Veterans Day is a day when many Americans walk up to a Veteran and say "Thank you for your service." Some of us feel awkward and don’t know how to really respond while others eat up all the praises. Me? I just ask a real simple question: “Do you pay taxes?”Why would any veteran ask if an appreciative civilian who shows some respect to our Veterans pays their taxes? … [Read more...]
Special Forces, Entrepreneurship: Only the Practical Matters
Few weeks ago, in Never Quit!, I discussed Malcom Gladwell’s 10,000 hours Outlier theory, the concept it takes 5 years of research and diligent effort to master a domain. This pursuit however, mastery of a domain, is never a straight or obvious path regardless whether one possesses natural talent, is highly intelligent and highly motivated or any combination of the three. To … [Read more...]
So You’re an “Operator”: How Exactly Does That Benefit My Investment?
As a business investor, why should I care if you were an Operator? by EM Burlingame first published on 9 September 2016Having recently ended active duty service with Special Forces (SF) to return to the private sector and to backing startups, we have so far brought in four management teams composed of former Green Berets (GB), to lead our startups, while assisting 9 … [Read more...]
Special Forces, Entrepreneurship: The P.A.C.E. Business Plan
To quote one of my more colorful and influential Special Forces instructors during the train up for SF selection, who we will call ‘Mike’, “Have a plan. And have a plan for your plan... because you are ignorant and your first plan sucks.”In the old days of Silicon Valley it was required to have a detailed business plan before pursuing external investment. However, in … [Read more...]
Special Forces, Entrepreneurship: Group Think Kills
Group Think Kills by E.M. BurlingameEqually on the battlefields of war, startups and politics, group think kills. There is no more destructive force than everyone at the table thinking the same way, interpreting the intelligence to mean the same thing.Particularly when information is incomplete, when the truth is something quite different, or when an enemy is actively … [Read more...]
The Special Forces ODA as a Startup Team
As an investor in startup companies there is always a difficult balance to be maintained, with respect to what are decisions management must make alone and my role as investor, adviser and often board member. This is due primarily to two constraints, namely my availability for any single company in our portfolio, and the need to limit personal liability. This means while I … [Read more...]
Startup Success is a Sequence of Running Gun Battles
A running gun battle:an argument that continues over a long period of time; and a fight that takes place as one group chases another.These are the very definition of a startup. The long running argument being why your product and service, as opposed to your competitor’s or complimentor’s product and service, should successfully obtain and increase market share … [Read more...]
2nd Rule for the Counterradical
Rule #2:“The people possess far more intelligence than is currently developed.” Even the least educated and inexperienced individual can grasp incredibly complex concepts and ideas if provided in the context of their own cultural background and societal experience.The, not-so-very-liberal, liberal radicals who’ve so successfully assumed near absolute … [Read more...]
Special Forces At the Intersection of the “Mind of the System” and the “Mind of the Disruptor”
I did not surrender idealism when our only child was born, but rather I came to see the world and its strengths, flaws and dangers specifically in terms of her future. Before the birth of my daughter I entertained all kinds of ideas as to how the world is and how it should be and all the various reasons why. And much like Don Quixote, I tilted at many a windmill. But when our … [Read more...]
Imperfections, Special Forces and Entrepreneurship
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 slight or not so slight incongruities. In the world’s of startups and Special … [Read more...]