+15 Startup Commandments

From Web 2.0 (Entrepreneurs) Facebook Group:

+15 Startup Commandments

1. Your idea isn't new. Pick an idea; at least 50 other people have thought of it. Get over your stunning brilliance and realize that execution matters more.

2. Stealth startups suck. You're not working on the Manhattan Project, Einstein. Get something out as quickly as possible and promote the hell out of it.

3. If you don't have scaling problems, you're not growing fast enough.

4. If you're successful, people will try to take advantage of you. Hope that you're in that position, and hope that you're smart enough to not fall for it.

5. People will tell you they know more than you do. If that's really the case, you shouldn't be doing your startup.

6. Your competition will inflate their numbers. Take any startup traffic number and slash it in half. At least.

7. Perfection is the enemy of good enough. Leonardo could paint the Mona Lisa only once. You, Bob Ross, can push a bug release every 5 minutes because you were at least smart enough to do a web app.

8. The size of your startup is not a reflection of your manhood. More employees does not make you more of a man (or woman as the case may be).

9. You don't need business development people. If you're successful, companies will come to you. The deals will still be distractions and not worth doing, but at least you're not spending any effort trying to get them.

10. You have to be wrong in the head to start a company. But we have all the fun.

11. Starting a company will teach you what it's like to be a manic depressive. They, at least, can take medication.

12. Your startup isn't succeeding? You have two options: go home with your tail between your legs or do something about it. What's it going to be?

13. If you don't pay attention to your competition, they will turn out to be geniuses and will crush you. If you do pay attention to them, they will turn out to be idiots and you will have wasted your time. Which would you prefer?

14. Startups are not a democracy. Want a democracy? Go run for class president, Bueller.

15. You're doing a web app, right? This isn't the 1980s. Your crummy, half-assed web app will still be more successful than your competitor's most polished software application.



+10 More Startup Commandments

1. You will have at least one catastrophe every three months.

2. Outsource effectively, or be effectively outsourced.

3. Do you thrive on stress and ambiguity? You'd better.

4. The best way to get outside funding is to be successful already. Stupid but true. But you, cheapskate, don't need money, right?

5. People will think your idea sucks. They're even probably right. The only way to prove them wrong is to succeed.

6. A startup will require your complete attention and devotion. Thought your first love in High School was clingy? You can't take out a restraining order on your startup.

7. Being an entrepreneur requires a healthy amount of ignorance. Note I did not say stupidity.

8. Your software sucks. So what. Everyone else's does also, and re-architecting is the kiss of death for a startup. Startups are no place for architecture astronauts.

9. You do have a public API, right?

10. Abject Terror. Overwhelming Joy. Monstrous Greed. Embrace and harness these emotions you must.

Mumbai Meri Jaan (Bombay, my Life)

Watched an wonderful movie - Mumbai Meri Jaan. I didn't know the story until I watched this movie. And it set me thinking on the recent furore about Slumdog Millionaire. Many in India have voiced their opinions that the latter movie shows Mumbai and India in bad light. The opinions have come about only because people started watching Slumdog . . . only because of the attention it's recent award winning streak created.

The former movie has shown the life and people of Mumbai in another realistic perspective; it has the same ingredients - a poor immigrant to Mumbai, an aspiring nationalist/IT person, a policeman whose soul awakens as the story unfolds, a TV personality who realizes the emotions of people through her own predicaments and the a religious zealot who learns to accept the diversity - all of these revolving around an unfortunate incident the city faces (in stark contrast to the storyline of individual triumph in Slumdog. . .).

More than comparing these two films, what made me think is the reactions from people. I have never heard people saying that Mumbai Meri Jaan is a very good movie about the famed Mumbai and Indian resilience and moral fiber. And the reason is because this film (or similar films) never got the marketing publicity and the buzz!! Hence, the towering film, publisher, etc personalities who raised the furore, never got a chance to say about this movie. A little bit of introspecting reveals that these personalities could have used their good offices to garner support for movies like the above, instead of just complaining about Slumdog Millionaire.

Jai Mata Di.

Is this the beginning of a new geo-political shift?

The shooting in Lahore, Pakistan on the Sri-Lankan cricket team bus on 3rd Mar 2009 is being termed as a dastardly attack on sports specifically. It is also termed as an internal combustion within the Pakistan political-government system. In our hearts, we feel for the people deeply affected by this act of terror, like the mass pouring of feelings for the recent Mumbai blasts.

At the same time, this might be the start of the new shift in the entire political-security-geographical shift in the Indian sub-continent. The forces of destruction seems to have unvieled a new path of repeating an "internal" colapse of a state. It might take many years before we can see the culmination of what was started yesterday. On the surface, it might be termed as an act conducted by well-trained jihadis, there are very numerous forces and countries - neighbouring and far-off - which gain immensely from an destabilised Indian sub-continent. I only hope that the so-called leaders on both sides of the borders - in Pakistan and India - are sensible enough to realise that the ultimate benefits of these acts does not bode well for its citizen; some other countries and forces will benefit.

The leaders will have to demonstrate considerable courage, determination and unconventional thinking to stop it and provide a much deserved safe haven for its citizen. I hope that common-sense will prevail and not play out the blame-game and stoke anger, which leads us no-where but to doom.

Mark Peter Davis

I found this fascinating quote today:

1. Only contact VCs that invest in your type of company (e.g., sector, stage, etc.)


2. Be honest about your intentions


3. Be patient with VCs


4. Actively share information


5. Do not take rejection personally


6. Do not harass VCs (they’re people too)


7. Focus on the success of the company; check your ego at the door


8. Be open to feedback and new ideas


9. Do not sully the reputation of a VC simply because you did not like their decision


10. Build relationships with VCs

Mark Peter Davis, Feb 2009

You should read the whole article.

What goes around, comes around

The world is round. Be sure about what you dish out, because it comes around back to you. It is a matter of time. Always do good, more so, on the way up as you would require help on the fast downward spiral path. - the wise men say. Being a believer in the Almighty, it is a good feeling when belief gets reinforced every now and then. There was one such reinforcement recently.  Speaking of belief, here are couple of interesting articles - 1. on principles that can help us in our everyday life experiences and 2. on an idea that is worth the change considering the macros-mic and micros-mic co-existence/duality philosophies espoused by quantum physics and spiritual gurus (from diametrically opposite viewpoints). Enjoy reading!!

On a separate note, the recession is acting as a catalyst to an environment that creates new ideas and entrepreneurs. More on this later. For now, click here for an interesting article on deficiency of entrepreneurs in India.

Have a nice weekend!!

Long holidays!!

I had a long enjoyable holidays visiting quite a few places, all by road. It was a good stay with all the family members across various cities. More on it later!! 

For now, recommend reading this snippets of the saying from one of the great masters. Enjoy reading it.