This is so far the best book on lean philosophy. It gives you actionable framework that doesn't take a long gestation period to grow on you. I strongly recommend it. Comparison to a few other lean philosophy books: Lean Startup is good but takes a long time to get the core message across and still doesn't give straightforward implementable structure. 4 steps to ephiphany is a classic book. Some day I hope to find time to go through the book. It is great but only if I could find time.
This is so far the best book on lean philosophy. It gives you actionable framework that doesn't take a long gestation period to grow on you. I strongly recommend it. Comparison to a few other lean philosophy books: Lean Startup is good but takes a long time to get the core message across and still doesn't give straightforward implementable structure. 4 steps to ephiphany is a classic book. Some day I hope to find time to go through the book. It is great but only if I could find time.
I read Running Lean right after I read Lean Startup by Eric Ries. So I was already on the Lean Startup train, but it was Ash Maurya's book that showed me how to put the principles to work. It's easy to read and very straight-forward. He provides tools and interview scripts for you to put into practice immediately. I was in the process of writing a book proposal and his own process for writing his book outlined in the book encouraged me to get audience feedback immediately by doing lectures first for free, then paid. Copying his process for sure played a part in me getting a book deal too! I started teaching a college class about designing MVPs for online products and made his book the required reading. It was perfect and Ash even provided my class academic access to his Lean Canvas tool. I can not recommend this book more, especially if you want to put Lean Startup principles into practice! Thank you Ash!!!!!
I read Running Lean right after I read Lean Startup by Eric Ries. So I was already on the Lean Startup train, but it was Ash Maurya's book that showed me how to put the principles to work. It's easy to read and very straight-forward. He provides tools and interview scripts for you to put into practice immediately. I was in the process of writing a book proposal and his own process for writing his book outlined in the book encouraged me to get audience feedback immediately by doing lectures first for free, then paid. Copying his process for sure played a part in me getting a book deal too! I started teaching a college class about designing MVPs for online products and made his book the required reading. It was perfect and Ash even provided my class academic access to his Lean Canvas tool. I can not recommend this book more, especially if you want to put Lean Startup principles into practice! Thank you Ash!!!!!
Ash Maurya is a driving force in the Lean Startup movement. I'm using his Lean Canvas extensively and I follow closely his fantastic blog posts. Unlike the other big names in the field, like Steve Blank, Eric Ries, and Alexander Osterwalder, Ash Maurya's focus is on the practical (how-to) application of the Lean Startup concepts. The Four Steps to the Epiphany, The Lean Startup, and Business Model Generation are fantastic must-read books, but if you want a great tutorial on how to start applying the Lean Startup principles in practice, Running Lean is the book you need. It can even be very easily your introduction to the Lean Startup if you don't have time or knack for getting deeper into the theory. The best Lean Startup book for practitioners. I also recommend following Ash Maurya's fantastic blog posts as, among other things, they provide updates to some of the practices described in Running Lean. Remember that the this is an evolving framework, and Ash Maurya does a great job sharing (through his blog posts) all the latest learning he acquires from real-world projects. And if you are looking for progress/success metrics that match the Lean framework, I'd highly recommend reading "Lean Analytics" by Alistair Croll and Benjamin Yoskovitz. "Running Lean" and "Lean Analytics" are the two books that every product manager and every startup founder need to master the practice of Lean Startup.
Ash Maurya is a driving force in the Lean Startup movement. I'm using his Lean Canvas extensively and I follow closely his fantastic blog posts. Unlike the other big names in the field, like Steve Blank, Eric Ries, and Alexander Osterwalder, Ash Maurya's focus is on the practical (how-to) application of the Lean Startup concepts. The Four Steps to the Epiphany, The Lean Startup, and Business Model Generation are fantastic must-read books, but if you want a great tutorial on how to start applying the Lean Startup principles in practice, Running Lean is the book you need. It can even be very easily your introduction to the Lean Startup if you don't have time or knack for getting deeper into the theory. The best Lean Startup book for practitioners. I also recommend following Ash Maurya's fantastic blog posts as, among other things, they provide updates to some of the practices described in Running Lean. Remember that the this is an evolving framework, and Ash Maurya does a great job sharing (through his blog posts) all the latest learning he acquires from real-world projects. And if you are looking for progress/success metrics that match the Lean framework, I'd highly recommend reading "Lean Analytics" by Alistair Croll and Benjamin Yoskovitz. "Running Lean" and "Lean Analytics" are the two books that every product manager and every startup founder need to master the practice of Lean Startup.
This book helped me to articulate my thinking about my ideas I have for establishing businesses. This book is also helpful to learn how to distinguish between good and bad idea. I think that the book is especially useful for persons with mindset of an engineer who begin to be interested for business perspective. I like the way of writing which is very simple and clear. The way Ash explains his project of writing the same book is very useful for young entrepreneurs.
This book helped me to articulate my thinking about my ideas I have for establishing businesses. This book is also helpful to learn how to distinguish between good and bad idea. I think that the book is especially useful for persons with mindset of an engineer who begin to be interested for business perspective. I like the way of writing which is very simple and clear. The way Ash explains his project of writing the same book is very useful for young entrepreneurs.
If you have a Startup or thinking about to start one, you MUST read the Running Lean. Fantastic book, with the information that you have to apply while starting your business. Real cases, with a guide line of what to do when you're innovating. Also check out Ash's blog which will give you great tips and talk about real problems that you are gonna face before finding the product market fit and scaling.
If you have a Startup or thinking about to start one, you MUST read the Running Lean. Fantastic book, with the information that you have to apply while starting your business. Real cases, with a guide line of what to do when you're innovating. Also check out Ash's blog which will give you great tips and talk about real problems that you are gonna face before finding the product market fit and scaling.
This book was a revelation to me. I started a creative agency in 2015 as a writer who was well aware that I was starting with little to no business sense. I love to learn and tackle new challenges, so I figured I'd be able to get the hang of things if I just learned as much as I could from as many people as I could. Big mistake. The longer I ran my business, the more "help" I got, the more I read, the *more* stressful business became. It got to the point that I had to take a long sabbatical and reconsider my options. We were making money and doing good work, but the way we were doing things simply wasn't sustainable. And what's worse, I saw my clients making all the same mistakes and struggling year after year with the same unanswered questions I was. Most of what I've learned about business in the last 7 years has felt like well-meaning but irritating noise. There's something about the way Mr Maurya sees and communicates that cuts through all of it. This book has restored my excitement about entrepreneurship. It reconnected me to that deep understanding that business is unpredictable and risky by nature -- and if you know how to handle it, it can actually be a fun and not life-sucking ride.
