Eric Ries "The Lean Startup"

Eric Ries really hits the nail on the head with his views on entrepreneurship.
This is a must see for you to avoid having the wrong assumptions about what mental models and project models to apply when dealing with entrepreneurship.

What is a start-up? Well...Inspired by Eric Ries the answer sounds something like this:

It is a human institution designed to create something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty, and as fast as possible test assumptions made about your business, its customers and how you're serving them. Then, discover how to build a sustainable business around it.

Enjoy ;o)

Now you know where to contact me...

I must be honest and say that I love that my dream of becoming part of a startup is getting closer and closer to reality. www.MomRocks.me is growing into something that will actually launch! And I promise you...IT WILL ROCK THE WORLD!

By the way...I have received my contact cards...here it is. Now you all know where to get in touch.

enjoy ;-)

The thank you economy

I can highly reccomend you to watch the ENTIRE 1 hour of fun and to-the-point visionary keynote by Gary Vaynerchuk.

His opinions about social media is spot on!

EVERYONE working within sales, marketing, social media, customer relationship, future business and/or the internet in general should see this keynote by Gary Vaynerchuk - I promise you will learn a LOT MORE from this 1 hour than you would from a "professional" course in any of the above mentioned subjects. This guy is no-bullshit. This guy is for real.

Listen, understand, apply...

Enjoy ;o)

Crowdfunding is comming to Denmark - finally!

Things are pretty hectic with my startup project MomRocks.me!

Our dear programmer is typing away full speed on the programming foundation for this new social website with time-capsule features that saviors’ all the intense memories for moms and moms-to-be and connects them to familily and other moms out there.

Viggo (my fellow wing-man in the MomRocks.me project) is pushing mock-ups and specifications in our programmer’s direction as fast as he can while doing most of the graphical preparations as well.

Me? I'm responsible for starting a hype about http://www.momrocks.me/ - to create the relationships and communication channels needed for when we actually have a site ready for the first test users. I am in close dialogue with hundreds of mother around the world, about MomRocks.me. I am also trying to stabilize the financial foundation for this startup...we are bootstrapping like hell and need an extra financial push to REALLY kick into gear.

This leads me to the theme of crowdfunding. It has been known in the US for some years, but has only just arrived in Denmark now...To say it very short, it's a new way to raise money by tapping into a 'crowd' of like minded trendsetters willing to invest small amounts of cash in exchange for unique rewards and being part of something unique. It's sort of the creative fundraising - the social way.

You can now support the MomRocks.me project at the cool Danish crowdfunding site http://www.booomerang.dk/projects/momrocks-me-et-niche-socialt-netvaerks-site/

Please have a look and consider supporting my dream by making a small contribution to the creation of MomRocks.me - we will thank you as much as we can. You can see YOUR incentives for contributing to the project in the description we placed at Booomerang.

Thanks in advance!
Morten
Dad on a mission...

Here is a small presentation of Booomerang
Enjoy!

booomerang - crowdfunding på dansk from booomerang on Vimeo.

Enchanting Users & Customers

I like the speeches of Guy Kawasaki. They have a no-bullshit character while at the same time holding many many valuable lessons.

I have chosen to reccomend this speech - not because I saw it and thought "Wow - I better start acting that way" but because I can strongly identify with the behaviour which Guy decribes as leading to enchantment.

There is of course hundreds of aspects to manage and balance to be a successful startup. But as Guy describes you can significantly enhance or decrease your success by keeping these three aspects in mind on top of building your company, building your team and making that quality product.

You can see the VIDEO HERE 

All respect, credit and thanks goes to Stanford University "Entrepreneurship Corner" for making these great videos. And thanks to Guy, you rock!

Enjoy ;o)

See this and share the news!

This is what I am up to these days! I am the dad who has decided to make the best website for moms and moms-to-be!  http://www.momrocks.me/
I'm the "founding father" if you like. Please subscribe to the newsletter on the teasersite to keep yourself updated on the progress.

You can also see the video about MomRocks.me here in HD quality

Enjoy ;-)



Entrepreneurs will create the future

It's been a while since I updated this blog. This does not mean that my endavour in entrepreneurship is standing still! And only few weeks from now, I will step out there - promoting the teaser-site for the new social site that I (together with 2 brilliant guys) expect to launch in November.

So what goodies have I found that I want to share with you too?
The answer is: A full-of-goodies keynote address of high quality about entrepreneurship of course!

Please comment this post and tell me what you believe is the most important key point in this keynote. Beacuse it is PACKED with good learnings.

Serial entrepreneur and LinkedIn Co-Founder Reid Hoffman shares his views on the role of entrepreneurs in society and the impact they will play in the creating the future. Hoffman offers valuable rules of thumb for navigating the startup and entrepreneurial process, as well as answering questions on developing markets, customer experience and the reasons to take a company public.

Thanks to Stanford University for all the high quality material on entrepreneurship. You rock!

Enjoy ;o)

Should I get an investor to boost my startup?

Here is a no-bullshit presentation that covers quite a lot of subjects related to entrepreneurship.
It's venture capitalist and serial entrepreneur Mark Suster giving his honest opinion and insights.

A very good reason for watching this presentation is the easy-to-understand explanations on getting investors to throw money after your startup. And more importantly: Perhaps you should think twice about getting "married" with an investor!

Thanks to Stanford University for making these videos.

 

Enjoy ;o)

The Art of The Start

Here is a video for you that you cannot afford to miss!
A cool guy you need to listen carefully to: Guy Kawasaki . Serial entrepreneur and author of the book The Art of The Start.

The video is a sum up of the book - a book that I can highly reccomend. I'm really bad at reading books - I normally fall asleep after 5 minutes. But Guy's no-bullshit book is just SO much to the point that I became even more awake and excited.

In these 16 short video-chapters, Guy goes through many of the key points that you will find described in more detail in the book.

Watch it here

Enjoy ;o)

How to start a movement

As this brilliant video shows, no leader is complete without a ‘lone nut’ who decides to follow. If you’re lacking a lone nut, maybe it’s time to start looking for one.

I am 100% sure that I have already found my "lone nut"...or perhaps he has found me ;o)
- Let's rock the world with our crazy mamma-rock-dance Viggo!

Ohh...and thanks to TED.com. It's a brilliant site worth sharing!

Enjoy ;o)

   

Want to start a web startup - and make it go viral?

So you have a web start-up. You plan for it to go viral immediately and have investors ditching Facebook and queuing at your front door within days. You aren’t too worried about developing the product or how you will monetise it.


In short, you need to watch this.

enjoy ;o)

Hubris + Passion = Entrepreneur

Let's take another Steve Blank video...
This is one of those "what it takes to be a great entrepreneur-video" ...believe me, they are multiple...I like this one by Steve who is brilliant at communicating without bullshit about this subject.

Entrepreneurship is not a job...Entrepreneurship is a calling...You should be doing it because it's a virus that has got itself into your head, and you need to get it out of your system...some of us us is stuck with it for the rest of our lives, and sometimes it pays off...but many times it doesn't...but it is not a job!

Enjoy ;o)

Learning from mistakes

Today I will recommend a good text that I stumbled upon in my hunt for critical insights about entrepreneurship. I am a big fan of using video as media to present a subject, but unfortunately this is "just" a text-recommendation. It is a well-written, honest and thought-provoking list of 10 mistakes made in a concrete start-up.

Click image to read about....

My business partner Viggo, who has some experience as entrepreneur, pointed out in comment to this list that the mistakes WILL happen - perhaps not these ones, but perhaps 10 others. He also pointed out that Denmark has a 0-mistake culture which is really bad karma in a country that badly needs innovation and entrepreneurship.

The culture in US seems to be different. They seem to accept the often true fact that success will first strike in the third or fourth attempt at making a start-up. After these rough iterations you will have gained the “street-knowledge” needed to succeed

As Steve Blank points out, in the video I posted here on May 3, 2011 the attitude about mistakes and failure in start-ups needs to be that they are also positive – they foster learning and experience. A failed entrepreneur in Denmark would be an experienced entrepreneur in Silicon Valley that is simply on the natural bumpy road towards success

Change the paradigm!

Denmark is struggling! And it is not the only country struggling to improve its ability to generate new successful, innovative businesses that can generate jobs and secure future wealth and stability in the country in the years to come.
I would like to recommend this fantastic animated video by "RSA Animate" that adds a brilliant presentation to Ken Robinson's speech about changing educational paradigms.

