5 ms·

Add Some Grind to Your Lean Startup, Rocky Style

14 points by btrautsc 14y ago

SurfScore 14y ago
People need more of this. The Lean Startup methodology doesn't mean "oh shit things are getting hard, we gotta PIVOT." Although unfortunately a lot of times that's what happens. It doesn't matter what fancy ideology if the day is used, sometimes it's just good old fashioned hard work that builds a successful company.
- rthomas6 14y ago
  This also reminds me of Paul Graham's schlep article [1], which basically says that some of the hardest problems never get worked on because people are unable to see the solution due to the sheer amount of work involved. [1]: http://www.paulgraham.com/schlep.html http://www.paulgraham.com/schlep.html
  - btrautsc 14y ago
    definitely a big part of it, thanks for connecting some dots
AznHisoka 14y ago
This is a fluff article that doesn't provide much substantial advice.
- DanielBMarkham 14y ago
  Agreed. I love "hang in there, kid!" articles, but at some point, if you're just retelling an inspirational movie, you are not saying a lot of anything. More tragic, the real need isn't to work hard -- freaking heallacious number of startups are out there killing themselves. It's using Lean Startup as a guide to show when and where to work hard. That's the whole point -- which was lacking here. This kinda thing, one-dimensional advice proffered as applicable content, can hurt more than help.
wpietri 14y ago
Now contrast that with Fred Wilson's post today, titled "You're Working Too Hard and Not Getting Anywhere": http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2013/04/you-are-working-too-hard-and-not-getting-anywhere.html http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2013/04/you-are-working-too-hard-and... Grit is certainly useful when you're going in the right direction. But it's a giant waste when you're not. Which for startups, statistically, is normally the case. That's what the Lean Startup stuff is for: frequently getting data to check your instincts. It takes a lot of grit to continually test the thing you're sure is going to work. And more to test the thing you're scared won't work.
- btrautsc 14y ago
  great points william.. I will do some breakdown with Fred & my posts soon. thanks

14 points by btrautsc 14y ago

People need more of this. The Lean Startup methodology doesn't mean "oh shit things are getting hard, we gotta PIVOT." Although unfortunately a lot of times that's what happens. It doesn't matter what fancy ideology if the day is used, sometimes it's just good old fashioned hard work that builds a successful company.

rthomas6 14y ago
This also reminds me of Paul Graham's schlep article [1], which basically says that some of the hardest problems never get worked on because people are unable to see the solution due to the sheer amount of work involved. [1]: http://www.paulgraham.com/schlep.html http://www.paulgraham.com/schlep.html
- btrautsc 14y ago
  definitely a big part of it, thanks for connecting some dots

AznHisoka 14y ago

This is a fluff article that doesn't provide much substantial advice.

DanielBMarkham 14y ago
Agreed. I love "hang in there, kid!" articles, but at some point, if you're just retelling an inspirational movie, you are not saying a lot of anything. More tragic, the real need isn't to work hard -- freaking heallacious number of startups are out there killing themselves. It's using Lean Startup as a guide to show when and where to work hard. That's the whole point -- which was lacking here. This kinda thing, one-dimensional advice proffered as applicable content, can hurt more than help.

wpietri 14y ago

Now contrast that with Fred Wilson's post today, titled "You're Working Too Hard and Not Getting Anywhere": http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2013/04/you-are-working-too-hard-and-not-getting-anywhere.html http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2013/04/you-are-working-too-hard-and... Grit is certainly useful when you're going in the right direction. But it's a giant waste when you're not. Which for startups, statistically, is normally the case. That's what the Lean Startup stuff is for: frequently getting data to check your instincts. It takes a lot of grit to continually test the thing you're sure is going to work. And more to test the thing you're scared won't work.

btrautsc 14y ago
great points william.. I will do some breakdown with Fred & my posts soon. thanks