Comments on: Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/ Business, Internet, Technology & Strategy Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:25:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: The Motif of Employee Motivations (and how to leverage them). « FoundRead http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874676 The Motif of Employee Motivations (and how to leverage them). « FoundRead Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:17:54 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874676 [...] challenges of running a startup at his Janitor’s Blog. Chris’ earlier F|R posts include:Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2;The Power of “I Don’t Know”;Roses Where I Walk and most recently, Open Source, Closed Minds. [...] [...] challenges of running a startup at his Janitor’s Blog. Chris’ earlier F|R posts include:Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2;The Power of “I Don’t Know”;Roses Where I Walk and most recently, Open Source, Closed Minds. [...]

]]> By: Beware of Employees Tossing ‘Roses Where You Walk’ « FoundRead http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874677 Beware of Employees Tossing ‘Roses Where You Walk’ « FoundRead Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:47:20 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874677 [...] penning candid and humorous essays on the many challenges he faces at his Janitor’s Blog. See Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2, The Power of “I Don’t Know”, How the ‘CEO-Janitor’ Cleaned Up With DellToday we get [...] [...] penning candid and humorous essays on the many challenges he faces at his Janitor’s Blog. See Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2, The Power of “I Don’t Know”, How the ‘CEO-Janitor’ Cleaned Up With DellToday we get [...]

]]> By: The Power of “I Don’t Know” teasered @ TechTalkBlog http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874673 The Power of “I Don’t Know” teasered @ TechTalkBlog Fri, 28 Dec 2007 10:40:48 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874673 [...] the Los Angeles-based VoIP provider he founded in 2003. The first post we shared was about the law of diminishing returns at young companies Today’s is about the strength of admitting your [...] [...] the Los Angeles-based VoIP provider he founded in 2003. The first post we shared was about the law of diminishing returns at young companies Today’s is about the strength of admitting your [...]

]]> By: The Power of “I Don’t Know” « FoundRead http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874675 The Power of “I Don’t Know” « FoundRead Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:14:36 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874675 [...] the Los Angeles-based VoIP provider he founded in 2003. The first post we shared was about the law of diminishing returns at young companies Today’s is about the strength of admitting your [...] [...] the Los Angeles-based VoIP provider he founded in 2003. The first post we shared was about the law of diminishing returns at young companies Today’s is about the strength of admitting your [...]

]]> By: Peter Bell http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874674 Peter Bell Tue, 25 Dec 2007 05:36:34 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874674 This maps to my experience. Back in the dot-com days we raised a modest series A and went from 5 to 25 employees in 3 months. Trying to keep accountability and productivity high was a real challenge. This time round I'm just focusing on self funding and automating as many business processes as possible, but realistically the best that will create is a decent lifestyle small business (which isn't a horrible thing to have!). I'd like to know if in addition to just bringing the problem to light if there are any hints and tips for handling the crazy period? The best answer I came up with was to prioritize ruthlessly on the basis that if you could grow X (where X is the currently limiting constraint - often sales), you'd stay in business long enough to fix the other stuff! This maps to my experience. Back in the dot-com days we raised a modest series A and went from 5 to 25 employees in 3 months. Trying to keep accountability and productivity high was a real challenge. This time round I’m just focusing on self funding and automating as many business processes as possible, but realistically the best that will create is a decent lifestyle small business (which isn’t a horrible thing to have!).

I’d like to know if in addition to just bringing the problem to light if there are any hints and tips for handling the crazy period? The best answer I came up with was to prioritize ruthlessly on the basis that if you could grow X (where X is the currently limiting constraint – often sales), you’d stay in business long enough to fix the other stuff!

]]> By: frmad http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874667 frmad Fri, 21 Dec 2007 02:40:45 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874667 This post is very hot, it is high ranked at http://www.adminor.info (daily weblog, weblog post ranking site) This post is very hot, it is high ranked at http://www.adminor.info (daily weblog, weblog post ranking site)

]]> By: Scot Duke http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874668 Scot Duke Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:44:26 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874668 Great job on outlining how you go about developing a start-up. It's and interesting approach...wish it worked for what I have been working on. I'll check back to see what else you come up with that might help with start-ups who need funding. Great job on outlining how you go about developing a start-up. It’s and interesting approach…wish it worked for what I have been working on. I’ll check back to see what else you come up with that might help with start-ups who need funding.

]]> By: Matt http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874672 Matt Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:34:52 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874672 This is a great article, thanks Chris. This is a great article, thanks Chris.

]]> By: anonymous http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874669 anonymous Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:34:57 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874669 I struggle with this problem, but come at it from both ends of the spectrum. (Founder, and employee) With my founder hat on, of course I have the exact same perspective and sentiments as you echoed above. As an employee (as recently as a month ago), of course I have a completely different perspective. Perhaps its just I've never had the privilege to work at a company where I could honestly believe they'd be the next Microsoft, Google, or Facebook. That my .01% would actually be worth something. Then there's having bosses & PMs and various people who annoy you that Founders don't have to answer to (until they take on VC). I struggle with this problem, but come at it from both ends of the spectrum. (Founder, and employee)

With my founder hat on, of course I have the exact same perspective and sentiments as you echoed above.

As an employee (as recently as a month ago), of course I have a completely different perspective. Perhaps its just I’ve never had the privilege to work at a company where I could honestly believe they’d be the next Microsoft, Google, or Facebook.

That my .01% would actually be worth something. Then there’s having bosses & PMs and various people who annoy you that Founders don’t have to answer to (until they take on VC).

]]> By: Gordon R. Vaughan http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874670 Gordon R. Vaughan Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:05:37 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874670 This brings to mind C. Northkote Parkinson's essays "Parkinson's Law", "Directors and Councils", etc. Those are real eye-openers, especially the part about how subordinates and layers of management so easily multiply to form an entrenched bureaucracy. This brings to mind C. Northkote Parkinson’s essays “Parkinson’s Law”, “Directors and Councils”, etc. Those are real eye-openers, especially the part about how subordinates and layers of management so easily multiply to form an entrenched bureaucracy.

]]> By: Michael White http://gigaom.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874671 Michael White Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:51:40 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/19/startup-math-1-1-12/#comment-874671 Great article- I am very happy to have found this site! Mike .e4 Great article- I am very happy to have found this site!

Mike
.e4

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