Comments on: Wrong Again, This Time on Pmarca http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html Tim Berry on business planning, starting and growing your business, and having a life in the meantime Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:26:20 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Stephen Paul Weber http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html/comment-page-1#comment-173 Stephen Paul Weber Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:12:52 +0000 http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html#comment-173 <p>I think Andreseen's post clearly shows that planning is important, but that WHAT you plan is not ultimately important, rather what is important is that you be ready to change the plan.</p> <p>You seem to mostly agree ;)</p> I think Andreseen's post clearly shows that planning is important, but that WHAT you plan is not ultimately important, rather what is important is that you be ready to change the plan.

You seem to mostly agree ;)

]]> By: David Scott Lewis http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html/comment-page-1#comment-172 David Scott Lewis Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:58:03 +0000 http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html#comment-172 <p>Twitter has a plan, but it's only 160 characters!!</p> <p>Actually, Twitter should start preparing a "Going Out of Business Plan."</p> Twitter has a plan, but it's only 160 characters!!

Actually, Twitter should start preparing a "Going Out of Business Plan."

]]> By: Stefan Töpfer http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html/comment-page-1#comment-171 Stefan Töpfer Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:28:52 +0000 http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html#comment-171 <p>Hi Tim,</p> <p>I agree with Marc on this, maybe you want to think about a 300% turnover increase in a month, that is the reality we dealt with in the late 90's as ISPs. </p> <p>Having a plan is good, wasting too much time on it bad and expecting it all to be different is good. So even in your own post you agree that "Plans are worthless", at least to a degree.</p> <p>ST</p> Hi Tim,

I agree with Marc on this, maybe you want to think about a 300% turnover increase in a month, that is the reality we dealt with in the late 90's as ISPs.

Having a plan is good, wasting too much time on it bad and expecting it all to be different is good. So even in your own post you agree that "Plans are worthless", at least to a degree.

ST

]]> By: Eddie http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html/comment-page-1#comment-170 Eddie Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:21:22 +0000 http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html#comment-170 <p>I think Marc could have said something about the importance of being directionally correct. Are you aiming your target in a space that is going to likely grow over time or are you just randomly shooting? Lucky accidents do happen once in a blue moon but I bet that any businesses with long term success are those who have people behind them with vision (I would argue that Steve Jobs all along has been a visionary even though people especially in Silicon Valley -- a very incestuous place oft full of jealousy and bickering -- were writing off Jobs after he started NeXT. But if it weren't for NeXT then Apple would have be where it is at today. </p> I think Marc could have said something about the importance of being directionally correct. Are you aiming your target in a space that is going to likely grow over time or are you just randomly shooting? Lucky accidents do happen once in a blue moon but I bet that any businesses with long term success are those who have people behind them with vision (I would argue that Steve Jobs all along has been a visionary even though people especially in Silicon Valley — a very incestuous place oft full of jealousy and bickering — were writing off Jobs after he started NeXT. But if it weren't for NeXT then Apple would have be where it is at today.

]]> By: Edwin Khodabakchian http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html/comment-page-1#comment-169 Edwin Khodabakchian Wed, 01 Aug 2007 07:35:06 +0000 http://timberry.bplans.com/2007/07/wrong-again-thi.html#comment-169 <p>Hi Tim,</p> <p>This might depend on the stage the startup has reached. In the very early days, the key if to reach product/market fit: most of the time (if not all the time), the initial idea and entrepreneur has and what ends up getting customer traction are not the same. To reach the product/market fit, you need to listen, experiment, iterate very fast. Progress is not necessarily linear. There is value in keeping the planning to the minimum: design, prototype, pitch, iterate. Over planning and tracking gives you the false sense that you are in motion and help you accelerate...just to realize you are not sure what direction you are heading and if you are getting closer to the goal.</p> <p>Once you reach the product/market fit, planning becomes key because at that point it is all about scaling, execution and coordination among a much larger group of people.</p> <p>Edwin </p> Hi Tim,

This might depend on the stage the startup has reached. In the very early days, the key if to reach product/market fit: most of the time (if not all the time), the initial idea and entrepreneur has and what ends up getting customer traction are not the same. To reach the product/market fit, you need to listen, experiment, iterate very fast. Progress is not necessarily linear. There is value in keeping the planning to the minimum: design, prototype, pitch, iterate. Over planning and tracking gives you the false sense that you are in motion and help you accelerate…just to realize you are not sure what direction you are heading and if you are getting closer to the goal.

Once you reach the product/market fit, planning becomes key because at that point it is all about scaling, execution and coordination among a much larger group of people.

Edwin

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