The breath before the plunge

[RogueInnovation]

I've just been sitting around, tappin the desk, thinking.

Few of us ever see the fight behind the fighter.
[video=youtube;g-jwWYX7Jlo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-jwWYX7Jlo[/video]

And even fewer of us remember, that this fight takes everything.


Its been a tough haul, but I feel I'm through it, so now its time to launch some things
Goal: Reach 100 000 people

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[DeletedUser2]

So what's your plan

The hard line, thought out, process for reaching your goal?


Z

 

[RogueInnovation]

This thread shows how TOTALLY disjointed my initial plan was.
Screw it, thats ok, because everything in here has undergone a major rehaul.

Let me just say first that my diligence on a distribution and marketting plan sucked, and since my initial post have decided against my main marketting plan being in the hands of affiliates.
I decided to take full control and chuck any silver platter deals out into the garbage.
My experience is starting to suggest that there are bigger deals I can make with those people if I can actually get a lot of the traffic churn happening more efficiently by myself.
"Always top down, never bottom up" as Vig put it so eloquently in Iamthejeffs post.
I am now looking at marketting more directly to possible consumers in three ways, internal marketting (done inside all the established routes), outside the box (done direct to market segments outside of established routes), and larger scale (targetting niches, other players that can pump my name out there in numerous ways, sponsorship deals etc and other creative ways of intertwining and getting what is there to work for me).

My mindset also sucked. "Breath before the plunge", you don't just take breaths to be comfortable, you drive into the uncomfortable and make it work.
Excessive wasteful thought processes have been totally scrapped and I follow a no nonsense approach to thinking about the business and goals. If I can't DEFINE the idea, I consider it very low value, unless I believe that with a series of steps I can get it there.
So my process mentally has gone through changes and I'm much tougher and spontaneous as a result. All the "reach 100 000 people" talk is out the window, its nonsense because if I trusted it, I would have done it, I no longer fluff talk, its just a massive waste of space.

I've been slowed on the creative front recently, and have taken to learning some graphic design (was already half decent at wireframes and concepting). This hasn't affected the other sides of business and creative but helped enhance it, and what I am looking to do may get quite design intensive so I'm quite glad that is just "naturally" slotting into place.
I design for function, wireframe, concept, and keep it efficient, so mostly its drafts, and I may get in a designer with "the right eye" to "look over and do up" the work for a reduced fee to get it to production quality.
So, against my reservations (reservations about learning any design being helpful for the fundamentals) I've actually sculpted it to be beneficial during a slower period with the rest of the business.
I will be doing the same concept work for the code, or split tasks into a) concept guys b) execution guys, due to noticing the huge increase in control when you split the two up, and I believe I can reduce costs and get higher quality this way.

I have the major templates done for products, and have formulas and proceedures set out for scaling the services.


I'm still perplexed by a few things, but I know that with more gumption, I'll get it up to an actual standard that I believe anyone could be happy with.
I really struggle defining the route I wanna take with the products and services, but in the mean time I'm decently busy creating good improvements exacting the need and delivery, so I feel good.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[RogueInnovation]

Three years ago, I didn't know what business really was.
I decided I would learn, and at first was confused about what money was, where resistance was coming from, and why I just simply couldn't create the content of business integrity I needed to create a real business.
I've worked hard, and now am thorough enough to get TO THE BOTTOM of things.
I've found a level of voice, and come from what was shakey, disjointed, and premature, to something that resembles a great business attiude.

How do I feel about it?
I feel a bit tired, a bit annoyed, and a bit like "I expected to do better" but I also feel firm and on goal, not ashamed, and clear.

The benefits outweigh the costs even in some really annoying situations. So stick with it.
I'm about to take the plunge, and I wish everyone all the best on their quest to do the same.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[RogueInnovation]

I feel a little distressed, ironically I feel this way because I have a viable path ahead of me, because being aware of what it will take has lumped a big weight onto my shoulders.
I won't drown though. So full steam ahead!

I have realised that my fear of launching was really a misunderstanding of how to properly launch and what launching REALLY requires.
Launching is actually not this stressful obligation that will haunt you forever if you get it wrong, its actually just ONE step in many, and all those steps require determination and skillful application of knowledge. Stressing, kicking, and screaming will not make a dent on anything, it is robust suggestions, continually seeking fresh perspective (and testing), and having reliable moves that will push you ahead that will do anything, and having a good chemistry with what you are doing will help you so long as it doesn't make you arrogant or otherwise stupid and lazy about process.

Yes, we need to continuously push the envelope, but I have come to see that it is not the terrifying thing I once thought it was.

NO ONE can do this process for you, and no one can handhold you through that rough spot, because it is you alone who can determine if the effort is worth while to you and you alone who can not only launch but be ok with a heavy weight on your back and a thousand more steps.

I've realised now why it is so expensive to create businesses, because there is no magic wand, you really do have to grind forwards a thousand more steps.

Despite all that, I'm feeling very satisfied, because I feel REALISTIC and ON GOAL and able to track progress and keep myself honest, and that is a definate green light for me that tells me "you got this... even if its rough, you've got this".

Ironically, this understanding has helped me with financial projections and budgets for marketting, sales, etc. I quantify my time and effort, and segment the resources incoming from turnover, and combine this realistically with target markets, opportunities, etc and have started scetching out maps and ideas of how to use the capital to leverage the business process at the rate my effort and time can assist that growth rate.
If the growth rate goes higher and faster than what I can do, I need guys who really can grind on certain sides of the business to get it out faster etc.

So all of a sudden, my business SEEMS to have magically found costs I was in fairy land about before, and if I'm honest it is both startling and reassuring (reassuring because I feel it is more grounded, and not flippant). There are certain responsibilities that go along with that side of planning, so I'll have to dig into that soon.

TESTING is now a huuuuuuuge priority of mine, but NOT for concept!!! Testing for EXECUTION!
That one differentiation is HUGE, because it means you can test PROCESS, you can test STAFF, you can test FINANCIAL DISTRIBUTION. That stuff has NOT been tested before.
Sales processes, customer management, arrangement of how things are set up. All of that can be tested.

I expect to launch only once I can answer KEY questions about the market response and have EXACT answers, where in the past I might have feared that I would use those questions to delay launch now I understand that they will drive me towards it.

I'm not sure what the questions are, but they seem to be things like
- What is the reaction for the first two weeks of the service and consequent behaviour (right now customers get a high then dilly dabble)
- What customers will we reach instantly, who will adopt later and WHY
- How will views change as our plans unfold, what bjections, discomforts and emotions will our client base back into
- How many markets can we penetrate EFFECTIVELY and what is the result of varying strategies, and who jumps first, who champions and who steps on it

There is a constant roll of questions going through my head right now, trying to percieve deep into the first few weeks of launch, into the first months and vaguely ahead into the year.
There are going to be unknowns, surprises, you name it... So it is key to face up to it now so it can be processed and lead to growth.


I need strength going forwards, not stress. And the key is to address things clearly and without pointlessness or evasion. So this week might include some conditioning as I toughen up this ship, and kick it into line.

I feel good :embarrased:

 

[RogueInnovation]

The past two days have been weird, first day I was all
Then I was :joyful: the next day
And today I am centering myself

Its a weird microcosm of my journey actually, just repeated in three consecutive days (so strange).
I realise I have so many flaws, and that I can't just talk about it, I just gotta get to it.

I do want to put down some progress though.
I guess the biggest thing for me recently is market analysis, from an execution perspective.
See... When you wanna see if a market has a need, that is reasonably straight forward (so long as you do due diligence and get to the bottom of it) but when it comes to execution of the idea IN a market, thats a different evaluation.

So this analysis of execution, is basically diligence on distributing strategies, messages, functionality, feedback.
I think its easy to get far too caught up in product and need, and forsake executional analysis, and it really makes everything suffer from downsyndrome (one chromosome too short or too many, I can't remember which, no offence to the condition its just what I feel is analagous off the top of my head).

