Thesis: to build a successful startup you need to approach mastery in no shortage of two disparate disciplines (for example Business Marketing and Computer Science, not Business Marketing and Product Management) or a combination of mastery of one discipline and one skill. Think of it this way – these individuals could lead the company in at least two core functions without a drop off in skill from if they hired a specialist for the specific function.

Example:

Mark Zuckerburg – Skill: Strategic Thinking, Recruiting; Discipline: Computer Science, Service Design (an emergent field)

… And be supremely lucky.

My favorite productivity tool of the moment is Dropbox. Dropbox is a simple tool that accomplishes two tasks; it backs up your computer data and affords automatic access across multiple PCs and your Phone of choice.

We need applications like Dropbox in a world where things go wrong. If you’re a Windows 7 user, Windows mercilessly reminds you to ‘set up backup’ in other words: create your contingency plan. Computers crash, files are deleted and coffee inevitably gets spilled on laptops; Dropbox and ‘data backup’ prepares you for this unforgiving world. However, PCs are just a tool that we use. They aren’t the only source of our accumulated knowledge and information.

Over a course of a day, we’re bombarded with information. Odds are if you’re reading this post- you have some other form of media going to at the same time be it music, radio or television. And I suspect that some portion of this information we consume in a given day has value; otherwise, why would we make it a part of our daily routine? 

It’s clear that only a minutia of our ‘knowledge’ resides on the PC. Yet I would venture few of us have a ‘back up’ for much of the data that resides within our brains. This is something we really need to change.

‘Backing Up’ Your Reading List

One simple step I’ve taken is to ‘backing up’ my reading list.

First, I’ve created both a simple goal to push myself to continuous learning “Read 12 Books a Year, One Book a Month”. With this goal as a guide, I drive myself towards bursts of reading at the end of each month as I push to complete my book cover to cover before months end.

Second, I write my notes on the book- every time. I prefer analogue, so I write my notes in a Moleskine Book Journal, though I may soon transfer my notes to GoodReads.com. These important steps allow me to reinterpret the key lessons from the book in my own words, the themes, the takeaways. It forces me to process the information presented in contrast to just absorbing it.

These notes also make handy cliff notes when quoting the book in email and small reports; forms of communication that are often too brief to warrant deep research.

This is just one simple idea. If you take inventory of your personal areas of growth, I’m sure you will find many clear opportunities to get more out of your accumulated knowledge. After all in this crazy world you need a contingency plan for the small possibility that …

You’ll forget.

-Mikal

Over the past year I’ve formed a core belief that any sustained success relies on the collaboration between people. The opportunities that have transformed my personal career have been the results of relationships that were cultivated when they could have more easily withered.

For example the instructor for a competitive intelligence course I took in 2007, later passed my information on to a reporter, which resulted in an article in Inc Magazine. Like other participants who took the course, I could’ve easily ended my relationship with the program and the instructor when the course ended. Perhaps I’d have gone a step further and become a ‘LinkedIn Connection’, checking in on his profile as a curiosity from time to time.

Instead, our relationship has bloomed into one of mutual respect, to the point that I came to mind when an opportunity presented itself. He was even abreast that I had recently left Microsoft to start my entrepreneurial adventure.

I tell this anecdote as an exemplar of the life lesson I take from it. If there is one skill I hope to possess and continuously refine, it would be my ability to Be Sticky.

To ‘Be Sticky’ you need not only an uncanny ability to attract the highest level collaborators and strongest thinkers to your network, but also contribute enough value to their lives that there is mutual interest in maintaining the connection. Finally, you have to nurture the relationship from their interests not your own. Read their blogs, their articles, pass along links that are on their topics of interest.

Find your own style that works, but no matter the cost “Be Sticky” reaching your full potential depends on it.

Related reading:

Think & Grow Rich – Section on Master Minding

Good in a Room – Section on Maintaining Relationships

I’ve seen the view from the top. I’ve seen the view from the bottom. The scariest view is when you have to face the mirror. Never compromise who you are.

Of course this requires that you know who you are.

-Mikal

I’ve talked a lot about goals and goal development. And it’s for good reasons. Goals are the centripetal force of my workday and in my personal view the lack thereof is one of the greatest challenges facing organizations.

I often ask managers and people I admire ‘what books have influenced your business perspective?’ one of the earliest answers to this question was Eliyahu M. Goldratt’s famous novel “The Goal”. In it Goldratt introduces the ‘Theory of Constraints’ and further he takes a noteworthy stance with regard to productivity:

“Alex, I have come to the conclusion that productivity is the act of bringing a company closer to its goal. Every action that brings a company closer to its goal is productive. Every action that does not bring a company closer to its goal is not productive.”

…

“But [that’s] too simplified” I tell him. “It doesn’t tell me anything. I mean, if I’m moving toward my goal I’m productive and if I’m not, then I’m not productive so what?”

“What I’m telling you is, productivity is meaningless unless you know what your goal is.” he says.