So what does this video have to do with the challenge mentioned above? Well - I strongly believe that the ability to multiply, nurture and improve the innovation wanted in any country is tightly related to the attitude "programmed" into all children and young people during their mandatory educations. Basically we want "A" - but teach "B" because "B" rules the current, and to many invisible, educational paradigm.

It is a scary thought, that we actually start out as creative innovative beings, but loose this ability during education!

We need to keep the edge! We need to trust in doing what excites us - even if it (at first glance) does not look as something strictly useful in the business environment known today. As Steve Jobs points out in his speech (Post: April 27, 2011) you cannot connect the dots looking forward – you can only connect them looking backwards.

I believe that innovation is and should be a goal in itself. At least I think that the effects of innovation should be goals themselves. Goals that should be given more focus than some of its counterweights: stability, safety and securing existing values. We have SO much of that! We are so rich and spoiled that we are afraid of letting go - even a little bit. This is really ironic!

Philosophy, criticism, academia and old paradigms serves a role and should be strong, but it must NEVER be a bad excuse for not executing the exiting new, and perhaps never before seen/heard idea.
I believe that fear of change and an almost desperate avoidance of the unknown is being wrapped and communicated as critical academic obstacles and problems.

I strongly oppose to this! We should not (knowingly or unknowingly) put more obstacles in our way than necessary – Accept to pay the price to live out passion - and adapt the educational paradigm to support this as well.

Enjoy ;o)

Bridging the gap between idea and programming

I can't do any programming myself!
But I am working daily in the split between system end-users and backend IT administration staff (somewhat similar to programmers) - that's why i DO know that while each group looks at the exact same thing, their optic, understanding and language differs tremendously.

They look at the world through different filters and communication can be really difficult.
Standing in between, I find it fascinating and exciting to "translate" or mediate the meaning to each worlds.

The programmers know this, and this video is about a programmer that tries to boil down some of the best practice approaches that can help bridge the end-user perspective with the programmer-perspective. This case is about User Interface (UI) and will help you translate your idea of a website into reality.


UI Fundamentals for Programmers by Ryan Singer

It's a shame with the bad sound quality, but still....Enjoy ;o)

Avoid the trap!

"The creative's compromise" is the concept about how to avoid the idea generation trap, which is simply the fact that idea generation feels so fantastic that you will risk going back to it every time the execution of your last idea draws out - when you hit the project plateau.
Scott Belsky has some really good advise on how to avoid this trap.

Enjoy ;o)

This talk is originally from the99percent.com site which is also a great site that i can highly reccomend - is is really one of those goldmines of exiting input you need to visit now and then.
Link to the99percent.com

Fantastic List of Startup Tools

Startup guru Steve Blank presents his reccomendations of a startup tool-box.
This list can be used as a hub to many of the subjects that pretty much anyone who wishes to create his own web-based firm will need.
This guy knows what he's talking about (see the video-interview with Steve Blank further down this blog...).

Get to his toolbox by clicking here:  Steve Blanks Startup Toolbox

There is a steady stream of relevant text and video about entrepreneurship and internet market trends from his blog. If you are interested in the subject at hand, I suggest you sign up to his RSS feed or email subscription.

Enjoy ;o)

Stop watching f*cking Lost!

Gary Vaynerchuk awakes you in this video about building a personal brand within the social media.

Some key points:
- Giving a shit about your users is much better than listening to your customers!
- You need to build brand equity!
- You have to do what you love!
- Be completely transparent!

Some of the more fun elements:
- Husle is the most important word!
- If you collect smurfs, smurf it up!
- Stop watching f*cking Lost!

Enjoy ;o)

This is really a "get real" video that is relevant for me simply because I will attempt to build my own personal brand on the site that is being programmed right now :o)

I will let you in on more details about my own entrepreneurial route in some of the blogs to come...

Q&A's about actual experiences in entrepreneurship

This is entrepreneurs and investors replying to questions about starting your own firm. What it takes and what challenges you can expect.

I really like their discussion about being risk seeking vs. being risk tolerant and change seeking (minute 42:00). It is the fist place I have found others expressing this distinction that I have felt myself. I am myself not a risk seeker as people I know sometimes label me. I do a lot to identify risks and find ways to avoid them or respond to them, instead of giving up because of the risks. This makes me risk tolerant, and cannot be compared to the kamikaze image of a risk seeking person.