Overly focusing on product can (not will, because you need to do it) make the company seem selfish and bizarre. Not that I necessary feel that is the case with what I have done, but it is certainly something I am looking for as I analyse.

so, with my best analysis get up, I'm splitting hairs.
Because an unquestioned proposition, is a naive proposition.

Concurrently, I am also handling the "size" mindset (cue yoda to the left)
I put it there to remind myself to CAAAALM down, and to remember that just a LITTLE bit of goodness goes a LONG LONG LONG way. The calmer, the better leverage you use, and to have more calm the better analysis you should be employing.
And get the ice cream is just about how there is a bigger purpose to this than lifting stones, and me trying to remember that.

I do feel a little like the picture when trying to concentrate.


On another note, I lifted my first "stone" last week. It is not BIG, its small, but it took tremendous skill and made me feel a bit free. It involved making some savings from my cash flow (being in profit, even though I do no more than a 4 hour work week for that cashflow).
The fact I'm making SAVINGS off less than 4 hours a week, is just...
Its remarkeable.

It is a small stone, but I feel that when I expand it to scale with the company, that the profit culture I'll have will be tremendously sustainable if I can transfer my understandings from small to large. As I expand to scale, I hope to expand the company lifestyle with it, and the most sustainable way to do that is taking that small principle and accenting its scale.

Size matters not. Just ground myself, center, and focus. And relaaaaax, because seriously, its just business so I shouldn't have as much ice in my viens as I have (people have been really sh#tty, and my mind had been really fogged over, but it is all an illusion kinda).

I am not guessing when I say this biz will succeed, I actually and legitimately know it is going to, which I suppose brings me calm (no longer have a guess strategy).
I may have been distracted and intense previously, but, fortunately I now am semi sufficient at allieviating that stress and focusing solely on progress (not totally unstressed but getting there).

Maybe I'll have some wine or something, and chill with my notebook overlooking the beach view today.

This journey ... wow... so so rough. Respect goes out to you all.

 

[DeletedUser394]

What is this garbage?

You wrote a whole bunch of crap, then got your feelings hurt (grow thicker skin).. so you deleted it all, and to cap it off you repost more crap.

 

[IAmTheJeff]

Holy shit, bro. I never saw this thread. It's awesome that you're finally getting things REALLY moving after all the self doubt and tribulations earlier in this journey. Godspeed! It seems like you're just a couple steps away from heading forward for real!

Hope things get moving soon, I really want to see where this goes with all the planning and re-planning, process changes and reevaluation you've put yourself through.

RichKid said "you won't last long here" in a post from the beginning, and you're still around. It would be awesome if your business has a successful launch. That would be a nice cake topper, don't you think?

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[RogueInnovation]

Breakthrough: Product achieved desired result
Result: Not money, but actually doing what I said I would do
How to do what you say: Ain't that the question

First, what you SAY has to be "not dumb" or there is no point persisting on it
Second, the timeframe you set has to be realistic
Third, the aim should be able to be drawn from the start point to the end position and make sense
Fourth, You have to get over all douchey emotions and center yourself, you also must be open, but never lose your integrity (hard ask, made even harder without the right help, but its doable)
Fifth, you have to just start "adding value" like its a tap that is fully on
Sixth, you gotta sit with it, and let it resonate with you, take it slow, burn hot, keep it always warm, like an egg.
Seven, before pruning the tree, think VERY VERY carefully, decide very slowly, because execution happens in the blink of an eye.

My philosophy on business is. You can pick low hanging fruit, or scavange apples on the ground, but to find the right apple you gotta climb.

To succeed, at your EXACT intention, you must climb.
How?
1) Man, avoid the mistake of thinking you are too good to climb and peering up from the ground. Pick some apples near by. Examine them closely. Keeping in mind that they aren't the top. Accept that whilst not perfect, to appreciate perfect you have to see perfection even in the stupid apples.
2) Picking apples has gotta become a social and nice thing to do. Don't have haemeroids
3) Test branches. Branches generally don't break unless they are weak. Branches are "people" and "ideas" and "startups" etc. You don't just say "thats a strong branch", you get in there and you tug. If you do it nice enough, they'll hold form and you can use your muscles and get up your strength.
4) You are gonna kinda starve and freeze, cuz the climb is slow
5) Develop your eye

How to validate the execution?
DON'T do what people TELL YOU (unless they are saying don't be stupid, then you can listen a bit)
If they make it sound easy, they are a lazy bastard. Don't take offence, love lazy bastards, but be sure to do the leg work. Test everything with little nibbles, many angles, a lot of active pensiveness, bruise test it, cuz like a cat, you are gonna have to take a LEAP.

Once you leap you are gonna need to not freak out.

Assess ALL the options (no not just a handful, ALL of them)
And very lightly trace expectations, over and over again, slowly darkening them as you get confirmations.

Start ripping stuff apart and breaking things.
If its just wishy washy, chest puffing, bully making BS, you need to KNOW it.

FACE YOUR FEAR. Until its small, and beat up. Then let that repeat over and over.


As a rule of thumb, assume people are making assumptions. People that make assumptions are not to be blamed, but you must understand that they do it out of time and convenience and it is up to YOU to not play the fool. And however hard that may be, no matter how many doubts you may hold. YOU must face your own demons and win. THEY are not meant to give you the answers, you must find them, you must learn all the grit, and caution, and vision, that you will need for success.

NOBODY CARES about you. And thats a GOOD THING. Because it means they are focused on THEIR business or life. Bring THEM value, and you will have your prize.


How to handle learning business even if you don't want to:
Its not a crap shoot. If you fail, it was a failure of patience and tenacity. Perspective, readiness, talent, etc, these things only help you hang in there (but never garuntee it)
You are on an equal playing field with everyone who has ever played, you just don't know it yet.
DON'T settle for "getting by", but at the same time don't "aim high" because thats where the red herrings are. Push into the muck, and work so crisply and clearly, that if there IS anything there, you'll find it. And there will be things, MANY MANY MANY things, and you have to just take it in calmly and keep moving, until you are immoveable, tested, calm.

You might not like business, but you only see the red herrings. Grind into the muck and you'll hate it more, until you realise how dumb your quest for red herrings was.
Take yourself up the ladder of your own potential and never quit on it. Drag through all the crazy phases, all the stupid phases, all the wannabe phases, all the "i am i am i am" phases. And just keep getting more sane and on point.

Once sane and effective, you will not get adulation (nor want it).
You'll just be a little more yourself, and have more BS stripped away from your being.
Like removing a parasite that insidiously latched onto you, you'll feel a little satisfaction as you crush it, and then you'll just keep walking.

Where to?
In line with your intentions hopefully. And with happiness in yourself.



If you do it right, its going to sting all the way down to the bone.
That ironically is the only thing that is going to make it worth your time.
It is a knife to your arrogance.
If only we were born without ignorance, you'd then find it easier to accept.
But we aren't, so get ready to have your mind blown.

 

[Andy Black]

Compelling reading... I gave up trying to follow, but was fascinated none-the-less. Like being inside your head. Seems like some journey you're on. Good luck with it.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[RogueInnovation]

I feel REALLY good these days, like holy moly good.
I can see what customers love and have this innate feel for their body language cues as showing the products or delivering the services, it is absolute heroine to KNOW and feel through them how amazing the product is.

I cannot deliver as fast and as agile and as neat as I'd like, so for that reason I'm still at a bottleneck.
But I'm using the time productively, setting things up for the web presence portion of things.
Damn does it feel good. Creating a product this good has just totally fulfilled some part of my soul, its great.

I savor every moment of working on all this, its just such a priviledge now. And even more I think that in a few months, I'm gonna have such a masterful grasp of this biz.
Hmm, I'm not too rushed to get there though, where I am now is ok.

 

[FastLearner]

For having walked this path before, I know one thing better than anyone can tell me.

That failure is always a possibility? That's why you persevere forward and make adjustments as you go. That's called learning from your mistakes..
Maybe becoming a poet is a profession more suited for you, you do a lot of contemplating.

Subtlety isn't a common thing, people charge forth "ahead, ahead, ahead!" they cry, blind but ever faithful to the blind man ahead of them.

*sighs*

 

[RogueInnovation]

What is this garbage?

You wrote a whole bunch of crap, then got your feelings hurt (grow thicker skin).. so you deleted it all, and to cap it off you repost more crap.

No offence. But grow up. I've seen you give shit to perfectly fine people. Growing "thicker skin" doesn't come into the equation when someone is being ignorant to the learning curves of others.

Fyi, that isn't how it went down.
What went down was
- Wrote what was on my mind colorfully
- Went off and thought about what was on my mind, and overcame it
- Came back and removed what I personally felt was unnecessary
- Saw that two people were confused with what I posted
- Didn't give a shit/then did what I wanted

Stop blaming people because YOU are too lazy to be a decent person.
Spurting out that stuff is garbage in a persons GOAL thread, is hypocritical bullshit.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[DeletedUser394]

You've edited your reply to me 4 times in the last couple of minutes. **EDIT: Make that 5 times** lol!

Glad you care that much.

Fyi I had no clue this was posted in the goals section because up until three minutes ago when you edited your first post for the third time, that's when you decided to add in your 'goal'.

In any case, you won't last here.

Kids, don't do drugs, you may end up like op.

 

[RogueInnovation]

You are absolutely right, I was out of line for that comment though I did not mean in a condescending manner. I sincerely hope the best for you in your venture.

Better to have integrity than belong bro.

You seem to be distancing yourself from the people you are talking to. Treating them like they are "somewhere else", this behaviour won't help you. Always speak to people like they are strong individuals that just may have benefit. Don't close up, and try to hustle your way into people's circles that don't respect individuals. Groups that can't take new information, and adapt, don't go places. Be careful aligning yourself with behaviour that picks on minorities. Those people FAIL.

There is nothing enlightened involved in giving people shit, like they aren't a real person.

 

[RogueInnovation]

So what's your plan

The hard line, thought out, process for reaching your goal?

Z

Thanks man,
The hardline is, I have 50 000 ish ready and at my fingertips (set in stone), and a good intro and some samples of my work will do nicely in regards to getting those guys involved. And I can probably talk my way into a few different hubs to push myself over the 100 000 mark.

I'm deciding currently on what channels I want to go with that will be best for the brand image.
I want the brand to appear as though its savvy, but not sellout, or restricting its distribution.
I created the 100 000 number, because I need to push my comfort zone, from the 50 k I have.

I've gotta find the holes in my distribution and manage some ways to make each channel work for me.
Hopefully with a bit of charm and tact, I can flush out that plan.

If I can reach 200 000, or even more, I'd be quite huge and looking at being one of the major guys out there. I'm unsure that it would be positive for the brand to come out that dramatically though, so I am off and on about the ideal starting distribution number and placements.

I want enough to create a buzz, but I want it small enough to have mystery.

 

[RogueInnovation]

Ok, I've taken the breath (which was mostly a dose of reality interestingly enough)

My goal isn't 100 000 anymore it is to GO THROUGH 100 000 within the first few months of launch.
I will have 4 more products releasing, which will help the fresh impact of each new marketting push.
I don't know my end aim regarding how much saturation I want in the market segment (but am figuring that out now).

Maybe I'm after about 500 000 or a million potential customers reached. Though realistically 250 000 would not be a bad result.
The next phase of the plan will be about converting them.

The five product launch is mostly to get the right positioning, and so really I've realised that this is a positioning goal, that seems dependant on marketting and good execution.
I seem to have a good chance to do it, but I'm going to check through it now.

Also, I'm summarising my 50 page biz strategies into a few pages (I now realise that is all it needs), and making room for planning beyond the first launch. So I'm going to spend five pages or so on each launch. Then hopefully dial that back to a few pages and key points.
Which is a lot of work... But whatever, it'll look nice when done.

Edit:
I am looking for a minimalistic viable number of people to get it to.
I want enthusiastic segments, and enough to get it about, also, I'm scouting for the best suited affiliates. Looking through all possible variations might take a while to analyse, but I can do it.

So I'm aiming to layout the minimums. Probably will store it in a column graph and find a pattern, and order via traits.

 

[RogueInnovation]

Starting today with a fresh view.
Did a lot of talking with customers (few hours) and did some tweaks on sales processes (found it is best to keep open loops to pace the close, that way it works best for everyone).
The discussions I had suggest that I can actually do what I am setting out to do, which makes today a unique day (the day I have confirmed all the hard work, at least conceptually).

That really gave me 4 strict definitions, for talking about benefits, that will help my marketting plans be consistent.
But further more I now have a way to pace the sales, so that incoming purchases don't bottleneck nearly as much, which means I have far better outlook for scaling the service end of things. (it also made certain software totally redundant, which makes me think that most software can be made redundant with good process, much like most code can be made redundant with good code engineering)

All in all, its a good day, and am going to look over some concepts, and do some creative.
Regarding code, I think my priorities are now to clearly define its roles, and make it adhere to a strict criteria. I believe that this direction will really tighten up the coding side of the biz.

Design and code have really tightened up in the past week, its been quite a sight to behold. Product is still a bit a-wash, but the new ways to define the benefits has given me some direction.

Edit: Later in the day and I developed some killer marketting strategies, will keep them tight lipped for now.
Design, code, conversion and marketting all seem in reach... I just really got to think this all through so that I can develop the managerial side and get myself focused on scale rather than be bogged down in revisions and diligence.

Product, structure, and finalisations (including some technical know how going forward). Are what I need to get to a standard I'm comfy going ahead with.
I'll also need to streamline this to be as CENTS as possible too.

 

[RogueInnovation]

Validating the market space is next on the list.
I originally validated the market space on an idea that was more "in range" of peoples expectations, but now rnd being completed and having relatively finalised products and structures, I'm going to do a second round of due diligence to determine that the business strategy is sound and if there are any obvious changes to be made.
With this I'll be doing financial validation too, going through all that set up again, because intitial concept numbers are always shakey, and can't be relied on as real figures when in the mix (what if it takes 5 times the expences in a certain area due to complications etc).

So basically I'm going through an auditing process, checks, validations, and getting all that bold work done that establishes the thorough professionalism of the biz (the stuff most startups DON'T do because they overlook it or can't be bothered suring the business).

After this is done I expect to have a full process streamlined, and agile.
Services will need a LOT of testing and kicking into shape, product teams too...
But I think I've got this.

I'll be doing a CENTS audit too.
I mean off the top of my head
Need - I'll need to identify competing solutions (already did that of course but I mean going through what can come up etc) I'll need to make sure there isn't an easier way to make that wheel, or for cheaper, and I'll need to make sure its relatively stable.
Entry - This isn't just about entry now, but into the future, and what unfolds whilst the company is engaged in one side of things and then gets beaten to other sides of things before its ready.
Control - Gotta go through banking, taxation, legal, audit any marketting avenues, make sure I have authority in place to get through to what I need when I need, suring lines of communication so I can quickly get my hands on what may save the business in times of unexpected change.
Scale - Will be going through whatever diligence I can and check out if there are stats I need to have at my finger tips
Time - Things should float, and keeping that in mind, I wanna make sure that my future contributions are highly specialised, and that I allocate all the mental resources effectively and without waste. That'll mean systems, proceedures, go to plans, so that I don't have to have my hand in all pots at all times (thats terrible business anyhow)

I expect the business to ace that side of things, and be very very clear and unpoluted with cr#p.
I dunno what is next, but I got my hands full with all that for the moment.

Edit: A sweaty handful of hours later, got a lot of it done
Funny how sometimes, great work creates a LOT more work you have to do .
Got a lot more diligence lined up, but at least its not a beehive so it can be reasonably set aside and done. Will get to that when my batteries recharge, for now its food, drink and silliness time. Got some other work in the morning though to pay the bills though, so will be keeping that in mind, maybe send a few mails etc.

Beh whatever

 

[RogueInnovation]

MVP is built!


What is funny is, I don't think 100k was as clueless of a goal as it seemed, I just needed my product mvp done up, so I could sell.
And now I'm a stones throw away from hitting the market.

Pre-launch preparations begin tommorrow!

 

[IAmTheJeff]

That just inspired some interesting thoughts on my end. Making me realize something I've been trying to grasp for a long while. The "Fastlane" formula vs. Time.

 

[RogueInnovation]

Yesterday I was all like "wtf?", and today I'm all :joyful:

The BIG thing I did today was this storyboard which identified weaknesses and strengths of strategies in the form of a story. Its more useful than saying "we have x benefit" because, who really cares what you think? Right?

I'm having fun

Reprocussions:
The last two posts were wish washy, but I am pulling myself back on track!

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[RogueInnovation]

Protip:
Peoples negatives stop mattering as you get stuff done, only slow people worry. If you are getting stuck on individual statements etc, you are going too slow (going too slow is caused by poor due diligence, good due diligence is fast and lightweight which allows you to do it at large scale really fast).

Also, when cashflow is healthy, you only have to manage it rather than micromanage it, so getting into a sweet groove will allow you to really take pressures off, and from there you can focus on scaling it.

Recently:
I have good flow, and with the flow comes an ability to push and focus all that energy onto one thing to get it done and not just financially, but energy levels too.

Actions:
I'm trying to perfect my connection to the audience, and whilst that has taken some notebook/plans/diligence/stats work, it has mostly consisted of some soul searching.
What I've found, has been invaluable because good concept means nothing if no one gets it, and that connection has to be instant to really optimise the sale.

Page count on my business and product plans is now nearing 500 (from condensed, concept, stats and research) which all condenses down further into about 5 pages, so its at a ratio of 100:1, and there are about 20 ideas each page, which condences down into a few things I have to execute on, so its at about 1000:1 quite literally.

Take all that chaos, and make it into something you can touch, that delights people.

 

[RogueInnovation]

Business structures are set up, and diligence on everything that needs it is done (still refining it but its not requiring a ton of leg work), now am focusing on product.

Mostly am dancing and singing.

Protip: Financially, consistency is more valuable than higher pay, because if you are improving it can build on itself, whilst higher pay inconsistently really mucks that up. Reduce volatility a little by pruning off abnormalities and setting them aside.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[RogueInnovation]

Past day felt like I just sat around on the couch half passed out, mumbling in a comatose like haze
I guess I'll call it a business enduced hangover

I have no idea what work I got done, but there seem to be five new pages in my business plan

Joking aside lets call it "catching up on" information I have gleamed from customers over the past year or more. Despite my exasperated state (presumably due to the scope of the task) I seem to have managed to put pen to paper and looking over it now, I have my first real look at the product. Its intruiging, but I'll have to decide on a direction, and make a decision regarding defining its exact role and value. I don't feel I am in the position I need to be in to do that right now, so hopefully later I will be.

Until that clarity comes I'm gonna keep pushing

Edit:
I've decided that I need to clarify the UCA (unique competitive advantage)
http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/defining_your_competitive_advantage
http://www.vantivemedia.com/competitiveadvantages.php
http://smartadvantage.com/blog/what-business-are-you-really-in-define-your-competitive-advantage/
I found these useful in helping me think out what I'm really looking to do.

Edit2:
BOOM! Done!


Now need to focus on user end experience.

Edit3:
Hmmm its very pretty, but can I give it legs?

 

[RogueInnovation]

Am back to the grind.

