You cannot fake hunger. Either you’re hungry or you’re not. If you’re not hungry, you better get hungry. Or starve.

Back to business: If you want success, bite it, take it, claim it.

“If you have more than one reason to do something, just don’t do it. It does not mean that one reason is better than two, just that by invoking more than one reason you are trying to convince yourself to do something. Obvious decisions require no more than a reason.” (Nassim Nicholas Taleb)

Back to business: Pro / contra lists seem to be reasonable for thoughtful decision making. However, more reasons simply don’t improve the underlying of the decision that is to be made. If you just “know” why you want to do it, do it.

The situation:
A train station releases trains to run on tracks. The problem is that the trains either slow down until they finally stop or the tracks end, so the trains fall down and crash.

The approach:
Jump from a train that is a) about to stop or b) on a soon-to-end track to the next train. In other words: Jump, jump, jump and always be on the run.

The question:
How to be ahead of the game?

The answer:

“Be the train station.” (Reina Arakji)

Back to business: Don’t follow. Lead. Even though the majority of new business concepts follow an imitator strategy, innovative companies outperform me-too businesses. Don’t play by the rules of others. Create your own game.

“People do judge a book by its cover.” (Mike Markkula)

Back to business: It’s all about packaging.

Inspiration: The Apple Marketing Philosophy

“Sell a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man how to fish, you ruin a wonderful business opportunity.” (Karl Marx)

Back to business: Don’t bother customers. Don’t overwhelm them with complexities. Not everyone wants to learn how to cook. Just prepare the meal and serve it.

“If it feels like work, there’s something wrong with it” (Business)

Back to business: Businesses today are expected to have corporate social responsibility, long term sustainability, and environmentally friendly products. Business men are expected to have honorable intentions, meaningful objectives, and purposeful goals. Do we only need noble causes? Next time, when someone asks you for the reason why you do business, tell him: Just for the fun of it.

“Value is created when a person makes something useful and shares it with the world.” (Chris Guillebeau)

Inspiration: The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau