“It’s a tangent looking for a circle” – Mike Carroll

Technology for technology’s sake is not a business. That does’t mean it’s not useful, or valuable or necessary. It may even enable an innovator to find a use in a market but unless the technology solves a problem that a customer is willing to pay for, it’s not a business.

The sooner you understand the needs of a market segment, the more likely the technology will be successful as a business.

“In the majority of cases, the CEO serves as the externally facing leader. The COO serves as the internally facing leader.” – David Thomson

There are a few key roles you need to fill in your startup. What you call them is up to you. Whether you fill them with fewer people is also.

You need the the person that is the face of the company and sells to the market, investors, partners, board members. (CEO)
You need the person that gets things done. (COO)
You need the person looking for the next big thing (CTO)
You need a rainmaker. The one that finds customers and closes deals. (VP Biz Dev.)
…and you need good advisors.

A lot of technology starts get heavy on one end. Launching a company is not the time to develop new business skills. Find the right people.

Read “Blueprint to a Billion” by David Thomson

“It’s easier to copy someone else than to find out how to avoid sounding like someone else.” – Ornette Coleman

In pop music, there’s a formula. Someone decides what sells and the music fits the pattern. In Jazz, you get ridiculed if you sound like somebody else.

If you are going to take your time and treasure to start a company, do something different. That way you can be sure you’ll do it better than anyone else.

“The thing that’s wrong with the French is that they don’t have a word for entrepreneur” – George W. Bush

This is still the greatest place on the planet to start a company.

“Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do what don’t need to be done.” – Andy Rooney

Technology, including devices, apps and social media, is a double edged sword. It enables new capability..but it exacts a price. Any new tool should be evaluated for it’s balance of capability vs. the cost in time and money to implement, maintain and manage it.

Don’t implement a costly CRM if a spreadsheet will work.
Don’t implement the latest social media tool until you’re sure it offers value to your business. If you do implement something new, consider which legacy process you should retire.
Even “free apps” aren’t free. they cost you the single most valuable asset you can’t get more of: your time.

Every new technology creates a mouth to feed. If your business adds to this problem, be the one that makes life easier.

“Luck finds the doers.” – Scott Adams

Focus on the right things.

Find other people (staff and partners) who can.

The ability to plan…and complete milestones is an important indicator to investors that your risks are being managed. When you take on funding partners, plan what you do and do what you plan.

“Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.” – Mark Twain

A more elegant way to justify procrastination is to start your “Stop Doing” list. It’s easy to fill your task list with stuff that needs to be done now… but does it?

If your activities don’t directly contribute to forwarding your business strategy, put it off into infinity.

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein

If you solve a big problem in a huge market, success will follow. Focus on customer pain and delivering a unique solution.

“Fifty is the new thirty” – Seth Godin

Perhaps it’s because I’m fifty. You don’t HAVE to be in your twenties to start your company. Jobs and Gates were but Col. Sanders was 65 when he came up with the idea of franchising his recipe for fried chicken.

Take care of yourself. Take time to keep fit. Do something physically hard…no matter what your age.

“Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff.” – Frank Zappa

Despite the current economy and whoever you would prefer to hold the office of President of the United States, this is still the greatest place on Earth to start a company. One could argue there’s never been a better time.