B 250 Getting Started

Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
A nice power point detailing how traditional business methods and stratagems do not typically work for the independent business owner. They list several different ways of how to practice these business moves in reverse. They also explain how advantageous it can be to operate an amateur business as opposed to a run of the mill company.

• Planning is Guessing. Not to discount the importance of preparing for future repercussions, but planning should not be decision made in stone. It is good to plan for the future, but it is essentially guessing, making decisions for a goal that has yet to come, so make certain that your guesses are flexible and come with alternative guesses. And feel free to wing it from time to time, when you make immediate actions based on present standards.
• Start Making Something. Ideas and intentions are not worth too much and don't go very far. Like something to happen, do it. Now. Seriously.

I feel as though this article may have been written specifically for me. I have so many intentions and an uncountable amount of ideas that have all rotted away by now. My excuse was always that- 'I don't know enough or anything about that now, I'll wait until college.' Unfortunately, college was not the magical maker of knowledge that I had thought it was. It's very human. An institute that holds resources, and not too much at that.. I find myself having to make a lot of in the moment decisions lately, my previous guesses not coming out how I thought they would.


Why the Lean Start-Up Changes Everything by Steve Blank
With the rise of social media on the internet, the typical development of a product has changed drastically. You can't really rely on previous methods of creating and preparing a campaign for so many years then to finally present the product out of the blue and expect it to pull revenue. Not to say that it 100% won't happen, but there are simpler and better ways unfolding to present the populace with a nifty knew thing for consumption.

• The article is very adamant about customer involved product development. This definitely something that speaks volumes to me as I personally love to follow specific artists and companies as well as kickstarter projects for the latest news on a project or product.

I definitely prefer this mode of advertising and business handling as I often indulge my product retailers. Plus I would likely have to use the method regardless of preference based on the business type I would like to launch.

Best Advice I Ever Got by Jennifer Fleiss
An inspiring article that gives insight on how a self-started business got its legs.

• Ditch the Business Plan. Music to my ears. In order to think out of the box you have to step out of it.
• Don't Be Afraid of What You Don't Know. "I often think that it is because Jenn and I didn't have experience in the fashion industry that we've been able to rethink some fundamental assumptions about the way it works and create an entirely new category of rental." Sometimes your restrictions are the things that push you to excel.
• Share Information. A good idea is a good idea. Don't make pride a factor when it comes to implementing new and better ideas that could really help business take off.

Pretty much the entirety of this article is the sum of what I like to hear when it comes to making money. Hard work and intuition pay off. I also really enjoy interaction with the customers to gauge what would be better or what direction the business should take. More often than not, the customers are professionals as well.

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