“Just saw Social Network and learned 2 valuable business rules: No drunk blogging and never do coke with an intern … they may not be 21 LOL.” - Kanye West
The Social Network, top 3 movie of the year. Next to an exciting story about the internet – yes – and an Oscar worthy performance by Jesse Eisenberg is what I loved most; I never learned so much from a 2 hour flick. What I’ve learned, in total random order of importance:
- When you launch a new product make sure it got the ‘ity’ factor. Expectity (it promises to be very good and helpful), exclusivity (it’s not for everyone) or celebrity (it will make you look glamorous).
- Often it’s more important to be nice than to be right.
- But being nice is not always the way to get what you want. Hard work often is.
- Networking is important when your product is good. When it’s not it can only give it that little push, but not that important kick-start.
- Being in business with friends can be a bad idea for all types of reasons. Examples: money, trust issues, making agreements, emotions and expectations.
- A start-up needs different kind of people for different kind of jobs. Next to programming the products need to be defended, financed, marketed and sold. That’s not a one mans job.
- Windows is a sexy operating system. There’s romance in typing script on a worn out Sony Vaio.
- Girls love nerds. Entrepreneurs have groupies. Girls do not love assholes.
