I was sent the Art of the Start, by Guy Kawasaki from Grarage ventures. I was told that it was an inspiring easy read that got you all reved up to go and do great things. Yep, I was up for that.
Check it out at www.garage.com
Guy had some very inspirational things to say, he doesn't think that mission statements are worth the paper they are written on, it's Mantra's for Guy baby!
The really key thing here is vision and focus - a mantra in Guy's words is really about saying what it is you do - a say what it is on the tin approach. And I believe it works. Mission statements are for big companies and for big shareholders. He also thinks that anything that slows you down in a business or takes you away from the core objective - selling stuff - developing product - is a waste of time, energy and scarce resourses. It's not rocket science and its not even new - it's just reminding new businesses (and old alike) about priorities.
He also said some poininat things that I'm going to have a go at:
A CEO can never have a bad day: are we talking bad hair, hangover, food poisioning - Guy we are human too - the secret is to have as few as possible - I'll keep trying!
No one ever achieved success by planning for gold: I believe that plans are key to success, its a fine line between plan and action. A common thing I ask myself is - do I have the 'whatever it takes appraoch' that the true way for success. Another key for me is asking myself, out of 10 to score my vision, action, and passion, as those are the real drivers for success - getting an even balance and running them home.
It's not how great you start its how great you end up: Oh how true. My Dad have a variation on this theme - he always used to say of falling from a building a plane, a moving car, it's not the 2o stories that kill you - it's the last six inches - the same alas is true in business - save some energy for the sprint!
Don't wait to develop the perfect product or service, good enough is good enough: Just don't admit this to the first customer - product development cycles will never be the same again.
So mission statements v's Mantra's, well if Guy had cut to the chase, he would in synopsis, have had just had one thing to say - Nike's mantra 'Just do it'
Posted by Tracey Shirtcliff at September 6, 2004 09:06 AM