Friday, November 4, 2011

Rework

    This book is marketed as a different approach to business. Rather than discuss the things you might learn in a business school: Write a business plan, research competitors, find funding, etc., this book explores a different approach. Their approach is supposed to work faster and be better in the end.

    Interestingly, a lot of the thoughts this book contains were also taught in my entrepreneurship class in business school. I don't think it's that much of a breakthrough and does contain a lot of standard ideas if you're familiar with entrepreneurship.

Some of the main points I agree with:

1) Just start acting - Start making something. Don't get caught in analysis paralysis or the market may change before you've even entered.

2) Plan Z is to get outside investment - Try to bootstrap your company and make it work without borrowing money.

3) Cut out what you don't really need - Do you need a full time accountant? More employees? Better gear? Maybe not, you can probably get by with what you have.

4) Gear doesn't matter - You don't need the latest computer, iPad, or device to get your company going.

5) Out-teach the competition - Teaching adds a lot of value to your product. It also makes you more trustworthy. It even generates revenue. Great idea.

6) Everything is marketing - Every phone call you make, every person you talk to, everything you do.