Spring Launched - Latest Comments

Re: We Can’t Ignore Mental Health

Forrest Zeisler — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 19:49:21 -0000

In 'The Hard Thing About Hard Things' (which you reviewed in your previous post http://springlaunched.com/2... Ben Horowitz talks about "The Shudder". This section really touched me.

He is careful to point out that every successful founder has gone through the phase where things aren't clicking on all cylinders, the market isn't where you expected, competitors are suddenly popping up, etc. Many businesses don't make it out the other side, but being there doesn't mean you have failed. It’s the life of an entrepreneurs and you’re not alone.

As a community, we can help each other through these moments with constant reminders that failure is not something to be embarrassed and ashamed of. I read about startup communities holding “Wakes” for their failed comrades back in 2012 and loved the idea (http://pando.com/2012/09/28... Perhaps being more vocal about the failures will help us all cope better.

Re: Go big or Go small

Forrest Zeisler — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:54:34 -0000

This was a realization I made a few months ago also. Currently in the process of chasing that VC.

Thanks for the post!

Re: Startup Weekends – A marriage from a swingers party

benzittlau — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 15:42:13 -0000

I didn't really touch on that aspect (at least in much depth) in the post, but I think it actually is a decent first date if people are thinking of doing a business together. It can be used as a tool to find out if you're incompatible (but not necessarily whether you are!)

I relate it to the internships I did while in school. Doing a job for 4 months is not enough to tell if you if it's something that you want to do for the rest of your life, but it is enough to tell if you if it's something you don't. Similarly if you can't work together for a weekend with someone than going into business probably isn't a good idea. I would caution, however, that just because the weekend went well doesn't mean it will be a good match.

Go on more than one date before you pop the question.

Re: Startup Weekends – A marriage from a swingers party

Jas Panesar — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 15:37:15 -0000

What could be a better way of startup cofounder dating?

Re: Inertia – we all have it

Eric Warnke — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:09:13 -0000

It's safe to say that us entrepreneurs as definitely "unbalanced", or we wouldn't be sticking our necks out all the time :P

Re: MicroConf 2011 – Day 1 Highlights

benzittlau — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:13:24 -0000

@twitter-11347752 Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking forward to bringing some of the ideas back and seeding them around the Edmonton community.

@Tristan Bailey There were many requests for the slide decks, and the organizers were going to try and get as many of them together as they could. I don't know yet if that will be open to the public or only conference attendees.

Re: MicroConf 2011 – Day 1 Highlights

Tristan Bailey — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:07:17 -0000

Great post. Hope it will be available after as video or audio. That would be my startup appsumo type idea for free/sale for the con as it's such great speakers.

Re: MicroConf 2011 – Day 1 Highlights

Mark Bennett — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:48:21 -0000

Great post Ben. This looks like a great conference. I really liked the comments about fly wheels vs hamster wheels. It's an interesting way to look at the importance of all the tasks a business owner has to meet.

Re: Go big or Go small

Schwabe — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:34:47 -0000

Insightful post, thanks for sharing.

Re: Inertia – we all have it

Schwabe — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:30:35 -0000

I share your 'inertia sentiment' almost exact. "consistently putting time toward the project each day" is key. From my experience, this is indeed the best way to make something happen (and build the inertia, as you eluded to). I've taken this to the next level by allocating set amount of time each day to target areas (a specific project, task, goal, or responsibility). And I make absolutely sure there are no interruptions and that I follow through till the end of the duration without distraction. Typically 30 min, 1, 2 or 3 hour chunks per target; depending how busy life is that day.

Re: Inertia – we all have it

SportingCharts — Tue, 31 May 2011 14:31:08 -0000

Great read. I am definitely guilty of getting trapped in focusing more on the "vision of being finished" than the "idea of making progress."