Re:The Single, Most Important Secret to Success
by aditya on Tuesday March 16, 2010 @10:05AM
(#1195685)
This is amazingly true.
As a startup you have to do an insane number of things, and usually a very limited amount of resources (people, money, etc.) - so you can't be perfect at everything, but if you get a few things right and people fall in love with you, they will overlook all your weaknesses. It happened to Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, etc. Hence the focus on doing one thing, but doing it really really well.
Re:The Single, Most Important Secret to Success
by junklight on Wednesday March 17, 2010 @05:53AM
(#1198208)
While I agree with the article I do think there is a single most important secret: "Don't give up".
(I might add its not the only thing - just like the article says - but without this one you are never going to make it. And I know it sounds obvious but I've met loads of people with the skills and ideas to make it but have not got the stamina to "do what it takes" to make it)
Re:The Single, Most Important Secret to Success
by pedalpete on Tuesday March 16, 2010 @11:34AM
(#1195903)
I prefer the riding a bike analogy, but it is the same principle.
When you start riding a bike, and the bike is very slow, you are making constant adjustments to get it going in the right direction and balanced so that it doesn't fall over.
A bike (unlike a plane) you need to keep putting the effort in and keep making adjustments, though after time, each proper input results in a greater result, until you reach a velocity where each input must overcome the aerodynamics before more speed is gained.
same story, but everybody has ridden a bike, not many of us have landed a plane.
As a startup you have to do an insane number of things, and usually a very limited amount of resources (people, money, etc.) - so you can't be perfect at everything, but if you get a few things right and people fall in love with you, they will overlook all your weaknesses. It happened to Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, etc. Hence the focus on doing one thing, but doing it really really well.
(I might add its not the only thing - just like the article says - but without this one you are never going to make it. And I know it sounds obvious but I've met loads of people with the skills and ideas to make it but have not got the stamina to "do what it takes" to make it)
When you start riding a bike, and the bike is very slow, you are making constant adjustments to get it going in the right direction and balanced so that it doesn't fall over. A bike (unlike a plane) you need to keep putting the effort in and keep making adjustments, though after time, each proper input results in a greater result, until you reach a velocity where each input must overcome the aerodynamics before more speed is gained.
same story, but everybody has ridden a bike, not many of us have landed a plane.