-         Chapter 4, The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt

More than 25 years after The Goal’s first publications most businesses are stuck in Chapter Four. Businesses frequently chase goals such as innovation, “efficiency”, and agility; which are tactics not goals. In fact, I find the most common business challenges are in fact disagreements over organizational goals that fester until they ultimately impact operations.

For example when Steven Sinofsky, President of Windows Division, Microsoft, took on the challenge of creating a new organizational culture he created comprehensive, arguably exhaustive, Pre-Planning and Planning Milestones within the product development cycle. These milestones align the organization towards a shared goal (ie. One Strategy). Specifically, these milestones are structured so that everyone who has an idea – has an opportunity for that idea to be heard, discussed and debated within the normal planning cycle. Therefore, when it’s time to execute the risk of subversion due to disagreement of goals is mitigated; everyone has had an earnest opportunity to be heard.

To me this organizational alignment and buy-in towards a common goal is the singular most important thing an organization can invest in.

Let’s take a look at those tactics once again: innovation, efficiency, and agility. These goals center on increasing product attractiveness (to eventually generate sales), lowering a business’ cost structure, and increasing responsiveness to customer demands as well as lowering a business’ cost structure. To execute these tactics businesses outsource, layoff, and higher ‘creative’ and brilliant talent to staff new initiatives or spinoff new organizations focused on ‘innovation’. But assume a business’ goal is to increase profit the universe of options far exceed these staple tactics of corporate raiders and flailing CEOs alike; where are the new age tactics aligned to this goal?

To answer this question requires exploration of yet another Chapter Four. To be continued.

Sometimes I find that to solve some of my most pressing challenges all I need is a blank piece of paper. Many of the times the ‘piece of paper’ is digital. My favorite editor is Word 2010 (and WhiteSmoke). Other times when I feel overwhelmed, and I literally don’t know where to begin- my ‘piece of paper’ is in the cloud 750Words.com provides a nice experience of blank paper solitude.

However, and still, I find nothing is quite as moving as a blank piece of paper staring at me and my favorite pen.

“I start to think and then I sink into the paper, like I was ink. When I’m writing I’m trapped in between the lines, I escape when I finish the rhyme”

– Rakim, I Know You Got Soul

What I find is the blank page becomes a commitment that I must fill until whatever challenges are in my head are out of it and solved on the page. The blank page is also liberating. There is no baggage associated with it other than what I write. I usually start with something simple. Sometimes I’ll write it down on the page:

What is the goal? What are the most important things right now?

I write out a few concepts. Anything on my mind, I just list it out. From there I’m usually able to escape the clutter in my head, and focus on something – anything – on the list in front of me. Solving one problem is progress.

Sometimes I find that the list I’ve compiled isn’t the challenge at all, it’s something else holding me back from my goals.

Then with my pen I dive in.

Diagramming, outlining, jotting – or doodling.

The liberty of the blank piece of paper is the freedom to imagine a future state- and to bring it to conception from the thoughts and experiences you’ve had.

Begin with a Blank Page

Where do you want you want to be, or want your business to be? Is it time for you to take out a blank page and dream of a solution?

I recommend Moleskine.

Recall the last time you went for an important promotion. I mean a big promotion; something you really wanted. Do you recall? Now think back on what it felt like, what soiree you missed out on, what priorities you shifted in search of that one accomplishment which was to—in some way – change- your- life.

It’s important to remember that moment. Because as a startup founder, startup employee, or as a passionate person with an idea: that moment is now.

Over the coming months, you are going for the biggest promotion of your life.

Let that sink in.

You are going for a promotion that, if successful will fundamentally alter all personal events that come after. Succeed, and you will author the greatest plot twist your life has experienced. 

If now is not a good time to go for a promotion; don’t. The sacrifice required is not for everyone and is certainly not for every period of time. And don’t just ask yourself “is now a good time”. This is a question every member of your team needs to have an answer for: 

“Are you excited to earn the biggest promotion of your life?”

If their commitment to the revolution, the team, and what this course of events means to them is not sufficient- let them pursue challenges that do spark their passion. Success is personal.

A note about teams: Team success, means we’re all passionately invested in a shared goal and what accomplishing that shared goal means to each of us personally. Be it, financial or self actualization.

Every hero, every person, every business, or startup whose success you hope to emulate has already paid their dues. They’ve lived through the pain, uncertainty sacrifice, worked deep into the night. They’ve earned the biggest promotion of their lives- it’s time for you and your entire team to earn your own.

There are no magicians that will come and rescue you. There is no cure for the time, financial, and personal pressures you will face.

There is no cavalry and the instruction manual on how to succeed is lost in the mail.

Alas,

You have your passion;

Your burning desire to succeed.

And a team of talented people who are ready to sacrifice and pour their hearts into the cause.

What more do you need?

Let’s all go and earn the biggest promotion of our lives.

- Mikal

Welcome to Carter G. Startups, a community digest for African American and minority technology entrepreneurs and startups. Every movement starts somewhere. Join the movement by subscribing to the Carter G. Startup community and discussion list here: http://bit.ly/cartergstartups