I used to get mad when people copied my ideas without credit. (OK, it still rankles me.) Now I see it as the wind spreading ripples across a lake… …which is a way of defining a legacy. Maybe a better way. longform.asmartbear.com/legacy/?utm_so…

I like how 1/2 of these both in the original and in the comments is a variation of: No marketing. Yup.

We had a saying at IT WatchDogs, my previous startup: Everyone is either making stuff or getting rid of it. (like sales and shipping our hardware product). An early startup has no time for anything else, and scaling companies need to be reminded not to add cruft.

"Data can only tell you about the past, not the future." —@rogerlmartin If the future will be a lot like the past, then data is useful for predictions. If not, data is not only not useful, it will point in the wrong direction. longform.asmartbear.com/predict-the-fu…

This is your periodic reminder to JFYI.

Which of your ideas deserve repetition? What will you do with your influence? What lessons do you wish humanity would heed? What should your legacy be? longform.asmartbear.com/legacy/?utm_so…

People say the end of the year is a terrible time to raise money or sell a company, because “everyone’s only thinking about the holidays” and “monied people are off skiing in Aspen.” Except, my previous company Smart Bear was sold on Dec 20, 2007. And we completed our Series C

You know you're a real company when you start accepting PO's in addition to credit cards. And yes, you actually have to ship the product before getting paid. Sucks to be real. (Not really) longform.asmartbear.com/real-company/?…

It’s well known that recession is a fine time to start a company. One reason is that customer budgets are tight, so if they buy your product 𝘯𝘰𝘸, they must 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 have a need, and really want your solution. That’s the real reason the company will be successful.

To be human is to defy our uncaring universe by caring deeply anyway—about our loved ones, our creations, and our legacy. What is a legacy? longform.asmartbear.com/legacy/?utm_so…

The CEO position is lonely because everyone who really understands the company are reports, and nearly everyone else can't relate. And because your most difficult problems or worries must not become public knowledge. Coaches and peer groups can take the edge off.

Steven Levitt of Freakonomics fame found that even 'great' companies from famous books often underperform. A twist of fate or flawed advice? Is it just Survivor Bias? If so, what to do about it? longform.asmartbear.com/survivor-bias/…

The more features you add, the more customers might decide your tool does "everything I need." And also the more cluttered and confusing it gets. You might need to decide which end of the spectrum is best for your product, market, and personal proclivity.

Maybe the meaning of life is to seek the meaning of life. Maybe it’s: To discover who we are, to be driven by what we were meant to do, to create beloved and useful things, and to love and help others. longform.asmartbear.com/legacy/?utm_so…