(sleepy burnt out eyes)

There is only so much chilling out you can do, then you just gotta get back to the grind.
I created amazing stuff yesterday, but today realised it doesn't matter what you create just that you are creating.

 

[Andy Black]

I created amazing stuff yesterday, but today realised it doesn't matter what you create just that you are creating.

Ideally so that you can invoice someone for what you created.

 

[RogueInnovation]

That just inspired some interesting thoughts on my end. Making me realize something I've been trying to grasp for a long while. The "Fastlane" formula vs. Time

There is pressure to get you to act and better your mindset,
But BEHIND all of that the very "engine" for success, isn't exclusively "CENTS", CENTS is kind of a business formula to make a high standard business that can give you freedom. The engine is whatever you need to get your mind on the task, moving forwards and getting results.

Typically when we try to "improve mindset" manually, what we end up doing is improving aspects of the mindset that might not directly relate to moving forwards, and tend to focus more on comfort. That comfort though has to be stressed otherwise you are going to get stuck in really comfort based, complacent rails, and you won't be a truly excellent entre.

You wanna be able to apply your mindsets, and have them kick back results. And the engine you need for that, MAY take time to build, but only SECONDS to concieve.
And to concieve it, sets you on a path, where if you keep adding more and more to the pot, you will be able to risk big and win big.

Small players never win, even with a CENTS formula, its not like if you apply it half assed it is gonna "work out". So you really have to take the task and challenge seriously and not tangle your business goals into pathetic notions of any kind.

Whimpering, kicked puppy syndrome businesses really don't have the engine to succeed, and to beat that situation, its going to take time AND STRONG EFFORT to over throw it.


So, time is necessary, but, passive time has no real impact.
Thats why you tend to hear that you just need CENTS and to launch. Because time will eat itself up all by itself if you are really giving it your all, so its not really a "concern" or "planned" aspect of a business.

So yes, CENTS businesses will take some time, but its not really about "comforting yourself", or taking off pressure so you can do whatever crazy sh#t your mind wants. Thats wreckless business sense.
Good business sense is to indeed recognise time as a factor and to manage it as part of the process going forwards. Cutting down on time used, but never assuming that time is going to be absent and all things will happen right now.

Nothing will happen RIGHT NOW.
I often spend 1-3 days on one task, it technically should take three to six sit downs, but those sit downs, requires a lot of focus to keep within the rails that will get it done in that day/days.

So often a few sit downs will be provisional, some inbetween might be to help remove pressure, others might be to refine a direction or take in comments, and then finally, you finish it all off. So before I know it, what was 3-6 tasks might be a dozen with breaks, but due to my managing time effectively and containing all distractions within that three day fishbowl, I can garunteed getting tasks done, rain hail or shine (great for business).


If you disrespect time its going to bite you on the butt, and next doesn't mean that you dont spend time, it just means that the time you spend isn't wasted energy cuz you get stuff done that matters.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[RWH3]

Dude, no idea how I came across this post, but it's fascinating. Your like a tank. You just keep going. Love how the slow and monotonous grind of starting your biz is brought out into the spotlight. Can't wait for updates.

 

[Jakeeck]

I feel REALLY good these days, like holy moly good.
I can see what customers love and have this innate feel for their body language cues as showing the products or delivering the services, it is absolute heroine to KNOW and feel through them how amazing the product is.

I cannot deliver as fast and as agile and as neat as I'd like, so for that reason I'm still at a bottleneck.
But I'm using the time productively, setting things up for the web presence portion of things.
Damn does it feel good. Creating a product this good has just totally fulfilled some part of my soul, its great.

I savor every moment of working on all this, its just such a priviledge now. And even more I think that in a few months, I'm gonna have such a masterful grasp of this biz.
Hmm, I'm not too rushed to get there though, where I am now is ok.

Good stuff man, keep it going. The lion has always been a symbol of being courageous to me, and following through with a business definitely takes courage.

I have this hanging in my room, right above my computer.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.