An Outdated Investment Model
For a number of reasons, I believe that the model used by many venture capital firms is in dire need of a retread. While the model has shown to be profitable in the past, this appears to be more a lucky, accidental result of circumstances rather than through proactive application of sound business principles. These thoughts here are based on my somewhat limited exposure to working with venture capital firms, certainly talking to others and following the news, but also sitting down with a couple of VC’s and walking through this. Read more
Don't Spend, Invest
There is no shortage of indicators that we are in for in for a rough stretch ahead. While there are some that are still debating whether to call what we are going through a recession or a depression, it is clear to everyone that this is no time for frivolous spending. I would argue that we should always be aware of where we spend our money, and always spend with an understanding of the return we expect. Read more
When the Going Gets Tough
In many sectors, 2008 has been a tough year. There are very few people that expect that 2009 will be much better, and most indications are that the foreseeable future will be at least as challenging, if not worse. How people and organizations deal with these difficult times is a strong indicator of how well off they will be as the situation improves – or whether they are still around at all. Read more
Are We a Software Company?
Particularly for small, startup organizations, it is important to come to grips with who you really are. From my perspective, too many startups see themselves as software companies, or end up accidentally becoming software companies, and this can get them into serious trouble. Read more
Planning Cycles, Thinking Rhythms
I was running a training session with about a dozen executives a couple of months back. These were all people from relatively small companies, so even though by title and role they may face strategic issues most of the day, they still have at least one foot firmly planted in day-to-day issues, and many of them remain more comfortable in a technical environment than a boardroom. Read more
Unintentionally Non-profit
I have been recently exploring different ways of contributing to the community where I live, and there have been a couple of times where I have had discussions with people involved in non-profit organizations. Read more
Why I Write
People are often surprised when I explain that I put out a weekly (once a week, if not always on Sunday) newsletter, and have done so for almost 5 years now. It is admittedly a difficult effort to sustain at times, and there are times when I wonder if there remains value in continuing. Read more
Zero-Sum Lunacy
It has been fashionable for quite a while in business circles to study competitive philosophy. Whether from the ancients such as Sun-Tsu’s The Art of War (I know my wife and I each had a copy before we met each other), Machiavelli’s The Prince, any of the hundreds of variations of these that are available, or some other source of military doctrine. There are all sorts of interpretations and translations to choose from, and I expect the niche will remain healthy in the future. Read more
Decisions Not Made
When you get right down to it, we spend a lot of time every day making decisions. From the clear decisions of how we are going to spend our time, whether we are going to do this or that, to decisions that are not as consciously performed, like how we’ll make that first coffee in the morning or choosing our route home in the evening. Read more
Labour Shortage, or Underfostered Talent?
In what seems to be a vicious cycle, the local tech community is currently expressing a dramatic need for more talent. There is a huge number of job postings that remain unfilled, and upswing in placement activity for the local recruiting community. At a personal level, far more people are asking me if I know someone that can fill a role, rather than asking if I know anyone that might need their services. Read more
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