Computer Guy

Computer Guy
Sunset at DoubleM Systems (DBLM.com), Del Mar, California

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Pivots



Click here for the video: http://www.academybridge.org/videogallery/lean-startup-pivot/



A pivot is a change in strategy without a change in vision. 

Eric Ries

10 Pivot Options

Zoom-In: A single feature in a product (service) becomes the whole product, thus highlighting the value of “focus” and “minimum viable product” (MVP), which can be delivered quickly and efficiently.

Zoom-Out: What was considered the whole product becomes a single feature of a much larger product.

Customer Segment: The product is positioned for a more appreciative segment, and optimized for that segment.

Customer Need: When the problem solved is not very important, repositioning (or a new product) is required to find a problem worth solving.

Platform: Iterating from an application to a platform (or vice versa) because most customers buy solutions, not platforms.

Architecture: Focusing on one of two business architectures: high margin-low volume (complex systems), or low margin-high volume (volume operations). You can’t do both at the same time.

Value Capture: The “free” model doesn’t capture much value, therefore many startups require a monetization model (revenue model) to capture value. This choise can have far-reaching consequences for the business, product, or marketing strategy.

Engine of Growth: Startups must select one of three growth engines: viral, sticky, or paid growth. Selecting the right model can dramatically affect the speed and profitability of growth.

Channel: Channel pivots require unique pricing, features, and competitive positioning adjustments.This impacts how a startup effectively delivers it product to customers (sales channel or distribution channel).

Technology: The technology pivot can provide superior price and/or performance and improve the startup competitive posture (same solution provided but with a completely different technology.

“The only way to win is to learn faster than anyone else.” - Eric Ries

Watch Eric Ries (The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses) describe the different pivot options:

Lean Startup 10 Pivot Choices

Monday, July 13, 2015

Why do sales slump at 18 months?


Good friend and awesome sales trainer Mike Bosworth explores the art of the traditional salesperson, and extracts techniques from top closers to find the connection between storytelling and earning trust.




Saturday, July 11, 2015

Success is...

Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal...

Earl Nightingale

Listen to this excellent recording made in 1956 by one of the greats: