The startup of today is a highly evolved animal where disruption is often the name of the game. This is because as part of that evolution, startups have developed methodologies that include the minimal viable product, business model canvases, timeboxing and pivots.
Take the heading as question one and the next phrase as questions two and three, how often are you asked to donate and how do you respond to it?
There has never been a more critical time for South Africans to collaborate. Over the past few weeks, we’ve chosen to march, we’ve taken to social media, we’ve chosen not to march, we’re angry, we’re talked about endings and beginnings and we’ve witnessed collaboration. We’ve seen political opponents take to the streets as one in their tens of thousands, but what now?
While channel hopping a couple of days ago, I caught a British diplomat referring to South Africa as the miracle nation. At the time the comment aggravated me to such an extent that I flipped right past and failed to get her name. But Mrs British Politician, on which damn planet are you living? The only miracle here is that a corrupt and damaging government has not been overthrown by angry citizens.
We’ve all lived in a world where content has ruled for many years, but this is no longer the case. According to Bharat Anard, author of the Content Trap, the companies demonstrating the highest levels of success today, are not those who have the best content but those who understand how their content drives connection.
Each year, more than 270 000 pedestrians lose their lives on the world’s roads. The government reports that in the Western Cape pedestrian deaths increase by 22% over the festive season.
Sunday, February 26 dawned, and no surprise for us South Africans. The Sunday Times headlines exposed yet another corruption debacle at a state-owned enterprise. Collins Letsoalo, acting CEO negotiated, demanded and pressurised officials at PRASA (Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa) to pay him a salary the previous disgraced CEO earned – a cool R3,5 million a year. An increase of 350%! Oh yes, and just in case that was not enough – throw in a personal chauffeur for him as well.
In 2014, The Wall Street Journal estimated that the cost of cyber-crime in the U.S. was approximately $100 billion. In 2015, the British insurance company Lloyd’s estimated that cyber-attacks cost businesses as much as $400 billion a year.
Beaten down and broken? Come back fighting. Entrepreneur, the gurus are right – plan, prepare for success, do the hard work, and take on the problems, including underestimated budgets and the multitude of little and huge failures. It’s never an easy path, but to achieve anything worthwhile never is.
My business partner uses the following phrase ad nauseam, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” It sometimes sounds like a pretty dumb phrase, but it’s actually true. Collaboration is about ‘what you don’t know and what others do know’ and how knowledge is pooled to make stuff better. And as you collaborate, not only will knowledge around the project grow exponentially, but so will your luck. Ours certainly has.
Image: Cangro