This book was a revelation to me. I started a creative agency in 2015 as a writer who was well aware that I was starting with little to no business sense. I love to learn and tackle new challenges, so I figured I'd be able to get the hang of things if I just learned as much as I could from as many people as I could. Big mistake. The longer I ran my business, the more "help" I got, the more I read, the *more* stressful business became. It got to the point that I had to take a long sabbatical and reconsider my options. We were making money and doing good work, but the way we were doing things simply wasn't sustainable. And what's worse, I saw my clients making all the same mistakes and struggling year after year with the same unanswered questions I was. Most of what I've learned about business in the last 7 years has felt like well-meaning but irritating noise. There's something about the way Mr Maurya sees and communicates that cuts through all of it. This book has restored my excitement about entrepreneurship. It reconnected me to that deep understanding that business is unpredictable and risky by nature -- and if you know how to handle it, it can actually be a fun and not life-sucking ride.
When I tore through Running Lean I kept thinking (warning: 40 something TV reference inbound) of the TV show Name That Tune. Yes, the book has plenty of the pre-requisites for something you tear through - well written in a direct and approachable voice, moves along at a good clip, plenty of pointed observations and examples to bring them to life, etc. But what I found most powerful was that in his delivery of the book, Ash is eating his own Lean dog food not just on content but on how he delivers that content. The result? A how-to that definitely punches above its weight. First, he shares the Lean-inspired principles at work in his business ventures, using the book as sort of an open bridge hand for us to watch as he plays. Table stakes for this kind of a tome yes, but done well. As important though, he's been able to convey these interesting Lean principles in a simpler, more graspable, practical and flexible way than I've encountered elsewhere. With the result being a really short walk between the ideas in his book and real word applications to the new venture I've been working on. And that's when you know you have a good resource for helping you actually do something differently...you're engaged by the thinking on the first run through, and returning often to try out bits and pieces on the real world questions you're wrestling around with... rather than just liking the ideas but feeling overwhelmed by the effort or rigidity of applying them to your situation. Definitely plenty of virtual thumb grease on this one from heavy use and more to come. And definitely helping me call the tune on plenty of decisions in the fewest notes possible.
When I tore through Running Lean I kept thinking (warning: 40 something TV reference inbound) of the TV show Name That Tune. Yes, the book has plenty of the pre-requisites for something you tear through - well written in a direct and approachable voice, moves along at a good clip, plenty of pointed observations and examples to bring them to life, etc. But what I found most powerful was that in his delivery of the book, Ash is eating his own Lean dog food not just on content but on how he delivers that content. The result? A how-to that definitely punches above its weight. First, he shares the Lean-inspired principles at work in his business ventures, using the book as sort of an open bridge hand for us to watch as he plays. Table stakes for this kind of a tome yes, but done well. As important though, he's been able to convey these interesting Lean principles in a simpler, more graspable, practical and flexible way than I've encountered elsewhere. With the result being a really short walk between the ideas in his book and real word applications to the new venture I've been working on. And that's when you know you have a good resource for helping you actually do something differently...you're engaged by the thinking on the first run through, and returning often to try out bits and pieces on the real world questions you're wrestling around with... rather than just liking the ideas but feeling overwhelmed by the effort or rigidity of applying them to your situation. Definitely plenty of virtual thumb grease on this one from heavy use and more to come. And definitely helping me call the tune on plenty of decisions in the fewest notes possible.
This book is not an easy one to read, understand and implement. However you wouldn’t be reading this review if you are not working on your startup. Startups are hard and take years of sweat and blood to show traction. And yet over 90% fail. Why? Study this book and you will know why. Not only that, if you persist in implementing the advice Ash Maurya provides in this book step by step, your chances of success will probably 10X.
This book is not an easy one to read, understand and implement. However you wouldn’t be reading this review if you are not working on your startup. Startups are hard and take years of sweat and blood to show traction. And yet over 90% fail. Why? Study this book and you will know why. Not only that, if you persist in implementing the advice Ash Maurya provides in this book step by step, your chances of success will probably 10X.
I've read a number of start-up books (Art of the Start, Lean Start-up, and 4 Steps to the Epiphany to name a few), and while all have had great insights, this book is far and above the most actionable. Drawing upon his own personal experience, he lays out practical stage-by-stage advice for how to start a business of any kind. Not only do I feel much more confident in starting a business of my own, but I feel in a way empowered after having read this book. I would recommend this to any entrepreneur of any industry.
I've read a number of start-up books (Art of the Start, Lean Start-up, and 4 Steps to the Epiphany to name a few), and while all have had great insights, this book is far and above the most actionable. Drawing upon his own personal experience, he lays out practical stage-by-stage advice for how to start a business of any kind. Not only do I feel much more confident in starting a business of my own, but I feel in a way empowered after having read this book. I would recommend this to any entrepreneur of any industry.
Bought the 1st edition and wanted to make sure I read the 3rd edition again. No matter what you're building or thinking of building this book is a must. Some of the ideas seem so simple yet and obvious but are game changing if you apply them.
Bought the 1st edition and wanted to make sure I read the 3rd edition again. No matter what you're building or thinking of building this book is a must. Some of the ideas seem so simple yet and obvious but are game changing if you apply them.
I really liked this book. There's not a lot of fluff (which makes sense since it's a book on being lean), and it gives good examples and steps to help you apply the teachings. What it reminds me of is the Agile methodology because the main concept was about moving in smaller iterations, getting quicker feedback, and adjusting accordingly. In terms of business and start-ups, the underlying theme to me was that you should try not to assume that you're correct - instead create small tests where you roll out an idea in small increments and test them before advancing. In some respect, it sounds like so much common sense, but how often do we fail to do this. Old school business involves creating grandiose business plans that are complete and researched/analyzed using a ton of time. However, encapsulated within that is a lot of assumptions. How do you know such and such will happen? How do you know that customer feedback won't take you in a completely different direction? How can you possibly plan for that alternate direction if you haven't received enough feedback yet? It's difficult predict what people will value, and how much they will value it until they actually have to pay for it (or at least use it). So how do you get to the point where you know exactly how much a customer will value your product/service with the least amount of waste? Are you being flexible enough to allow a 180 degree turn if you find that the customer will value something else than you originally planned for (and that you have the expertise to do)? One important point Maurya makes early on is that money is not the only form of waste. Just as important are things like your time and energy. Why spend time and energy on things that won't add value? The book gives you steps on how to incrementally roll out your idea and constantly test it as you go, down to the level of who you should be getting feedback from, how much time to spend interviewing them, and what questions to ask them.
I really liked this book. There's not a lot of fluff (which makes sense since it's a book on being lean), and it gives good examples and steps to help you apply the teachings. What it reminds me of is the Agile methodology because the main concept was about moving in smaller iterations, getting quicker feedback, and adjusting accordingly. In terms of business and start-ups, the underlying theme to me was that you should try not to assume that you're correct - instead create small tests where you roll out an idea in small increments and test them before advancing. In some respect, it sounds like so much common sense, but how often do we fail to do this. Old school business involves creating grandiose business plans that are complete and researched/analyzed using a ton of time. However, encapsulated within that is a lot of assumptions. How do you know such and such will happen? How do you know that customer feedback won't take you in a completely different direction? How can you possibly plan for that alternate direction if you haven't received enough feedback yet? It's difficult predict what people will value, and how much they will value it until they actually have to pay for it (or at least use it). So how do you get to the point where you know exactly how much a customer will value your product/service with the least amount of waste? Are you being flexible enough to allow a 180 degree turn if you find that the customer will value something else than you originally planned for (and that you have the expertise to do)? One important point Maurya makes early on is that money is not the only form of waste. Just as important are things like your time and energy. Why spend time and energy on things that won't add value? The book gives you steps on how to incrementally roll out your idea and constantly test it as you go, down to the level of who you should be getting feedback from, how much time to spend interviewing them, and what questions to ask them.
I'm in the beginning stages of my first startup. I have read/studied all the great books out there pertaining to building a startup. Steve Blank's Owner's Manual is the second best after Running Lean. Running Lean is the MOST useful tool of them all because it is the most immediately applicable to what I or any entrepreneur is trying to accomplish. He provides a very concise and well written step by step course of action and great tools to work you through the startup building process. What's more, he backs it up with wonderful online videos. Hard to beat!
I'm in the beginning stages of my first startup. I have read/studied all the great books out there pertaining to building a startup. Steve Blank's Owner's Manual is the second best after Running Lean. Running Lean is the MOST useful tool of them all because it is the most immediately applicable to what I or any entrepreneur is trying to accomplish. He provides a very concise and well written step by step course of action and great tools to work you through the startup building process. What's more, he backs it up with wonderful online videos. Hard to beat!
A serial entrepreneur for decades, with successes and failures, I've read a large number of business books and periodicals. I usually learn something that I can use but the books are mostly inspirational - for a few days - and then I forget them. This is the best, most useful, brilliant, original business book I've ever read. I'm using Mr. Maurya's specific methodology on two projects now. From the first sketch - the Lean Model Canvas - I got a confidence I'd never had with any business plan: I know that it represents a complete and clear vision of what I have in mind. So it's pretty easy to see notions that have failed me in the past. The next, longer steps are designed to test efficiently any possibly weak areas. "The most valuable resource is the entrepreneur's time." Through his videos, I've gotten a good feel for what kinds and priorities of experiments are worthwhile. More depth on this topic would be very welcome. Bravo, Mr. Maurya, and thank you.
A serial entrepreneur for decades, with successes and failures, I've read a large number of business books and periodicals. I usually learn something that I can use but the books are mostly inspirational - for a few days - and then I forget them. This is the best, most useful, brilliant, original business book I've ever read. I'm using Mr. Maurya's specific methodology on two projects now. From the first sketch - the Lean Model Canvas - I got a confidence I'd never had with any business plan: I know that it represents a complete and clear vision of what I have in mind. So it's pretty easy to see notions that have failed me in the past. The next, longer steps are designed to test efficiently any possibly weak areas. "The most valuable resource is the entrepreneur's time." Through his videos, I've gotten a good feel for what kinds and priorities of experiments are worthwhile. More depth on this topic would be very welcome. Bravo, Mr. Maurya, and thank you.
I’ve read a lot of entrepreneurial books around the Lean Startup concept and put together my own version of how all these ideas from different authors fit together. I found this book, and Ash’s other videos to be more effective and concise than what I developed, and the Lean Canvas and Lean Stack are better tools than I could have developed. It’s so good that I have trouble saying it better, and I will buy this book for other entrepreneurs.
I’ve read a lot of entrepreneurial books around the Lean Startup concept and put together my own version of how all these ideas from different authors fit together. I found this book, and Ash’s other videos to be more effective and concise than what I developed, and the Lean Canvas and Lean Stack are better tools than I could have developed. It’s so good that I have trouble saying it better, and I will buy this book for other entrepreneurs.
Running Lean is an incredibly good book; it covers all the key concepts of customer development and lean startups but what sets it apart is that it includes step by step instructions and useful examples of formats for interviews, metrics, etc. This is probably the best practical guide about how to develop the product and add features (using a pull approach and going into detail about how to implement this process), which most other books don't cover. And unlike the first edition, it can also be applied in borader settings and types of products.
Running Lean is an incredibly good book; it covers all the key concepts of customer development and lean startups but what sets it apart is that it includes step by step instructions and useful examples of formats for interviews, metrics, etc. This is probably the best practical guide about how to develop the product and add features (using a pull approach and going into detail about how to implement this process), which most other books don't cover. And unlike the first edition, it can also be applied in borader settings and types of products.
The best tactical and practical book on the Lean Start up movement available today. I have read many of the other books but Ash's book takes a real hands on, systematic approach to applying Lean Start Up principles and has literally changed my career focus in Product Management. A great companion to both Eric Reis and Steve Blanks books on Lean Start Up and Customer Driven Development principles. This is a must read for any entrepreneur who wants to get to a solution that the market will buy (and do all this in the least amount of time). Great for "intra-preneurs" as well in establish corporations. I have read many of these books as well but none has given me the tactical tools to APPLY Lean Start Up principles like this book has for me. In fact, I have the president of our company reading it to find better ways to meet the needs of our market. I can't recommend this book enough to my colleagues. Great stuff!!!
The best tactical and practical book on the Lean Start up movement available today. I have read many of the other books but Ash's book takes a real hands on, systematic approach to applying Lean Start Up principles and has literally changed my career focus in Product Management. A great companion to both Eric Reis and Steve Blanks books on Lean Start Up and Customer Driven Development principles. This is a must read for any entrepreneur who wants to get to a solution that the market will buy (and do all this in the least amount of time). Great for "intra-preneurs" as well in establish corporations. I have read many of these books as well but none has given me the tactical tools to APPLY Lean Start Up principles like this book has for me. In fact, I have the president of our company reading it to find better ways to meet the needs of our market. I can't recommend this book enough to my colleagues. Great stuff!!!
I am involved in a start-up that is bringing a new technology to market...a business model that Ash rightly calls "riddled with technical risk". I had heard of the Lean Startup concept and found Ash's book to be the answer to a great many of my problems. The Lean Canvas method is simple, elegant, very pertinent and quickly identifies the risks your business will need to overcome in order to survive. It forces you to re-prioritise and strive for a "Product/Market Fit" that delivers a product relevant and desirable to your potential customers - one that they are willing to pay for before your business runs out of resources. This year, there will be 400,000,000 business startups around the globe...and 90% of them will fail in the first five years because they did a Business Plan instead of a Lean Canvas. The traditional business plan suffers from the need to obsess about detail you usually don't have data for, without effectively identifying the vital factors that a business must succeed at to survive. Don't become a business statistic, start Running Lean and become a survivor and a success.
I am involved in a start-up that is bringing a new technology to market...a business model that Ash rightly calls "riddled with technical risk". I had heard of the Lean Startup concept and found Ash's book to be the answer to a great many of my problems. The Lean Canvas method is simple, elegant, very pertinent and quickly identifies the risks your business will need to overcome in order to survive. It forces you to re-prioritise and strive for a "Product/Market Fit" that delivers a product relevant and desirable to your potential customers - one that they are willing to pay for before your business runs out of resources. This year, there will be 400,000,000 business startups around the globe...and 90% of them will fail in the first five years because they did a Business Plan instead of a Lean Canvas. The traditional business plan suffers from the need to obsess about detail you usually don't have data for, without effectively identifying the vital factors that a business must succeed at to survive. Don't become a business statistic, start Running Lean and become a survivor and a success.
It is a good practical book on using the Lean Strategy method for start-up. Could have given it four vs. five starts ONLY because the scope of business relevance is narrow. This book is fabulous for app or web based start-ups but less so for physical product or service start-ups. The examples are focused on app/web examples. But to be fair, Ash is talking about what he knows, and NEVER claims to be an authority on other types of start up. I have use this book in several classes, and student/entrepreneurs always say the examples are excellent, and the tools very helpful. I am probably more critical of it than they are, so trust the crowd! good book.
It is a good practical book on using the Lean Strategy method for start-up. Could have given it four vs. five starts ONLY because the scope of business relevance is narrow. This book is fabulous for app or web based start-ups but less so for physical product or service start-ups. The examples are focused on app/web examples. But to be fair, Ash is talking about what he knows, and NEVER claims to be an authority on other types of start up. I have use this book in several classes, and student/entrepreneurs always say the examples are excellent, and the tools very helpful. I am probably more critical of it than they are, so trust the crowd! good book.
I have read most of the Lean series and find this book to be the most practically applicable. I am a big advocate of Lean principles and what I like the most about this book is it shows you how to practically apply those in a step-by-step fashion to a product you are building (or thinking of building). I highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for a way to build more successful product offerings.
I have read most of the Lean series and find this book to be the most practically applicable. I am a big advocate of Lean principles and what I like the most about this book is it shows you how to practically apply those in a step-by-step fashion to a product you are building (or thinking of building). I highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for a way to build more successful product offerings.
I really loved this book. It was very helpful to myself and our team as we worked to launch a new business idea. I would strongly recommend the book to anyone with a business idea who is interested in starting a new business (or launching a new product). It is full of practical suggestions on things entrepreneurs should and should not do. Applying Ash's lessons will save you precious time and money and significantly improve your odds of success.
I really loved this book. It was very helpful to myself and our team as we worked to launch a new business idea. I would strongly recommend the book to anyone with a business idea who is interested in starting a new business (or launching a new product). It is full of practical suggestions on things entrepreneurs should and should not do. Applying Ash's lessons will save you precious time and money and significantly improve your odds of success.
I have read my fair share of books on starting a business. As an engineer, the "building the product" part is the easy part. What has always challenged me is the entire process. Eric Ries was correct in saying that many books and magazine articles paint a wonderful picture of overnight success. And in my own business challenges, I wonder why I am not having this overnight success that I read about all of the time. Finally I have the answer. The overnight success is a myth. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries changes the perceived paradigm of business. 9 out of 10 startups fail. I personally have been in startups that failed and put it down to a learning experience but still could not pin point exactly what was the cause of the failure. Why didn't people purchase the products/services that I was creating. Am also a fan of Seth Godin and he professes that we build the Wow! into the product as a strategy. But Ash Muraya gets real and for the first time I truly understand why I have failed in the past with the startups that I had been involved in. It was the process. We never got out of the building. We always built software in a vaccuum smugly thinking it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I have used the latter strategy and I can say from sheer experience it does not work. It all makes sense now. Seems a little obvious now. This book in itself is lean. It does NOT make the same point over and over again using example after example. Every part of the book is useful. In fact it may be more of a user manual on business than a book. It shows you realistic step by step methods of reducing the time that could be potentially wasted in turning an idea into a product/service. I have already started to use the strategies and it is making a huge difference in my work. I have been through a process of creating an MVP and testing it. The process has already saved me tons of time and to be honest, much heartache. Every time I think of a new product or service I always go back to Running Lean to ensure that I do not repeat past mistakes and to use it's methods once again. Thank you Ash Muraya. It's one of the best books in this genre I have ever read.
I have read my fair share of books on starting a business. As an engineer, the "building the product" part is the easy part. What has always challenged me is the entire process. Eric Ries was correct in saying that many books and magazine articles paint a wonderful picture of overnight success. And in my own business challenges, I wonder why I am not having this overnight success that I read about all of the time. Finally I have the answer. The overnight success is a myth. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries changes the perceived paradigm of business. 9 out of 10 startups fail. I personally have been in startups that failed and put it down to a learning experience but still could not pin point exactly what was the cause of the failure. Why didn't people purchase the products/services that I was creating. Am also a fan of Seth Godin and he professes that we build the Wow! into the product as a strategy. But Ash Muraya gets real and for the first time I truly understand why I have failed in the past with the startups that I had been involved in. It was the process. We never got out of the building. We always built software in a vaccuum smugly thinking it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I have used the latter strategy and I can say from sheer experience it does not work. It all makes sense now. Seems a little obvious now. This book in itself is lean. It does NOT make the same point over and over again using example after example. Every part of the book is useful. In fact it may be more of a user manual on business than a book. It shows you realistic step by step methods of reducing the time that could be potentially wasted in turning an idea into a product/service. I have already started to use the strategies and it is making a huge difference in my work. I have been through a process of creating an MVP and testing it. The process has already saved me tons of time and to be honest, much heartache. Every time I think of a new product or service I always go back to Running Lean to ensure that I do not repeat past mistakes and to use it's methods once again. Thank you Ash Muraya. It's one of the best books in this genre I have ever read.
Ash Maurya personal mantra is “Life’s too short to build something nobody wants “ . 8 simple, but powerful words that every founder, start up, entrepreneur or business should remember. This book is an invaluable resource for any start up or entrepreneur with a new business idea who is trying to navigate the confusing early stages of a start up. Each chapter is packed with invaluable tips, advice, insights and step by step guidance to help you test and design your business model, validate your idea, speak to customers and launch your product. .
Ash Maurya personal mantra is “Life’s too short to build something nobody wants “ . 8 simple, but powerful words that every founder, start up, entrepreneur or business should remember. This book is an invaluable resource for any start up or entrepreneur with a new business idea who is trying to navigate the confusing early stages of a start up. Each chapter is packed with invaluable tips, advice, insights and step by step guidance to help you test and design your business model, validate your idea, speak to customers and launch your product. .
I've read a number of the lean startup category books. In my opinion this one is the best. Why do I say that? Because when you read this book you will be able to implement virtually right away and get results right away. You won't be confused - you will be clear about the steps you need to take next. I recommend getting it if you're involved with startups in any shape or form and you're looking for clear direction.
I've read a number of the lean startup category books. In my opinion this one is the best. Why do I say that? Because when you read this book you will be able to implement virtually right away and get results right away. You won't be confused - you will be clear about the steps you need to take next. I recommend getting it if you're involved with startups in any shape or form and you're looking for clear direction.
Ash's book finally gave me the tools to put into practice the ideas Eric Got me excited about, a must read for any would be startup founder, if your looking at a few books regarding start ups skip the rest and read Running Lean then Lean Analytics both put the fundamentals in context, the rumour mill is running hot about his new book The Customer Factory, hopefully he will release both books through Amazon's Audible platform as well for the disabled and busy who can listen whilst driving.
Ash's book finally gave me the tools to put into practice the ideas Eric Got me excited about, a must read for any would be startup founder, if your looking at a few books regarding start ups skip the rest and read Running Lean then Lean Analytics both put the fundamentals in context, the rumour mill is running hot about his new book The Customer Factory, hopefully he will release both books through Amazon's Audible platform as well for the disabled and busy who can listen whilst driving.
Ash has broken down how companies can find product market fit in a step by step, repeatable -> predictable process. Anyone who serious about business and innovation, this isn't recommended reading...it's required reading.
Ash has broken down how companies can find product market fit in a step by step, repeatable -> predictable process. Anyone who serious about business and innovation, this isn't recommended reading...it's required reading.
This is the most comprehensive as well as practical guide to getting your startup strategy right. I wish I had come across this book earlier, and that would have saved a lot of effort me and my team has put in my startup. In my opinion, it is more useful than 2 other great books on this topic: Eric Ries's Lean Startup and Steve Blank's 4 Steps... I would recommend that you buy all these 3 books, but spend time developing your strategy using the principles of 'Running Lean'. Well done Ash Maurya!
This is the most comprehensive as well as practical guide to getting your startup strategy right. I wish I had come across this book earlier, and that would have saved a lot of effort me and my team has put in my startup. In my opinion, it is more useful than 2 other great books on this topic: Eric Ries's Lean Startup and Steve Blank's 4 Steps... I would recommend that you buy all these 3 books, but spend time developing your strategy using the principles of 'Running Lean'. Well done Ash Maurya!
I am giving this book 5 stars because the author believes deeply in what he is depicting, meticulously goes into the details outlining goals and actions clearly. It seems that not many books of this genre have such a strong practical focus. That's a good point that anecdotes come even before the data (the "Do more faster" by Brad Feld and David Cohen). But all know that often books about startups and for startups bear solely inspirational role, impart a new collective wisdom (of course, also required). This one is another kind, aimed at giving a process of departing from zero, then bootstrapping, and guiding through to the point/quality when you already exist and in a strong position to grow further efficiently, with concrete tools, techniques, and options. The author compiled the famous "Lean Startup" method by Eric Ries into an easily consumable form allowing skimming, combined it with an altered not less famous "Business Model Generation"'s canvas tactics, mixing in all well known things in an organic way. At that, this is not just a book [product]. It is an already big and growing infrastructure, - workshops, community [meaning, service] created following the approach. It is a case study in itself, an opportunity to learn for the readers, and for the author. In the book I found places where I went in cycles and some parts of the concepts seemed to me not fitting seamlessly. People from industries other than S/W may experience difficulties deciding whether the approach is suitable for their case. The same about complex S/W products. However, after having read one would agree this all makes sense to a significant extent, being a fresh POW. And the last note: it's wise not to do a mistake of following the recipes to the letter, - a process combined with curiosity, individual spirit and variety is what gives a matchless taste to what we produce. Times change, world change and approaches do (by us).
I am giving this book 5 stars because the author believes deeply in what he is depicting, meticulously goes into the details outlining goals and actions clearly. It seems that not many books of this genre have such a strong practical focus. That's a good point that anecdotes come even before the data (the "Do more faster" by Brad Feld and David Cohen). But all know that often books about startups and for startups bear solely inspirational role, impart a new collective wisdom (of course, also required). This one is another kind, aimed at giving a process of departing from zero, then bootstrapping, and guiding through to the point/quality when you already exist and in a strong position to grow further efficiently, with concrete tools, techniques, and options. The author compiled the famous "Lean Startup" method by Eric Ries into an easily consumable form allowing skimming, combined it with an altered not less famous "Business Model Generation"'s canvas tactics, mixing in all well known things in an organic way. At that, this is not just a book [product]. It is an already big and growing infrastructure, - workshops, community [meaning, service] created following the approach. It is a case study in itself, an opportunity to learn for the readers, and for the author. In the book I found places where I went in cycles and some parts of the concepts seemed to me not fitting seamlessly. People from industries other than S/W may experience difficulties deciding whether the approach is suitable for their case. The same about complex S/W products. However, after having read one would agree this all makes sense to a significant extent, being a fresh POW. And the last note: it's wise not to do a mistake of following the recipes to the letter, - a process combined with curiosity, individual spirit and variety is what gives a matchless taste to what we produce. Times change, world change and approaches do (by us).
If you are thinking about creating a tech startup, are currently involved in an early stage tech startup, or advising one, this is a FANTASTIC resource. Read it. Use it. Ask your friends read it. Why? It has actionable information for early stage startups. For example, it includes goals, outlines, and example questions for interviews at each stage of customer development. I will be recommending this book to all the startups I advise, and all pitching companies and the larger startup community at our local New Tech (startup pitch night) events.
If you are thinking about creating a tech startup, are currently involved in an early stage tech startup, or advising one, this is a FANTASTIC resource. Read it. Use it. Ask your friends read it. Why? It has actionable information for early stage startups. For example, it includes goals, outlines, and example questions for interviews at each stage of customer development. I will be recommending this book to all the startups I advise, and all pitching companies and the larger startup community at our local New Tech (startup pitch night) events.
Where "Lean Startup" (Eric Ries) is the what and why, "Running Lean" is the how. It doesn't just talk, it shows and teaches, provides explanations, and even simple clear tools.I wish I had this book 20 years ago. I use it for projects on my job, and to build a new entrepreneurial company. I am starting a new business from scratch while working a full-time job (on call 24/7), so I don't have a lot of "extra" time. After reading and starting to apply "Lean Startup" to my planning, I checked on some of the resources he offered that prominently displayed "Running Lean". You MUST get this book, and apply it along with the vast resources it offers in the book and online! The Lean Canvas is a huge productivity booster. Instead of wasting time on boring, laborious marketing plans, in 20 minutes you can have a clear structure that you can use for each piece of your whole process. Then use it to focus your team on all the aspects of "what to build, who to build it for, why build it, how to fund it, and where to expect revenues to come from". You decide --- laser focus and optimizing your resources to achieve your BHAG, or wasting time and resources on the wrong things. Get this book, apply it and it's resources, and succeed! (This is for your company/product. For YOU to get even better ,check out "The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster" by Darren Hardy. These two resources will amp up your personal productivity and focus your company's efforts IMMENSELY! I know. I am doing it!)
Where "Lean Startup" (Eric Ries) is the what and why, "Running Lean" is the how. It doesn't just talk, it shows and teaches, provides explanations, and even simple clear tools.I wish I had this book 20 years ago. I use it for projects on my job, and to build a new entrepreneurial company. I am starting a new business from scratch while working a full-time job (on call 24/7), so I don't have a lot of "extra" time. After reading and starting to apply "Lean Startup" to my planning, I checked on some of the resources he offered that prominently displayed "Running Lean". You MUST get this book, and apply it along with the vast resources it offers in the book and online! The Lean Canvas is a huge productivity booster. Instead of wasting time on boring, laborious marketing plans, in 20 minutes you can have a clear structure that you can use for each piece of your whole process. Then use it to focus your team on all the aspects of "what to build, who to build it for, why build it, how to fund it, and where to expect revenues to come from". You decide --- laser focus and optimizing your resources to achieve your BHAG, or wasting time and resources on the wrong things. Get this book, apply it and it's resources, and succeed! (This is for your company/product. For YOU to get even better ,check out "The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster" by Darren Hardy. These two resources will amp up your personal productivity and focus your company's efforts IMMENSELY! I know. I am doing it!)
This books seems to me like the logical sequel to the seminal book by Eric Ries. What I liked most is that it goes right to the nitty-gritty of finding a business model that works. To be more exact, you can even find scripts to interview customers or write emails to them. When I co-founded a startup I was full of unanswered questions: how good are we doing? what stage are we at? how should we price our product? what's the next step? is this business plan of any use? should I raise VC money? Running lean gets answers to most of those questions, because it: - Encourages you to talk to customers - States that running a startup is a matter of managing risks, and risks also determine your priorities - Defines a set of stages that startups must go through (problem/solution, product/market, scale) - Defines an alternative way to document business models ("lean canvas", as opposed to business plans) with the goal of making it dynamic, understandable, and accesible - Encourages you to stay focused and push less features - Gives miscellaneous advice I'd say that the value of this book is 1000x its price plus the time needed to read it.
This books seems to me like the logical sequel to the seminal book by Eric Ries. What I liked most is that it goes right to the nitty-gritty of finding a business model that works. To be more exact, you can even find scripts to interview customers or write emails to them. When I co-founded a startup I was full of unanswered questions: how good are we doing? what stage are we at? how should we price our product? what's the next step? is this business plan of any use? should I raise VC money? Running lean gets answers to most of those questions, because it: - Encourages you to talk to customers - States that running a startup is a matter of managing risks, and risks also determine your priorities - Defines a set of stages that startups must go through (problem/solution, product/market, scale) - Defines an alternative way to document business models ("lean canvas", as opposed to business plans) with the goal of making it dynamic, understandable, and accesible - Encourages you to stay focused and push less features - Gives miscellaneous advice I'd say that the value of this book is 1000x its price plus the time needed to read it.
There are not many books that are not pure theory about lean startups, and this is one of them. This is a hands-on, practical, and most useful book that I've seen in a long time. If you are entrepreneur or thinking about being one, if you have a startup or thinking about having one, if you are a mentor or thinking about becoming one - this book is a must read. It is almost like a blueprint for building lean startups.
There are not many books that are not pure theory about lean startups, and this is one of them. This is a hands-on, practical, and most useful book that I've seen in a long time. If you are entrepreneur or thinking about being one, if you have a startup or thinking about having one, if you are a mentor or thinking about becoming one - this book is a must read. It is almost like a blueprint for building lean startups.
I've consumed a lot of information on building a startup, from books to websites to podcasts and plenty of other media I can't think of right now, but I would have saved an unbelievable amount of time by just buying this book first and following it. In the short time that my team and I have started using it, our time to learning has been cut at least in half, and there is a much greater clarity in all of our communications on how we're learning and what we're learning. Just buy it. Seriously.
I've consumed a lot of information on building a startup, from books to websites to podcasts and plenty of other media I can't think of right now, but I would have saved an unbelievable amount of time by just buying this book first and following it. In the short time that my team and I have started using it, our time to learning has been cut at least in half, and there is a much greater clarity in all of our communications on how we're learning and what we're learning. Just buy it. Seriously.
At MaRS I work with dozens of early stage companies in a wide range of industries and with a wide range of experience from first time founders to serial entrepreneurs. When founders ask "How do I apply Lean Startup to my business?" My answer is "read Running Lean". It provides an actionable roadmap that guides a startup from initial idea to product/market fit. I have field-tested it with dozens of startups and it's become a go to resource. Highly recommended.
At MaRS I work with dozens of early stage companies in a wide range of industries and with a wide range of experience from first time founders to serial entrepreneurs. When founders ask "How do I apply Lean Startup to my business?" My answer is "read Running Lean". It provides an actionable roadmap that guides a startup from initial idea to product/market fit. I have field-tested it with dozens of startups and it's become a go to resource. Highly recommended.
IF ONLY I had this framework and process decades ago ... The TIME and MONEY that would have been saved (from investing in projects that didn't stand a chance.) And the rock-solid foundation and risk testing process that could have been put behind ONLY THE WORTHY projects. A little thinking, planning, and "business engineering" before you dive into a project - will pay off with massive dividends. Running Lean shows you how to do that, whether it's a start-up business, a division of a larger company, or an individual product launch or marketing campaign.
IF ONLY I had this framework and process decades ago ... The TIME and MONEY that would have been saved (from investing in projects that didn't stand a chance.) And the rock-solid foundation and risk testing process that could have been put behind ONLY THE WORTHY projects. A little thinking, planning, and "business engineering" before you dive into a project - will pay off with massive dividends. Running Lean shows you how to do that, whether it's a start-up business, a division of a larger company, or an individual product launch or marketing campaign.
The Agile/Lean startup movement has now been 'discovered' by the mainstream press. Check out the special section in this week's Economist*. So prepare for more hype and ever more books on Lean startups. But having read many of the existing ones, I highly recommend this book of Ash's for anyone working through those very early days when you have to figure out if your 'great idea' has any chance of blooming into the viable business model that is the true product of a startup. Ash has a workable, light-enough framework for organizing your thoughts into a one page plan, rigorously testing your riskiest assumptions, and, often, getting to No soon enough that you can still afford to iterate on to a variation or just move on to your next big idea. Readable, actionable, down-to-earth, worth the money. ag * I had a hyperlink in the original review text but, apparently, those aren't allowed. To see the special section, you can browse your way on over to Economist dot com and put 'tech startups' into their internal search field. Look for a link with the work Cambrian in it.
The Agile/Lean startup movement has now been 'discovered' by the mainstream press. Check out the special section in this week's Economist*. So prepare for more hype and ever more books on Lean startups. But having read many of the existing ones, I highly recommend this book of Ash's for anyone working through those very early days when you have to figure out if your 'great idea' has any chance of blooming into the viable business model that is the true product of a startup. Ash has a workable, light-enough framework for organizing your thoughts into a one page plan, rigorously testing your riskiest assumptions, and, often, getting to No soon enough that you can still afford to iterate on to a variation or just move on to your next big idea. Readable, actionable, down-to-earth, worth the money. ag * I had a hyperlink in the original review text but, apparently, those aren't allowed. To see the special section, you can browse your way on over to Economist dot com and put 'tech startups' into their internal search field. Look for a link with the work Cambrian in it.
