The World Is Complex

What’s In Your Toolkit?

What’s In Your Toolkit?

The world is complex.

We need to understand big ideas to make better decisions.

Critical thinking is an art, and mental models are the brush that allows us to unpack complex, yet fundamental ideas.

Here are 5 that are critical for your business to succeed.

1. Schlep Blindness (Paul Graham)

In an era when growth hacking is mainstream, learn that great fortunes aren’t bestowed on serene voyages.

Evading the real, unsexy work in search of cash cows is the quintessential entrepreneurial flaw.

Schleps are inevitable, profitable.

Seek them.

Period.

2. 100 People Who Love (Brian Chesky)

It’s better to have 100 customers who absolutely love your product than a million who like it.

Anyone can give feedback without paying. Don’t please them.

Highly engaged customers > Prospects

Build your business for one customer at a time.

Polish and scale.

3. Product Market Fit (Marc Andreesen)

The market is as important as the product.

The right market inspires the demand for the right products.

The demand pulls the right scale, processes, and culture out of your startup

Dream in TAM SAM SOM.

Perfect your product.

4. Network Effects (Joseph Farrell, Michael L, Carl Shapiro, and Garth Saloner)

The value of your product grows by increasing users

When in an unknown city, eat at restaurants where you spot a crowd — conventional wisdom

The value of your business is directly linked to the size of your user base.

More existing customers = Easier conversions

5. The Idea Maze (Balaji Srinivasan)

“Everyone is in love with his own ideas.” ― C.G. Jung

While execution is manageable, ideas evolve from ingenuity.

But don’t stop after the Eureka moment.

Contemplate, study checks and balances

Instill systematic change to your idea to resonate with the world