REQUEST A FEATURE, DON’T DO IT, NO MATTER HOW LARGE THE CUSTOMER IS. 2. 80/20 RULE - AS SOON AS YOU’RE 80% DONE, SHIP IT. 3. IT TAKES TIME TO HONE YOUR CORE IDEA DOWN TO A SIMPLE IMPLEMENTATION. 4. DO THINGS MANUALLY FIRST UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT 5. GO THROUGH THE MANUAL PROCESS AT LEAST 3 TIMES. 6. FAIL FAST - “WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CAN’T FAIL” - MARK Z. 7. YOU AREN’T YOUR CUSTOMER, CHEESY HUMOR GOES A LONG WAY.
IF YOU WANT TO BE A CONTRARIAN. 2.USE BOOTSTRAP 1.YOU CAN ITERATE FASTER 2. YOU CAN SET THE BAR ON DESIGN 3. GIVE YOUR BUSINESS PEOPLE READ ACCESS TO YOUR DATABASE 1. IF YOU USE MYSQL, USE SEQUEL PRO. 4. YOU CAN TRAIN ANYONE TO USE AN INTERNAL ADMIN TOOL. DON’T MAKE IT INTUITIVE 5. IT’S BETTER TO HAVE A DESIGNER WHO CAN DO HTML/CSS/JS (BASIC) THAN A GREAT PHOTOSHOPPER/VISUAL DESIGNER
SPRINT WRAPUP 4. GET AS MUCH DONE AS POSSIBLE BEFORE PUNTING 5. DAILY UPDATE MEETING 6. PLEASE DON’T STAND WE ALREADY HATE THIS MEETING. 7. SOMEONE’S GOTTA BE THAT GUY. 8. FORGET ASANA/JIRA/BASECAMP. GOOGLE DOCS FTW 9. PLANS ARE WORTHLESS, PLANNING IS EVERYTHING 10. PROJECTIONS ARE A NECESSARY TOOL, BUT DON’T GET MAD IF YOU MISS 11. BE WORRIED IF PROJECTIONS ARE CONSISTENTLY MORE THAN 25% OFF.
GIVE SOFT NO’S 3. PERSONAL APPROACH, I TRY TO “SCOUT” FOR PEOPLE OUR CEO SHOULD TALK TO. 4. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS/PITCH. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MIGHT START ASKING QUESTIONS.
ONE ASPECT OF PROGRAMMING 3.1-2 WEEK AUDITIONS ON A REAL PROJECT 4. BETTER TO NOT EXTEND OFFER AFTER AUDITION, THAN FIRE 5. FIRING SUCKS, COFOUNDERS SHOULD TAG TEAM THIS 6. YOUR STOCK OPTIONS ARE SEXY, DON’T DISCOUNT THEM WHEN NEGOTIATING COMPENSATION 7. KEEP THE PRODUCT TEAM IN ONE OFFICE, BRAINSTORMING DOESN’T WORK REMOTELY. 8. NO VACATION POLICY!
THE TIME. ADMIT YOU’RE WRONG ASAP SO YOU CAN GET BACK TO BEING RIGHT. 2. OVERCOMMUNICATE BUT DON’T MICROMANAGE 3. EMBRACE THE GRAY 4. EVERYONE SHOULD GIVE UNSOLICITED STATUS UPDATES, EVEN UPDATES ABOUT SETBACKS. 5. YAMMER IS A GREAT WAY TO KEEP A PULSE ON YOUR COMPANY 1. MODERATE AGGRESSIVELY 2. ONLY POST THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD READ 3. ALERT INDIVIDUALS OF PROBLEMS, BUT RESOLVE OFFLINE 6. USE HIPCHAT/CAMPFIRE/SLACK FOR PRODUCT TEAM COMMUNICATION 7. USE EMAIL SPARINGLY IT’S ESSENTIALLY VOICEMAIL. 1. BCC EACH OTHER
FOUNDERS 2. FAMILY & FRIENDS WILL ALWAYS BE THERE 1. FIND PEOPLE WHO WILL LOVE YOU NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS 3. YOUR STARTUP’S SUCCESS DOESN’T DEFINE YOU, YOUR CHARACTER DOES 4. YOU’RE LUCKY TO BE WHERE YOU ARE 1. BUT DON’T FEEL GUILTY IF YOU F*$% THINGS UP 5. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? 1. THE MISSION DEFINES THE CULTURE AND LEADS EMPLOYEES 6. BE DRIVEN BUT MAINTAIN YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE 7. STARTUPS ARE A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT