The Four Steps to the Epiphany: Successful Strategies for Startups That Win
bySteven Gary Blank
An in-depth journey around the customer and business development cycle for a new product or company. I found the information to be practical and easy to grasp. I approached the principle oriented teaching style and examples that break down misinformation or bad ways about thinking about building a product. Great for entrepreneurial minded individuals that want raw advice and smart guidance.
Motivations to Read
I'm always in search of principle based books. Could early stage businesses, startups have certain principles or patterns that reveal the traits of successful ones from those that go under? I wanted to find out. I came across another on of Steve Blanks startup resources that had a collection of hundreds of free resources startups could use to get off the ground. It was a very exhaustive collection that impressed even me who has a hobby of collecting various resources across the web.
3 Reasons to Read
- Great lessons on customer development for people starting a business as well as seasoned entrepreneurs.
- To dos and what not to do as different stages of the business and market maturity.
- Insights into what makes some startups successful and why others fail.
Notable Quotes
“In the early stages of a startup, focusing on “execution” will put you out of business. Instead, you need a “learning and discovery” process so you can get the company to the point where you know what to execute.” Steven Gary Blank
“Intellect without will is worthless, will without intellect is dangerous. ” — Sun Tzu
“Have we identified a problem a customer wants solved? Does our product solve these customer needs? If so, do we have a viable and profitable business model? Have we learned enough to go out and sell? Answering these questions is the purpose of the first step in the Customer Development model, Customer Discovery. ” Steven Gary Blank
“Technology is adopted in phases by distinct groups: technology enthusiasts, visionaries, pragmatists, conservatives, and skeptics.” Steven Gary Blank
“Build it and they will come,” is not a strategy; it's a prayer.” Steve Blank
