Imperfections, Special Forces, and Entrepreneurship by E.M. Burlingame It is often subtle differences, slight incongruities, which are the real strength of the individual, making possible extraordinary contributions. And the success of any difficult venture is far more often than not, realized through the collective efforts of a group of individuals, each with their own … [Read more...]
Why Putting Others First Ensures Your Own Success | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship
Why Putting Others First Ensures Your Own Success | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship by E.M. Burlingame Stop taking credit for what you’ve not done. More critically, stop taking credit for what you didn’t think of or didn’t think through in detail. It’s far too easy to take credit for someone else’s contributions. Truth is, if it wasn’t developed in your mind, it … [Read more...]
Special Forces, Entrepreneurship: Fear of Failure
Special Forces, Entrepreneurship: Fear of Failure by E.M. Burlingame There is an old Japanese proverb, which goes, “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” When I first read this as a boy studying Isshin-ryū karate, it was one of those simple yet profound statements struck me as true. And in the many years between now and then, having fallen down far more than seven … [Read more...]
Unconventional Warfare, Venture Capital Style
Unconventional Warfare, Venture Capital Style by E.M. Burlingame The single greatest threat to American interests in all those places around the globe where we put ourselves in harm’s way is the extensive pool of recruits available to the enemy. And why are so many willing to give their loyalties and to sacrifice their lives on behalf of the enemy? Because these … [Read more...]
Stop, Shut Up and Sit Down | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship
Stop, Shut Up and Sit Down | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship by E.M. Burlingame 2003, Far East Asian nation, mere formality of a meeting. Little more than a press event really, final meeting between Minister of Finance and Minister of Science and Technology as well as with four of the nation’s leading industrialists. Mock signatures and chops on agreements signed … [Read more...]
The Type of Failure is What Matters | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship
The Type of Failure is What Matters | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship by E.M. Burlingame Lot of talk going around last few years in the circles of experts. Talk related to the importance of failure. Having failed a good number of times in my life, I cannot and would not disagree with most the experts on the importance of failure to ultimate success. I might … [Read more...]
Get Ready, This will Hurt | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship
Get Ready, This will Hurt | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship E.M. Burlingame There’s an incredible amount we don’t know. About self, others, the ever more connected world we live in. Of course, these are the big unknowns we’ve wrestled with since the beginning of time. What about the more immediate and critical? Our organization and functional team, market segment … [Read more...]
You’re Not Going to Like This | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship
You’re Not Going to Like This | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship by E.M. Burlingame You’re not as valuable as you think you are. Read that correctly. To be fair though, no one is. Evolution optimized us for propagation of species, not for self-assessment. Not even the most critical assessment, that of our value to individuals and the group. To ensure we participate … [Read more...]
Unconventional Investing | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship
Unconventional Investing | Special Forces and Entrepreneurship by E.M. Burlingame Drawn directly from the methods, best practices and lessons learned during 65 years conducting the Unconventional Warfare of U.S. Army Special Forces, Unconventional Investing is getting directly into violence and poverty repressed communities, identifying and developing local business … [Read more...]
Special Forces, Entrepreneurship and Personal Accountability
Special Forces, Entrepreneurship and Personal Accountability by E.M. Burlingame Accountability: it is considerably difficult in today’s globalized world to know what the real cost is for the mistakes the individual makes, mistakes most often simply the emergent result of personal biases, whether known or other, and the current needs of the individual. In the startup … [Read more...]