It is a long video (approximately 1 hour) but there is such a huge amount of high value knowledge and insights - so I believe it is worth it :o)

And don't be confused about the title "Top 10 mistakes made by entrepreneurs"  - it is about so much more than that....

enjoy :o)

Kilde til god energi

Martin Thorborg is the cool danish entrepreneur who started the search engine jubii. Then amino.dk which is a site that helps entrepreneurs. He also started SPAMfighter and wrote the book E-Pusher

This video (and pretty much everything Martin makes) is in danish. But it needs to be on my blog. Enjoy ;o)

After seing this video I had to add some mantra's to my life

"Jeg skal vise de forpulede røvhuller hvordan man kravler op af et hul!"
and
"Jeg kan klare HVAD som helst!"
and
"Tænk fremad - handl nu - hjælp andre - arbejd hårdt"

Tak Martin!

The 3 A's of awesome

It's not strictly about entrepreneurship or innovation...but it IS!
This is one of the few videos that will leave you with a smile on your lips and make you reflect on your life and how you live it. This is about living life - this IS about entrepreneurship at a very basic level.



In relation to this video I also reccomend his website http://1000awesomethings.com/
Enjoy ;o)

What does it take to create a startup in 2011?

Steve Blank gives us an insight in to entrepreneurial conditions in 2011.
How have things changed since the IT bubble? What defines an entrepreneur? What must (in his opinion) be in focus today when launching a new firm and how do you increse chance of sucess?

I can highly recommend this video:




Enjoy ;o)

A small inspirational video about entrepreneurship

Remember when you were a kid...and you thought you could do anything? 

Well...You still can!

A good introduction to entrepreneurship

I strongly believe that the attitude, mental state and drive surrounding entrepreneurship is key... Not ideas - they are multiple, not competences - they can be developed.

I would like to share a speech with you I use to "program" myself with the attitude and drive needed to become a successful entrepreneur. It is Steve Jobs 2005 Stanford Commencement Address.

Some of the golden take aways from this highly inspirational speech goes like this:

You have got to find what you truly love. Great work comes from doing what you love to do. Think about the quote: "If you live each day as if it was your last, some day you will most certainly be right"

...look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself "If this is the last day of my life, would I be doing what I am about to do today?" change things if the answer is "no" too many days in a row.

Remembering that you will be dead soon is one of the most important tools to help you make the big choices in life, because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride and fear of embarrassment and failure just fall away in the face of death - leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way to avoid the trap of thinking that you have something to lose. You are already naked - there is no reason not to follow your heart.

And remember: Sometimes life will hit you in the head with a brick. When it does, don't loose faith!

Never stop chasing your dream!

Things are happening...

My life has changed significantly within the last year.
I have seen what I so deeply want to achieve.

I am attempting to become highly efficient, only chasing
that wich brings me closer to my short and most importantly long term dreams.

It is time to take these dreams seriously and offer myself to my dreams. To give it a chance. To start making dreams into reality.

I have now started the movement. I will not loose faith in myself, my visions, my senses, my knowledge, the direction that is set is right. I will take one step towards it every day...while developing myself at work. While being the father I believe I should be. While renewing and respecting the love between me and my wife.

It is a tough challenge. But I move now! Not because it is easy, but because it is my dream and goal. I have chosen to pursue it. Iam willing to accept the challenge. A challenge I am unwilling to postpone and one I intend to win!

I'm following different inspiring sites - one of them is the99percent.com

As part of my personal development and future goal, I am starting to create an idea about what I see as important skills in order to become a selfmade man.

This is one of the videos that decribes some of the qualities needed.

http://the99percent.com/videos/5823/Cheryl-Dorsey-Social-Entrepreneurial-Intelligence

I will...

- I am a miracle

- I will make the best of this miracle

- I will be the director of my life

- I will create on the existing foundation

- I will create a personal story...a personal journey

- I will search & discover my true dreams

- I will honor that which I have already created, that brings me happiness

- I will remain true to myself in what I say and do

- I will not allow myself or others to stop my development

- I will allow myself to dream and be curious about everything

- I will make active choices that brings me happiness and meaning

- I will accept the consequences of my active choices and of the events outside my circle of influence.

- I will embrace my imperfections

- I will work to be the best I can be

- I will strive to live by "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People"

- I will work to make a difference in the world