When you don't yet have an office, funding in place, or even a clear hierarchy, (the 'kitchen table' phase), startups can be even more fun than they are when you have all of the above done and dusted.
Thus it was that I managed to convince two people that the best place to join me for a brainstorm today was Hudson River Park, where it is presently around 80 degrees. I am consequently melting, and don't have time for a run and a shower before my next meeting at 3pm, so will just have to suffice with the shower.
So now to find somewhere for the 4:30pm session that also has access to a bar...
A month of writer's block/lack of inspiration broken...
I'm an entrepreneur. My partner hates the term, for some reason best known only to herself. But it's what I do. I started my first business when I was 23, and I've started four in my lifetime, selling three of them.
Luckily, at 23, I had a mentor. Stephen Tatlow taught me a few things, and I've carried them with me over the past 15 years.
Firstly, he taught me the definition of 'fiduciary duty'. If you don't know what that means - don't start a business. He taught me the value of cashflow. If you don't understand - don't start a business. I knew that creating a limited company was easy and straightforward, here in the US it can cost from $200 to $2,000, dependent on state, circumstances and complexity. In the UK, an off-the-shelf company is as little as 25 quid. If you don't understand limited liability and how to create a limited company/LLC - don't start a business. If you don't understand customer service and your idea of good business development is terse (even brusque) one-line emails - don't start a business. If you're going to price yourself so low that you need 20 clients a month to make a viable business - don't start a business. If you're going to welch on deals, pay late, or not at all - don't start a business. If you're so laid back you're horizontal - start a business selling futons, but don't get into a fast-moving, competitive marketplace. Alternatively - just don't start a business.
I encourage people to start businesses, but, like having children, there are some people who just need more time-served, and experience under their belt before they do so. If in doubt - just don't start a business. Yet.
I've really started noticing (thanks, Twitter!) how Conservatives, Reaganites/Thatcherites, Ponzi-schemers and general oddballs flock to anybody who calls themselves an entrepreneur. I'm sorry "ConservativeFinanceCycles", I don't want to follow your polemics about Obama's "socialism", but thanks for the follow all the same. [BLOCK!]
Contract or perm
We're seeking a talented games designer, NYC-based, who is keen to work with a small team developing compelling gameplay around our basic concept.
We're a social game startup, our initial concept is aimed at a young female market, and we want to make it sticky, viral and as much fun as possible. Contact me at jon@jukebucks.com for more details, or with a CV/portfolio or link to your work.
Not employees or partners
With time on my hands this past weekend, I decided to write out all the experiences I'd learned from multiple startup situations. It's difficult to do, since the primary experience is 'adapt when you have to'.
However, something did come to me when I was describing to myself the first intake of people, and also the best & the brightest of the alumni. They were apostles. Not employees, not partners, and not even disciples. Apostles - as invigorated and enthused by the idea as I am, and would go the extra mile to get things done, to bring others on-board, and all for the intrinsic challenge not the extrinsic motivation ($$$).
Anyway. Now hiring: apostles.
After a couple of rather bizarre emails from some people, I thought it worth a quick clarification. I am not now 'in social media', I am not about to start wheezing on about how 'brands need to increase participation' or about 'engagement' or start creating Facebook groups for 'We love Acme Dynamite'.
I remain deeply involved in mobile, and I just happen to have a delightfully simple and elegant way of getting more eyeballs involved in what will be, essentially, mobile advertising by another name. It just happens that the mechanic for doing so involves what people currently call 'social media'.
Hope that clears things up :)
In two different sets of circumstances this week, I have re-learned the value of being passionate about something. Passion can make things happen. Persistence and drive make things happen all the more, and insight and intelligence are needed to hold the whole thing together, but passion really is the key.
Without the intensity of being passionate about something, a job is just a job, an idea just an idea, a person just a person. The intensity makes us slightly crazy, but it's in that craziness that we seem to be able to move mountains.
Fun times!
Startups are good for the health
Well, in the early stages anyway! Don't get me started on late-stage entrepreneur fatigue...
But right now, this is feeling more invigorating than my daily run down the Hudson (which, I have to admit is becoming a weekly run down the Hudson in these temperatures). Lots of homework to do, and the knowledge that it's on my shoulders to create something out of nothing reminds me of the other three times I've done this, and the hugely rewarding challenge ahead.
Read More
Now raising capital, looking for co-founders, partners & employees
After some umm'ing and ahh'ing about my exact plans over here - several very valuable interviews, some intriguing freelancing and a spot of business mentoring, not to mention a personal hiatus, I have finally decided to hitch my cart back to the startup wagon. It's what I do best, after all. I'm continuing to represent Madvertise in the US, but as that is a part-time gig, it doesn't really affect my ability to commit heart & soul to the new project...
Read More
(okay, so it was acquired 7 years ago, but still...)
'Twas mid-December 1999. Myself and two of my best old friends were working at a digital marketing consultancy. We were working (and drinking) one evening with Robert Hamilton, who'd just had this fabulous idea - he'd tried to buy a book, but had no way (in the days before the mobile internet) to find out if it was cheaper, or in stock, at Amazon. What about this SMS thing? Snaffle It was born - a price comparison/stock checker using SMS that screen-scraped Amazon using a book's ISBN code...
Read More
|
Displaying entries 1-10 of 10 |
