudge. - 9 must reads before you launch a startup
Kind of a "Happy Links" list of it's own, this rounds up great advice from some heavy hitters. - What's Your EQ (entrepreneurial quotient)?
Guy throws it down with this quiz. How did you do?
FolderShare
March 8, 2006 in 4 out of 5 stars, Hosted softwareFolderShare: FolderShare is a product that was bought by Microsoft last Fall and is free as part of it's Windows Live services. FolderShare uses Peer2Peer to keep files on multiple computers in sync. Originally created by ByteTaxi Inc., recently acquired by Microsoft When a file is added, changed, or deleted from one computer, that change notification (not the file) is sent to the server, which notifies other computers that are to be synched. Then the other computers begin mirroring the changes by downloading the file directly from the computer where it was changed. Some other cool features of FolderShare is that you can use Spotlight (Mac) or MSN Desktop Search (PC) to search files on any of your computers. It also allows you to share folders with other FolderShare users, and access your files remotely through the web interface. FolderShare authenticates via RSA and is encrypted via 256 bit AES over SSL. FolderShare also has no problem working behind firewalls or through proxies. The clients seem to poll every 5 minutes. It would be nice to configure this to be a little shorter period of time. Free Reviewed by Brian Sweeting What is it?
Who makes it?
Why is it the killerest?
What could be improved?
How much does it cost?
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Happy Links
March 6, 2006 in Happy Links- The Cost of Bootstrapping Your App: The Figures Behind DropSend (part one)
Ryan Carson is at it again with this must-read stuff. He candidly and openly discussed facts and figures (read: money) related to how he launched DropSend. This guy is awesome. Remember that Google is your friend when translating GBP to USD. - Free online ebook on entrepreneurship
It's not printable or easily palatable, but it is online, and it is free. Bruce Judson offers up his book Go It Alone. - The Art of Raising Angel Capital
One of the many brilliant and helpful missives by Guy Kawasaki. - Searching for Success
Some thought provoking comments from D. Keith Robinson on what how his web consulting firm, Blue Flavor, pursue success. - Dignity is Deadly and How to be an expert
Both remind me why Kathy is must-read. She's a bit windy for my taste, but even if you only look at the graphics in these two posts, you'll feed your brain the kind of food it needs (mmmm, brain food). - Is there a first mover advantage?
This post from Seth launched me into a fit of thought and optimism. Being first is important, and you can be, to one person (read:market) at a time. "Yes, you must be first (and right) in that market or this market. But that doesn't mean you have to be first (and right) in the universe." - Edges and clusters
Another one from Seth (sorry) but this is a fantastic thought provoking challenge that you can apply to your business today. - Life Is Too Precious To Be Enjoyed
Are you risk averse? Then this article is for you.
Happy Quote
March 3, 2006 in Happy QuotesThe first requisite for success is to develop the ability to focus and apply your mental and physical energies to the problem at hand - without growing weary. Because such thinking is often difficult, there seems to be no limit to which some people will go to avoid the effort and labor that is associated with it.
-- Thomas Edison
Biznik: A networking group that doesn't suck.
March 2, 2006 in 3 out of 5 stars, A community, FreeBiznik: A networking group that doesn't suck.: A business networking group founded in Seattle and slowly going worldwide. Biznik is for folks who think "Power Partners" and "lunch bunches" are lame and want to network without feeling like they are in kindergarten. Dan McComb 1. It's non-exclusive, non-hierarchical and event based (not chapter based) 2. Emphasizes collaboration, not competition 3. It's a community with many ways to participate 4. Biznik is pro-technology AND pro face-to-face. The website rocks 5. It's got members in 12 US states and 6 countries, and is growing rapidly 6. It's free, and basic membership will always be free. Free Reviewed by Chris HaddadWhat is it?
Who makes it?
Why is it the killerest?
How much does it cost?
Rating?
