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Three word wisdom

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You know how I feel about mantras, right? They’re indispensable and beat the heck out of mission statements. Along the same lines, Dharmesh Shah has compiled three-word snippets of advice for startups. Here are some of my favorites:

  • Watch your cash
  • Avoid business plans
  • Delay raising capital

Then people left comments with great ones too—for example, “Sell every day.” I’ll add my own:

  • Sales fixes everything
  • Craft a mantra
  • Skip mission statements
  • Don’t hire relatives
  • Always under promise
  • Use a Macintosh
  • Eat only noodles
  • Fly Southwest Airlines
  • Ship then test
  • Do not partner
  • Ten Twenty Thirty

But my best is “Read my book.”

More tips for startups—albeit longer.

Photo credit: Fotolia


Comments (94)

Jan 08, 2010
straightalk said...
Work - Eat - Play
Jan 08, 2010
straightalk said...
give provide consult
Jan 08, 2010
straightalk said...
I love games
Jan 08, 2010
straightalk said...
Guy Kawasaki tcool!
Jan 08, 2010
straightalk said...
kiss and forgive
Jan 09, 2010
Charly said...
Great list but are the following really "startups advices"

Use a Macintosh (why?)
Eat only noodles (why?)
Fly Southwest Airlines (why?)

Jan 09, 2010
Guy Kawasaki said...
Charly,

If you have to ask...

:-)

Guy

Jan 09, 2010
doughe said...
Charly, here's why:
Use a Macintosh - intuitive
Eat only noodles - save $ and time so i can get bacl to work faster
Fly Southwest Airlines - no-fuss travel
Jan 09, 2010
Charly said...
@Guy , yup I had to... :-) !
@doughe ok, it's clear now, but keep in mind a mac is expensive (vs WIndows), thanks for the great advices.
Jan 09, 2010
mkrish said...
the self realisation
Jan 09, 2010
mkrish said...
eat,play,sleep
Jan 09, 2010
mkrish said...
laugh,cry,silent search in urself,u get more,c u!
Jan 09, 2010
Watching cash said...
Use a Macintosh? Nice way to triple your tech bill from the start. Hipster advice, not startup advice.
Jan 09, 2010
Shaun Dakin said...
Don't Buy Businesscards
Jan 09, 2010
Shaun Dakin said...
Ease Of Use
Jan 09, 2010
dennykmiu said...
My own contribution to this amazing list is "Avoid Negative People". When we do startups, we don’t just leverage. We levitate. We “will” our startups into existence. And we do so by defying all laws of physics and by tapping into the positive energy of our surrounding. We create opportunities; we don’t destroy. Be careful with whom you hang out with. Unfortunately, my own experience is to stay away from other failed entrepreneurs (who tend to be negative until they bounce back). And in particular stay away from people who hold a grudge on you or whom you have a grudge with. Don’t get mad; don’t even try to get even. With success, you can get them all. Misery breeds misery and success breeds success.

http://www.startupforless.org

Jan 09, 2010
dhiren9 said...
Do not partner (why?)
Jan 09, 2010
mikerogers2010 said...
Focus, Focus, Focus.
Jan 09, 2010
chrispomeroy said...
use opensource software
Jan 09, 2010
SecretDiary said...
What is within you is love. Forgive your moanalisa customers and lazy and frustrating business partners for they know not what they do. Yours is the kingdom of success and more opprtunities.
Jan 09, 2010
margaret egan said...
sit breathe think
Jan 09, 2010
Meenoy Kemball said...
love your work
Jan 09, 2010
Parvez Ahmed said...
Manage water better
Jan 09, 2010
Lost in AZ said...
Listen, simplify, solve.
Jan 09, 2010
daniela fraser said...
twitter good content
follow guy kawasaki
always stay positive
smile, it helps
Jan 09, 2010
Praise the Lord!
Jan 09, 2010
Trust in God!
Jan 09, 2010
Travis Tasset said...
Wait for Nothing!
Jan 09, 2010
geekbabel said...
Don't be evil
Pay it forward
Think before speaking
Jan 09, 2010
Henrik de Gyor said...
use, reuse, repurpose
Jan 09, 2010
Jane said...
Never give up!
Jan 09, 2010
flysumd34 said...
Think positive, work hard, watch your cash and don't buy the stuff that you don't really need it spend wisely. That's my opinion
Jan 09, 2010
Levon said...
learn, learn, learn (Lenin, seriously)
Jan 09, 2010
Mitch said...
Never give up
Jan 09, 2010
Alyson Kelly said...
Always have cats.
Jan 09, 2010
naosan_i said...
Yes I can!
Jan 09, 2010
rc williams said...
Doing it wrong!
Jan 09, 2010
9swords said...
Believe in yourself.
Jan 09, 2010
SEO_Ezlat said...
Listen to your customer
Jan 09, 2010
o0splitpaw0o said...
Everyone in the end is out for themselves when things go ari. Best you keep a backup plan.
Jan 10, 2010
jayrad_in said...
"Mistrust the Obvious"
"Keep Yourself Thin"
"Don't Throw Equity"
"Keep Shareholders Happy"
"Start Speaking Numbers"
Jan 10, 2010
Buy Guys Books
Read Guys Blog

(and no I wasn't paid to say that) ;-)

Jan 10, 2010
MomRN said...
Always trust God
Jan 10, 2010
MaSa said...
Get A Mac
Jan 10, 2010
Janes Oosthuizen said...
Shut-up and Listen
Jan 10, 2010
Michael Field said...
Trust your gut!
Jan 10, 2010
MaSa said...
My Three Words.

