This isn't the humble-brag you think it is; The most common origin story is also common to startups that fail. But it's a start.

Competing against big firms? Their revenue streams are their Achilles heel. Learn how smaller startups have a shot.

When you're brand new, how do you select your first marketing channel?

Being "undefeated" or "number 1" might be more luck than you know.

Why do smart, driven founders fail, despite having great ideas and execution? This model offers an answer, and a path to increase the chance of success.

You redesign your entire website, customers and employees say it's better, but none of the metrics change… Does design even matter?

Oh you secretive devil! The last thing you need is anyone finding out about your startup. Like competitors. Or customers.

This is the reason that startups succeed despite their many weaknesses. And it's a reason to build a startup in the first place.

The two main business modalities are more different than you expect. When you hit PMF, it's a culture-shift to switch from one to the other.

It is true that small changes can have enormous effects? Or is this just what optimization consultants want us to believe?

How to find potential customers to interview before you have a product, a website, or even a name.

Low on cash but need marketing results? Here are four specific things you can do to grow on a budget.

Brittleness is when the company fails because just one component breaks. Learn some strategies for fixing Brittle Points.

Our emotional baggage and experience make us unique, but also serve as blinders.

Erica Douglass sold her company for $1M, yet still struggles with self-worth; why driven people can't escape Impostor Syndrome.

Half of your "successful" A/B tests are false-positives. This is why, and how to fix it.

Applying Pascal's Wager: Humility wins, arrogance loses.

Is it LTV? Retention? NRR? Magic Number? Rule of 40? Or: Do you need to un-ask the question.

Tech support isn't just troubleshooting; it's the face of your company. Which means it's your brand, your positioning, and when it's excellent, it is sales.

A contrarian look at logical "fallacies" that maybe aren't so illogical after all.

You're afraid that looking like being a small company means you'll lose sales. It's actually the opposite -- you're alienating your best customers.

Startups fail at biz dev because their proposals don't make sense to bigger companies. Here's how to adjust your approach.

Not "enabling constraints", not "weaknesses", not even "strengths". The concept of a "Pivot Point" grapples with the same reality, but more constructive and useful.

A short pep talk I delivered to kick off a Three-Day Startup challenge event. And overwhelming confirmation that the lesson is correct.

Discover how to leverage the wisdom of the crowds, but also when to avoid it, as it can easily lead you astray.

Humans have always tried to live forever. Maybe you can, but not in the way you imagine.

People love and forgive humans, not corporations. Expose your humanity to earn loyal, happy customers, even when you mess up.

You're not profitable if you couldn't afford someone else to do your job. $1000/mo isn't profitable. Fix your definition of "profitable," and build a truly profitable business.

Mid-sized companies: Small enough to have small budgets, big enough for bureaucratic nightmares.

When to prioritize individual autonomy, and when to standardize for global optimization.