Just focus on the market that nobody is paying attention to.

Most small businesses launch without raising a penny. And they have good reasons for doing so.

Starting is critical. But sticking with it? Even more so.

You’ll never know if your idea is any good just by thinking about it.

And here’s a hint: It helps to be hungry.

What happens when running a company isn’t as fun as growing one?

Just as a startup has a limited supply of people, money, and resources, you as an individual are equally constrained.  There’s only so much you can do in a day.

Netflix is famous for its “freedom and responsibility” culture, in which employees are given almost unimaginable latitude to do their jobs as they see fit.

The Canada Principle serves as a constant reminder to us to make sure we didn’t run around chasing what appeared to be low hanging fruit, all the while taking our eyes off what was truly important in scaling our business.

This is one of the reasons that doing a hardware startup is particularly challenging. Once you start, and have converted your idea into something physical, it’s very hard to change direction.

It’s unoriginal and it will never work. But neither of those things matter.

Users and customers are frequently one and the same.  When you go to a restaurant, you are both the user and the customer.  But think about dog food for a moment; in this case the two are quite different; your dog is the user, but you are the customer. 

And if all else fails, just start your own company.

But by far the hardest is having to fire decent people for reasons that may have nothing to do with them, except perhaps being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It’s amazing it took as long as it did for subscriptions to eat the world. 

If, in your heart of hearts, you want to be an entrepreneur, don’t be afraid to take that on.

You know what’s even worse than someone hating your idea? When they like it!

The best ingredient for success is no longer one’s ability to predict the future. It’s putting yourself in a position where you’re poised to take advantage of whatever happens.

It’s not what you say . . . it’s how you act.

In other words, trust your customers.

Have the courage to put the customer first.

And why it never makes a difference.

Hint: It’s Richard Branson’s fault.

Lessons in leadership from a 20th century polar explorer.

In 2002, after six years thinking of little other than Netflix, I decided it was time to think a little differently. And so I left.

I’ve always been an optimist. And over a forty-year career as an entrepreneur that glass-half-full attitude has been an occupational necessity.

Like summiting Mt. Everest, succeeding as an entrepreneur is an overwhelming task.

And why It’s the most important characteristic for any founder.

“You should write a book”, they said. But why the Hell would I want to do that?

You can start your business anywhere.

Don’t just automate. Innovate.

When it comes to ideas, you have to get used to having your perfect sculptures squished.

Start gutting chickens.

A Few Thoughts on the Meaning of Success.

That Will Never Work arrived in bookstores this fall

Winston Churchill famously said “history is written by the victors” and nowhere is this more true than in startupville.

My first real job lasted for three years. It ended the day I was unceremoniously fired.

My oldest son graduated from college in June. He’s already started his own company.