1. Don’t wait for a revolutionary idea. It will never happen. Just focus on a simple, exciting, empty space and execute as fast as possible.
2. Share your idea. The more you share, the more you get advice and the more you learn. Meet and talk to your competitors.
3. Build a community. Use blogging and social software to make sure people hear about you.
4. Listen to your community. Answer questions and build your product with their feedback.
5. Gather a great team. Select those with very different skills from you. Look for people who are better than you.
6. Be the first to recognize a problem. Everyone makes mistakes. Address the issue in public, learn about and correct it.
7. Don’t spend time on market research.Launch test versions as early as possible. Keep improving the product in the open.
8. Don’t obsess over spreadsheet business plans.They are not going to turn out as you predict, in any case.
9. Don’t plan a big marketing effort.It’s much more important and powerful that your community loves the product.
10. Don’t focus on getting rich. Focus on your users. Money is a consequence of success, not a goal.

There’s only one point that I don’t really agree on (point 7 – Don’t spend time on market research). I don’t know about you but even if you have a niche, you still need to properly analyse it. If I focus “ant eating lovers who have 5 kids and have dyed pink hair”, then that’s a really small market and whatever I do, I won’t make any money. Reaching these people alone will be pretty hard so keeping them as loyal customer is probably next to impossible.

So what do you think about this list? Which point do you think is the most important? I found from my current startup that #5 is really important. Without a great team, you won’t go very far…!

I had the chance to meet Alain Theriault from Startup coach during a lunch last week and I was pretty curious about what he was doing. He already put some videos online about what’s coaching but I wanted to know how he could help me. I was half skeptical, half believer and our discussion was very interesting.

I’m at a point where I think I need some guidance. I started my project as a hobby: working on it whenever I wanted, whenever I had some free time. But now, I’m at the point where I must do something: full speed or retreat. To retreat is not an option (duh!) so full speed ahead I must go. However, how can I make sure I keep the right course? A mentor? A coach? It’s easy: both!

In simple words, mentors will help you. They will pull you up to their level and let you inside their networks in order for you to succeed.  However, this road might be bumpy for multiple reasons such as procrastination. Even if you get help, it doesn’t mean you will succeed..! In easy words, mentors can’t do anything if you’re a “lazy ass”. Think of them as teachers. They teach you but if you don’t do your homework, you’re out of luck.

So this is where the coach comes in. A coach is more like your mom. If you don’t do your homeworks, you better have a very good reason. The coach won’t pull your hand, he will push you out of your comfort zone to help you get things done. Like Alain said, a coach is often a professional “butt kicker” and the more you pay, the harder the kick. Coaches will ensure you get things done by constantly following up with you. And you better have a good reason for not doing what you said you would do! :)

So I encourage you to take a look at Alain’s work. Coaching might not be for you but it’s sure interesting and affordable for most (even junior) entrepreneurs.