I occasionally listen to Stanford University's Entrepreneurial Thought podcast when I am driving long distances. For some women, their secret shame is buying the latest copy of Vogue or TV Quick (or the Dobies catalogue...actually, that is my other secret shame) and flicking through with a nice cup of tea before anyone else in the household is awake.
Well my secret shame (apart from the Dobies thing) is listening to and reading stuff about business. This is stuff most people find boring but which I find stimulating in ways I can't really describe. Just as one might look through the latest trends in Vogue knowing full well they cannot afford the clothes, I listen to pocasts like Entrepreneurial Thought and read the Case Studies in Harvard Business Review knowing full well they are not really relevant to me with my little business.
However, I always pick up a few gems and this morning was no different. The speaker was the founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman. He is not a great speaker in that he doesn't have much stage presence and seems to find speaking to an audience rather challenging. However, every word he spoke made perfect sense. Listen yourself to hear everything he had to say.
But the part that has stayed with me today is his challenge that a good business is more than a good idea. Simple and obvious perhaps. But he argues that the best businesses set out to solve a simple problem where there is a clear need. They do not set out to solve difficult problems. When we set out to solve difficult problems it is usually because we want to test ourselves and our mental capacities and demonstrate that we can do something clever. In fact, this is a poor motivation for starting a business.
Instead, solve a simple problem, in a simple way if possible. Clearly the solution may not actually be simple and a great deal of technical knowledge and skill may go in to solving the problem but it appears simple to the user.
Hoffman provided me with a lot of food for thought today, questions I need to ask about my own businesses and the solutions we provide. However, that one seemed so neat, so simple if you like, that it may change the way I present what we do for companies. It isn't necessary to show off how clever you are if the solution meets a simple need, simply.
Excellent post. These guides should be compulsory reading for anyone driving on our roads and in our National Parks. Not only foreign visitors but our local drivers as well!
Posted by: rac | July 19, 2010 at 11:49 PM
This a great post. There are certainly seasons of life. I currently have to work, though we think those days may be coming to a close, and are very prayerful in that direction. It can be so frustrating to be at work and think of all the things I want and need to do at home, but we don’t have children yet, so that is a blessing. My husbands work schedule constantly changes and it’s hard on us both to not have regular rutines. In addation to that we are living with friends, which makes nest and home keeping especially difficult. Right now I have to focus on not being too hard on myself or frustrated, and just roll with the punches. But this is SUCH a good reminder of the direction I want to move in. Thanks!
Posted by: Motoring Guides | July 19, 2010 at 11:48 PM
The man who has made up his mind to win will never say "impossible ".Do you think so?
Posted by: air jordans | July 18, 2010 at 08:12 AM