How to start a new business when all hell is breaking loose

You might think that it's nuts trying to start a new business when the world is in the grip of a pandemic and teetering on the edge of economic collapse. And yet, we all know that necessity is the mother of invention, and it can actually be a good move.

In this talk, Ben Crothers will share his story of how he left a perfectly good job at Atlassian to start a new business, only to see it collapse, and then the techniques he used to pivot, and turn it into a successful business after all.

Transcript

1. How to start a new business when all hell is breaking loose BEN CROTHERS PRODUCT TALKS MELBOURNE 27 AUG 2020
2. If you had to start a new business in a pandemic, what would it be? QUESTION
3. IKIGAI
4. Never let a good crisis go to waste WINSTON CHURCHILL “
5. Never let a good crisis go to waste WINSTON CHURCHILL AND SCAMMERS EVERYWHERE “
6. Use a crisis for good, not evil
7. RECESSION BUSINESS STARTUPS Launched at the start of the Panic of 1893 Launched in 1911, in a recession Launched as the Great Depression was starting Started during the 1937-1938 recession Started during the 1981-1982 recession Started during the 2008 GFC recession
8. Read the room. TIP #1
9. The Bright Pilots story
10. THE LEAD-UP Strategy and facilitation Strategy, facilitation, coaching and training Drawing for design, strategy and facilitation
11. THE PROBLEM: SO MANY METHODS... Commoditised the design process McDonaldised the design process Design Thinking Design Sprint Playbooks Commoditised collaborative methods
12. ...BUT TEAMS STILL GET STUCK
13. What are the sorts of things your team gets stuck on? QUESTION
14. ...BUT TEAMS STILL GET STUCK
15. WE NEED SKILLED FACILITATORS
17. THE OPPORTUNITY: COMMODITISE FACILITATION Condenses design as a pre-made formula Design Sprint Bright Pilots formulas Streamline facilitation as recipes for facilitators to ‘make’ themselves
18. THE VALUE PROPOSITION Helping teams get unstuck, and have better impact by making great facilitation more accessible
20. BUSINESS MODEL
21. ...and then COVID-19 happened.
22. BUSINESS MODEL ❌
23. I fell into the trap of building me as the product INSIGHT
24. Don’t panic. Breathe. Focus. Scale back your aspirations. TIP #2
25. IKIGAI
26. MY IKIGAI
27. PRODUCT IKIGAI
28. BRIGHT PILOTS PRODUCT IKIGAI
29. PRODUCT IKIGAI CULTURE PURPOSE ADVANTAGE VALUE IMPACT
30. Think about your product’s ikigai, or: its intended impact. TIP #3
31. BRIGHT PILOTS PRODUCT IKIGAI CULTURE PURPOSE ADVANTAGE VALUE IMPACT
32. Don’t let trying to solve all the global problems get in the way of solving one local problem. TIP #4
34. E-BOOK: 50 REMOTE-FRIENDLY ICEBREAKERS Grouped into introductions, energisers and warm-ups Simple instructions and variations to try Available on all e-book platforms http://bit.ly/50icebreakers http://bit.ly/50icebreakers-deluxe PDF
35. COMPANION WEBSITE http://brightpilots.com/icebreakers Free limited access Full access once you’ve bought the e-book
37. Make sure your product is earning and learning. TIP #5
38. GET A CLEAN SIGNAL Define impact metrics as well as product metrics Instrument your product for those metrics
39. WHAT’S NEXT FOR BRIGHT PILOTS? Team-based diagnostic product Push problem framing workshops Keep building the network of freelance facilitators Framing Problems Visually to Build Understanding ONLINE CLASS Thursday, 3 September 6:30 – 8:30 pm AEST Use the code: keepgrowing_aus to receive 30% off 3
40. Read the room Don’t panic Focus on your product’s intended impact Solve one local problem Make sure your product is earning and learning RECAP
41. Discuss
42. Bright Pilots Website: http://brightpilots.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/brightpilots 50 Remote-Friendly Icebreakers e-book Website: http://brightpilots.com/icebreakers E-book: http://bit.ly/50icebreakers Deluxe PDF version: http://bit.ly/50icebreakers-deluxe Presto Sketching book Website: http://prestosketching.com Book: http://bit.ly/prestosketching Thank you. Let’s keep the conversation going.