What It Takes to Start a Company
There are 2 skills that will always be needed:
The ability to build a product The ability to sell a product or serviceIf you have one of these skills, then you’ll always be able to find a job. Similarly, if you have one of these skills, then you’ll always have a place at a …
Do the Opposite of What the Industry Leaders Do
When people dig for gold, don’t pick up a shovel and dig with them; instead, sell shovels.
The best way to stand out above the crowd is to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing. But for companies and professionals, it doesn’t make sense to blindly go against the crowd. Instead, it’s best …
Reducing Friction: Too Many Minds
There’s a scene in the movie “The Last Samurai” that I absolutely love; in this scene, Tom Cruise keeps getting beat by a swordsman in training. His friend approaches him and says, “Please forgive; too many mind… mind the sword, mind the people watch, mind enemy – -too many mind.”
The lesson learned: when you …
If I Were to Start Over, What Would I do Differently?
Nothing can take the place of experience, but there have been a few hurdles that I’ve experienced in my startup career that I’d love for others to avoid. A startup career is not a sprint, rather, it’s a slow and steady race on an obscure, unforeseen path. The less obstacles that you run into, the …
The Parent Dilemma
Parents want what is safe and secure for their children. Growing up, my mom and dad told me to get good grades, go to a great university, and get a high-paying job after I graduate. They also encouraged me to get my MBA and work hard so that I can climb the corporate ladder.
But …
Start Your Brand Now; Iterate Later
I have seen countless startups fail because they take too long to launch. Likewise, I have met many professionals or would be bloggers that are paralyzed because they can’t decide on a URL name or their brand positioning.
Yes, it’s important to think hard about a blog name as it will potentially be your blog …
What I Wish I Knew as an Undergraduate
4 years ago I presented to a group of UCLA undergraduates about Entrepreneurship vs the Corporate World. My goal was to show undergraduates how they can break the template lifestyle and say “No” to the corporate job that they believe they need to get. As an undergraduate, I too was brain-washed into believing that the …
Top 3 Reasons Why Lifestyle Businesses Fail
My friend Andy made a comment about lifestyle design that resonated with me because it’s so true and so funny:
A few years ago, everyone read the 4 Hour Work Week and got a boner for building a lifestyle business. Very few people actually succeeded because it turned out to be much harder than they …
Business People Suck at Technology Startups
Business people are becoming increasingly attracted to technology startups. We dream of becoming the next Mark Zuckerberg or the next Instagram. I spoke with an undergraduate the other day who quit during his third year of college to pursue a technology startup in Silicon Valley.
Business people need to realize that we are at a …
3 tips to ace your first round interview
The majority of job interviews are broken down into 3 stages:
1st round: On the phone conducted with a recruiter
2nd round: On the phone or in-house with a manager
3rd round: In-house with an executive or VP
This post is specifically about the 1st round interview with the company recruiter.
The goal of the…