A Valuable Resource for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

In the past few semesters I have utilized many different books on entrepreneurship, and have realized that few books on this topic are suited for course use. The Startup Playbook: Secrets of the Fastest-Growing Startups from Their Founding Entrepreneurs by David Kidder has turned out to be an extremely valuable resource for my Fall 2016 Ideas into Action course.

Kidder is a serial entrepreneur who has assembled a collection of 40 interviews with our era's most influential startup players. From PayPal and LinkedIn, to AOL and TED, Kidder breaks down the secrets to startup success in simple and actionable terms. My students benefited from the book’s practical advice and inspirational takeaways in each interview. Kidder hits on common issues like how to persevere through criticism, and how to define and execute a personal vision, which is often times the hardest part for my students (and young entrepreneurs alike). The book’s clear language and approachable structure can be easily navigated for course use. I highly recommend this book.

List of Ithaca Startups: 2016 Edition

Here is my 2016 list of startups based in/near Ithaca, NY:

ActionXLAdispell
Aerofarms
Agave BioSystems
AIBC
The American Knitting Co.
Avital Apiaries
Backwoods TechgearBa-Li Cravings
Bio Nexus
Biophyzicacheribundi
Collegetown Cab
Collegiate Sun / The Hardy North
Comet Action Sports
ComposerHQ
Copper House Coffee
daapr
DataDesk
DataPoint Labs
e2e MaterialsEcolectro
Emmy's OrganicsFarmigo
FearWalk
Fiberspark
Firelight Camps
FlicstartGeri-Safe Grainful
GiveGab
Gene Network Sciences
GlycobiaGrokstyle
hovvaXHybrid Silica Technologiesillume ProjectsInternational Climbing Machines
iFyberIMM
Incandescent Software
Ithaca Builds
Ithaca Hummus
Ithaca Voice
KettleShellKingsley Quality WoodworkingKreyol Essence
LionanoMaidbot
Mezmeriz
MicroGenMiel Beauty BarMiTeGen
MouseCare
Motion Intelligence
North Sea Resins
Nova Speech
Novasterilis
Novomer
OnSet
Ontology2
Optigen
Pick2Pay
The Piggery
PiXL
PocketSights
Primet
Redneck Gangsta
Rosie
Red Tail Hawk
ReMarkable Paint
Rheonix
Sanmita
Seraph Robotics
Ship IndexShrub BucketSinglebrook
Snabb
StopPack
Sound ReadingSouth Hill Cider
Spea.reSpecdrumsSpider Holster
Standard Hydrogen
STREAM Collaborative
Super Pulse
Sustainable Viticulture Systems
Swidjit
Synergy Marketing Solutions
Tech S2
Terrenew
TetrageneticsThe Chaat Co.The Frame ShopThinkPlay
Think Topography
transfolios
Tunetap
UR Path
Ursa Space Systems
vitamMe
Vybion
WavElectric
Weaver Wind Energy
Wicked Device
Widetronix
Worthy Jerky
Yorango
Zymtronixcs

Notable departures from the list: Congratulations to Advion on their acquisition by Bohui Innovation Technology, and congratulations to BinOptics on their acquisition by M/A-Com Technology Solutions!

Being the CEO of your Own Career

I was recently asked to be the guest speaker for the 2016 induction ceremony for Beta Gamma Sigma at Ithaca College. The talk I gave was entitled "Being the CEO of your Own Career". The key point is that you should view your career as if you are the CEO of a corporation, and these are some traits of entrepreneurial CEO's. Here are the key points from that talk:

1. Entrepreneurs Focus on Results
2. Reputation is Tough to build, Easy to ruin
3. Entrepreneurs don’t do the “bare minimum”
4. Entrepreneurs Ask for things
5. It’s not all about the money

We are all Startup CEO's
1. Entrepreneurs Focus on Results

A start CEO's title really stands for "Chief Everything Else Officer" because they are the person who has to get it done if noone else has done it. By focusing on results, not actions, you'll see your work from a customer's standpoint: a job that is 90% done is "not done". Your boss and employer is your customer, so they will view the work you do the same way.

2. Reputation is Tough to build, Easy to ruin

In business, your reputation is key. The best opportunities come from people who know your reputation, and opportunities are missed that you never knew about because of your reputation, so protect it. An entrepreneur friend of mine is fond of saying "Treat every decision as the decision that may define you, because it might".

3. Entrepreneurs don’t do the “bare minimum”

I see this a lot from students who want to figure out what the smallest amount they can possibly do to get a grade. Entrepreneurs don't do that. They want to over deliver and delight their customers. They go places and do things that they think will help their business, even when there is not a direct correlation to a business result.

4. Entrepreneurs Ask for things

Don't wait to be given a promotion, a raise, or more responsibility. Ask for it. Entrepreneurs aren't given a sale, the ask for the sale.

5. It’s not all about the money

Figure out what makes you happy, and rarely is it $. Few entrepreneurs I meet are in it for the money. They're in it for the lifestyle, and it's because it's a lifestyle that they define.