CDOQ

We have lost the fragrance in roses. Scent did not scale.  Quantity over quality (image credit: Google Gemini)

Business, at its core, is the continuous act of solving a multitude of problems to turn a dollar of investment into more than a dollar of return. I see three types of problems in business: Light Switch problems, Thermostat problems, and Hammer & Stone problems. Let’s look at a hypothetical tech company—let’s call it Y (we’ll avoid using X, for obvious reasons 😄)—where hundreds of people tackle different problems every day. What's your problem? (Image credit: Google Gemini) 1. Light Switch Problems These are problems where the progress is known, visible, and quick—like flipping a switch and watching the light come on. Imagine one of Y’s customers complains about being overcharged. A customer support rep verifies the issue and refunds the customer. Problem solved. But it doesn’t stop there: the rep files a bug report. A product manager reads it, identifies the issue, and creates a ticket for engineering. An engineer fixes the bug and releases the patch. Problem solved again. Som...

All failed startups resemble each other, but each successful startup is successful in its own way. Venture Capitalists preach otherwise.