Money isn't everything.

Think Green Guys!

Happy New Year.

Make Love Now.

Jan 10, 2010
angrywarthog said...
Go Open Source
Drink, Fight, Womanize
Seize the Day
Location, Location, Location
Jan 10, 2010
Oliver said...
Master valuable skills.
Jan 10, 2010
Beth said...
Don't Watch "Armageddon"
Jan 10, 2010
Ash Chuan said...
Start exercising now
Jan 10, 2010
Andrew said...
Eat a lot
Jan 10, 2010
its_pi said...
Fill a gap
Jan 10, 2010
Fleur Brown said...
Love your work
Jan 10, 2010
elisa said...
Lead one another
Jan 10, 2010
Renee said...
Live for Jesus
Jan 10, 2010
Azhar ali Sayed said...
70% and GO
Jan 10, 2010
Azhar ali Sayed said...
Connect the DOTS
Jan 10, 2010
katomur said...
Always Be Becoming (to oneself and evolving- ABB)
Jan 10, 2010
arokia Raj said...
Never say die
sales initiative hardwork
build your destiny
Jan 10, 2010
practice, practice, practice
Jan 10, 2010
Andy Hepburn said...
love begets effort
Jan 10, 2010
bussgang said...
Well said, Guy.

How about: "Trust Your VC??" :-)

Jan 10, 2010
sam giberson said...
stop making excuses
Jan 10, 2010
marthabob2u said...
Think then Act
Jan 10, 2010
malte said...
get it done
Jan 10, 2010
michaeldcarney said...
"Use A Macintosh" This is the best advice - as far as cost - I did one install 3 years ago and while we used a new iMac for the multi-media user the owner picked up a used intel Mac mini for $300 - and is still using it today. how is $100 a year expensive? He spent 10x that on PCs before I got him to switch.
Jan 10, 2010
dhiren9 said...
Hey Guy,

Why do you say "do not partner"? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!

Jan 10, 2010
josephrcerami said...
Ends Ways Means
Jan 10, 2010
CF_Remspecher said...
You are hOMe.
Jan 10, 2010
mwritter said...
Ready... Fire! Aim...
Sun's motto.
Jan 11, 2010
Andrew Playford said...
How about: "Don't Do it!" :)
Jan 11, 2010
Some Person said...
"Ship then test" WTF?!? are you for real - this is why the software industry has such bad problems. Do you see bridge designers saying ship then test?
Jan 11, 2010
Donovan Wadholm said...
Avoid Triplet Advice
Jan 19, 2010
lolz@Donovan
Jan 19, 2010
Build The Team
Jan 22, 2010
Kaladhar Bapu said...
Make It Usable
Jan 22, 2010
Auroh said...
Make it useful
Jan 24, 2010
passion above all
very understanding spouse
make it scalable
users to participants
crave variety always
invest in people
get things done

http://www.twitter.com/beltranchris

Jan 26, 2010
amthees said...
Cut costs! (In 2 words to make the point...)
Jan 26, 2010
RR said...
"Eat only noodles - save $ and time so i can get bacl to work faster"
-- do balance your diet and eat healthy!! dumb to screw up your health for a stupid startup
Jan 26, 2010
LisaAdamsWalter said...
Three Words for Start-Ups: Love Your Industry * Always Be Ethical * For The Win * Celebrate With #Wine
Jan 26, 2010
Joe Nguyen said...
Always Stay Hungry
Jan 26, 2010
me said...
Make love, notwar.
Jan 27, 2010
Bruce Kenny said...
innovate, iterate, innovate
Jan 27, 2010
Joy Randels said...
Know No Limits!
Jan 30, 2010
RR said...
"Hack Away Unessentials" Bruce Lee, William of Ockham, etc
Jan 30, 2010
kl said...
cover your ass
hide the cash
have escape plan
Jan 31, 2010
genm2 said...
Guy, I have trouble wrapping my head around "ship then test". It's been a mental hurdle for me ever since I was the Business Readiness Specialist at a large cell phone company here in Canada. My job was to test EVERYTHING to death so that when the client got their hands on it it worked flawlessly. Now that I have built several apps I can understand the concept but maybe you can give me that kick in the @ss that I need to totally let go of the 'old way' and just ship now & fix later if needed. Thnx, from a fellow hockey fanatic in Montreal!
Feb 10, 2010
thinkBIG_blog said...
Believe in yourself.

Never underestimate branding.

Design adds value.

Focus your imagination.

Don't ask permission.

Feb 18, 2010
shubangi said...
Get things done!.. Liking the startuptriplets!
Mar 09, 2010
Dan King said...
I was going to submit "Never give up" but a couple of people beat me to it. So how about "Just do it". Gee, where have I heard that before;)
Apr 22, 2010
Joseph Chiu said...
Customers buy solutions.
Jul 11, 2010
Pat said...
Do it yourself
Just in time!
Write it down
Get government help
Grants are better
Love your wife
Love your kids

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