Love the practical application of knowledge! You can use this book to help you understand a problem, define pirate (customer factory) metrics and so much more! Highly recommend to a entrepreneur or someone working in a corporate setting to innovate new ways to solve problems.
Love the practical application of knowledge! You can use this book to help you understand a problem, define pirate (customer factory) metrics and so much more! Highly recommend to a entrepreneur or someone working in a corporate setting to innovate new ways to solve problems.
This book does such a great job of guiding you through the startup process that it is worth it's price many times over in saved time, money and hassle. As soon as I had purchased it, the next few pages explained the Lean Canvas and I immediately realized that I had made a well worth it investment, and I still had read only a small fraction of the content. From there it got better and better. I only wish I had not hesitated as long as I did to buy it.
This book does such a great job of guiding you through the startup process that it is worth it's price many times over in saved time, money and hassle. As soon as I had purchased it, the next few pages explained the Lean Canvas and I immediately realized that I had made a well worth it investment, and I still had read only a small fraction of the content. From there it got better and better. I only wish I had not hesitated as long as I did to buy it.
Ash does a great job linking the strategic principles from customer development, lean startups, jobs to be done (JTBD), and other related models into a useful battlefield guide for builders. I personally appreciate how he connects the dots and synthesizes a bunch of important, but fuzzy, models and turns them into a "here's what to do / how to think about this" playbook. Even having read widely on these topics, I found this book to give me new levels of clarity and figure out which tool to use when navigating early-stage chaos.
Ash does a great job linking the strategic principles from customer development, lean startups, jobs to be done (JTBD), and other related models into a useful battlefield guide for builders. I personally appreciate how he connects the dots and synthesizes a bunch of important, but fuzzy, models and turns them into a "here's what to do / how to think about this" playbook. Even having read widely on these topics, I found this book to give me new levels of clarity and figure out which tool to use when navigating early-stage chaos.
Ash Maurya is the guy to go when you want lean startups advice, I tried reading a couple of books before buying this, they all made like the concept very much but I didn't know how to apply them, however with running lean your train of thoughts will be more organized especially if you invest in the full series and buy the other books like lean analytics. A must buy for entrepreneurs.
Ash Maurya is the guy to go when you want lean startups advice, I tried reading a couple of books before buying this, they all made like the concept very much but I didn't know how to apply them, however with running lean your train of thoughts will be more organized especially if you invest in the full series and buy the other books like lean analytics. A must buy for entrepreneurs.
If you read one book on entrepreneurship, let this be it. It summarizes a lot of the 'best' ideas in entrepreneurship (Steve Blank, Eric Ries, others) and gives you a very practical guide to getting started. At one point in the past, it would have been possible to 'push' a product onto users. Now, unless you are a company like Apple it is almost impossible. There are thousands of other start-ups that will do what you do AND listen to users. The idea of systematically de-risking your business idea is a powerful way to get up and running with the smallest amount of money possible. If you have a business idea but you're not sure whether it's viable, Ash will give you a step by step plan for bringing it from the canvas to making money. As another positive, the author seems to genuinely be interested in engaging with people who read the book. If this book doesn't answer a question you have, you could probably ask him. That's pretty good value for a book.
If you read one book on entrepreneurship, let this be it. It summarizes a lot of the 'best' ideas in entrepreneurship (Steve Blank, Eric Ries, others) and gives you a very practical guide to getting started. At one point in the past, it would have been possible to 'push' a product onto users. Now, unless you are a company like Apple it is almost impossible. There are thousands of other start-ups that will do what you do AND listen to users. The idea of systematically de-risking your business idea is a powerful way to get up and running with the smallest amount of money possible. If you have a business idea but you're not sure whether it's viable, Ash will give you a step by step plan for bringing it from the canvas to making money. As another positive, the author seems to genuinely be interested in engaging with people who read the book. If this book doesn't answer a question you have, you could probably ask him. That's pretty good value for a book.
I find Ash Maurya's book simple and practical. I teach my students that we need simplicity the other side of complexity, and Ash succeeds in doing just that. He builds on the work of Alexander Osterwalder, Steve Blank and Eric Ries and comes up with a jewel! I am using his approach as a research methodology for my MBA students to ensure they address all the issues with a startup! Thank you Ash for a great book that adds a lot of value on a topic that frequently draws a lot of clutter!
I find Ash Maurya's book simple and practical. I teach my students that we need simplicity the other side of complexity, and Ash succeeds in doing just that. He builds on the work of Alexander Osterwalder, Steve Blank and Eric Ries and comes up with a jewel! I am using his approach as a research methodology for my MBA students to ensure they address all the issues with a startup! Thank you Ash for a great book that adds a lot of value on a topic that frequently draws a lot of clutter!
Ash Maurya has written an absolutely invaluable guide to the practice of lean startup. As an advisor and counselor to startups, this is the one book that I recommend the most for entrepreneurs trying to find their way (and even those who already have a pretty good idea what they're doing). Folks looking for theory and foundations should definitely check out Steve Blank's and Eric Ries' work (also highly recommended)...but for cut-to-the-chase, practical, how-to knowledge on lean startup, nothing beats this book. Buy it, read it, and do it. You'll feel like you've been given the keys to the kingdom.
Ash Maurya has written an absolutely invaluable guide to the practice of lean startup. As an advisor and counselor to startups, this is the one book that I recommend the most for entrepreneurs trying to find their way (and even those who already have a pretty good idea what they're doing). Folks looking for theory and foundations should definitely check out Steve Blank's and Eric Ries' work (also highly recommended)...but for cut-to-the-chase, practical, how-to knowledge on lean startup, nothing beats this book. Buy it, read it, and do it. You'll feel like you've been given the keys to the kingdom.
I mentor a large number of entrepreneurs. This is my ONE book I insist they read - at the key of it is "how to make sure you are not fooling yourself" before they open their mouths to tell the world how clever they are with their oh so wonderful idea and take their family and friends savings down the tube in misplaced hubris. This edition is the best yet. Don't wait, buy it.
I mentor a large number of entrepreneurs. This is my ONE book I insist they read - at the key of it is "how to make sure you are not fooling yourself" before they open their mouths to tell the world how clever they are with their oh so wonderful idea and take their family and friends savings down the tube in misplaced hubris. This edition is the best yet. Don't wait, buy it.
As a former NASA human spaceflight engineer, we were driven to implement both long and lean product cycles. Generally speaking, lean principles were almost a must when resolving real-time issues during a Space Shuttle mission (due to safety-of-life risks and time-box constraints), which are also currently utilized for significant issues experienced on the International Space Station. We used several similar principles in order to produce relevant results while systematically de-risking. Ash has done an outstanding job organizing in a logical and easy-to-follow, a lean methodology to place entrepreneurs on a path to success. I absolutely love the fact that this is not a one thousand step, 5 volume, theoretical process. His lean process is anchored on relevant examples and while they are simple, are very transferrable to just about any other product type and complexity type! v/r - KC
As a former NASA human spaceflight engineer, we were driven to implement both long and lean product cycles. Generally speaking, lean principles were almost a must when resolving real-time issues during a Space Shuttle mission (due to safety-of-life risks and time-box constraints), which are also currently utilized for significant issues experienced on the International Space Station. We used several similar principles in order to produce relevant results while systematically de-risking. Ash has done an outstanding job organizing in a logical and easy-to-follow, a lean methodology to place entrepreneurs on a path to success. I absolutely love the fact that this is not a one thousand step, 5 volume, theoretical process. His lean process is anchored on relevant examples and while they are simple, are very transferrable to just about any other product type and complexity type! v/r - KC
Running Lean is *THE* book to read as a startup founder. Others offer platitudes, Running Lean provides a step-by-step playbook for systematically de-risking and growing your business.
Running Lean is *THE* book to read as a startup founder. Others offer platitudes, Running Lean provides a step-by-step playbook for systematically de-risking and growing your business.
Having an ambitious dream is great... but then where do you start? What do you focus on? Who do you listen do? I have a big dream. One of those things that you think, "I have to accomplish this before I die, no matter what it takes." And I've been putting in all my free time to try to make it happen. I knew I would need to work my way there and iterate, and to get feedback as I went. But even though I was trying to learn on the way, I just wasn't learning the right things. I'd get feedback that conflicted, and it felt like I was always being pulled in 20 different directions. I was stuck in a cycle of continuously trying to make everyone happy. I love this book because it gave me permission to ignore people. To stop trying to make everyone happy, and to figure out how to make the -right- people happy. Ash's advice: "Don't lower friction, raise it." It's counter intuitive, yet it's the wisdom that has made all the difference for me, and now I'm watching everything change. I started to work closely with just a handful of the right people. I'm focusing on their success and ignoring everyone else. Then others started to notice, and wonder what was different. And now day by day I get requests from other people, interested in what I'm doing. It's starting to sell itself. And I couldn't be more excited. Its the beginning of seeing my dream come to life. I'm so thankful for the practical wisdom in this book. It gave me the structure I needed to find that early traction - even with a bold and ambitious dream. To any reader out there who has a vision, Ash's book is a roadmap to help you make that vision a reality. Thank you, Ash, you're awesome!!!
Having an ambitious dream is great... but then where do you start? What do you focus on? Who do you listen do? I have a big dream. One of those things that you think, "I have to accomplish this before I die, no matter what it takes." And I've been putting in all my free time to try to make it happen. I knew I would need to work my way there and iterate, and to get feedback as I went. But even though I was trying to learn on the way, I just wasn't learning the right things. I'd get feedback that conflicted, and it felt like I was always being pulled in 20 different directions. I was stuck in a cycle of continuously trying to make everyone happy. I love this book because it gave me permission to ignore people. To stop trying to make everyone happy, and to figure out how to make the -right- people happy. Ash's advice: "Don't lower friction, raise it." It's counter intuitive, yet it's the wisdom that has made all the difference for me, and now I'm watching everything change. I started to work closely with just a handful of the right people. I'm focusing on their success and ignoring everyone else. Then others started to notice, and wonder what was different. And now day by day I get requests from other people, interested in what I'm doing. It's starting to sell itself. And I couldn't be more excited. Its the beginning of seeing my dream come to life. I'm so thankful for the practical wisdom in this book. It gave me the structure I needed to find that early traction - even with a bold and ambitious dream. To any reader out there who has a vision, Ash's book is a roadmap to help you make that vision a reality. Thank you, Ash, you're awesome!!!
Hands down THE best, most practical, and most systematic way to build a business I have ever come across - and I've tried a LOT! Ash nails it. From the fundamental mind-set shift about what your product REALLY is, to the systems-view of your business, to the clear process for vetting the riskiest parts of the project first, to the very practical steps you can take to put it all into action. Read this book, but above all, USE this book. It will make you a better entrepreneur, guaranteed. **(And by that I don't just mean more successful - I mean more aligned with and in-tune with your customers. Which will, of course, make you more successful. Naturally.)**
Hands down THE best, most practical, and most systematic way to build a business I have ever come across - and I've tried a LOT! Ash nails it. From the fundamental mind-set shift about what your product REALLY is, to the systems-view of your business, to the clear process for vetting the riskiest parts of the project first, to the very practical steps you can take to put it all into action. Read this book, but above all, USE this book. It will make you a better entrepreneur, guaranteed. **(And by that I don't just mean more successful - I mean more aligned with and in-tune with your customers. Which will, of course, make you more successful. Naturally.)**
This book is an excellent compass to begin in the entrepreneurship arena without dying in the process. Upon completion of the first 3 chapters, you can understand if your "AWESOME IDEA" can actually become real without to much investment. I proudly recommend this book to anyone who is "starting" something and requires to get things done the proper way. The Chapters are: 1. Meta-Principles 2. Running Lean Illustrated 3. Create Your Lean Canvas 4. Prioritize Where to Start 5. Get Ready to Experiment 6. Get Ready to Interview Customers 7. The Problem Interview 8. The Solution Interview 9. Get to Release 1.0 10. Get Ready to Measure 11. The MVP Interview 12. Validate Customer Life Cycle 13. Don't Be a Feature Pusher 14. Measure Product/Market Fit 15. Conclusion Appendix - Bonus Material - comments and insights on topics including: building a slow burn startup, thoughts on premature funding, achieving flow, pricing models, teaser and landing pages, sales letters, continuous deployment, conversion dashboards Clearly, you will receive more insights in a few pages, than 3 month working on something nobody wants. Thanks ASH for all the insights, specially the Customer Factory Blueprint Course for my company Cliveeo®, Finbooq® SaaS and now 3alCubo™ Workshop.
This book is an excellent compass to begin in the entrepreneurship arena without dying in the process. Upon completion of the first 3 chapters, you can understand if your "AWESOME IDEA" can actually become real without to much investment. I proudly recommend this book to anyone who is "starting" something and requires to get things done the proper way. The Chapters are: 1. Meta-Principles 2. Running Lean Illustrated 3. Create Your Lean Canvas 4. Prioritize Where to Start 5. Get Ready to Experiment 6. Get Ready to Interview Customers 7. The Problem Interview 8. The Solution Interview 9. Get to Release 1.0 10. Get Ready to Measure 11. The MVP Interview 12. Validate Customer Life Cycle 13. Don't Be a Feature Pusher 14. Measure Product/Market Fit 15. Conclusion Appendix - Bonus Material - comments and insights on topics including: building a slow burn startup, thoughts on premature funding, achieving flow, pricing models, teaser and landing pages, sales letters, continuous deployment, conversion dashboards Clearly, you will receive more insights in a few pages, than 3 month working on something nobody wants. Thanks ASH for all the insights, specially the Customer Factory Blueprint Course for my company Cliveeo®, Finbooq® SaaS and now 3alCubo™ Workshop.
