Startup Week 1: Tape a vision statement and measurable goals on your mirror
Posted: January 1, 2011 Filed under: Uncategorized 2 Comments »
Vision: short, visible, understandable, meaningful.
Time: 2 hours
Tools: Sharpie (or ball point pen), Index Cards (or small sheets of paper)
Cost: $0
Your mission:
- Write down your vision in the format SERVICE for AUDIENCE (e.g., actionable advice for new software entrepreneurs) or MODEL for NEW (e.g., Ranger School for founders).
- Imagine spending the rest of your life working on this vision, making dramatic contributions and a modest income. Was it worth it? If the answer is anything but yes, go back to 1.
- Create measurable goals that support your vision.
- If you achieve your goals, will you make meaningful progress against your vision? If not, go back to 3.
- Can you imagine a path to achieve your goals? If not, go back to 3.
- Write your vision and your goals on a 3×5 card and tape it to your mirror. You have started.
Discussion:
Vision: Make it meaningful, short, understandable, and visible. Do it.
Everything starts with vision, and this is particularly true with a software startup. More specifically, everything starts with a clear and meaningful vision. Meaningful depends on you. There are some references below that can help you find a vision that is meaningful to you, but a simple approach is to focus on those activities that energize you.
What do you love to do?
Keep your vision visible. Having a vision tucked away in a folder share or some website will not help you keep focused. Keep your vision short. Having a lengthy vision statement allows you to be unclear about your vision. It allows you to be sloppy with your priorities. It allows you to believe that you are making meaningful progress when you are just doing work.
What is the LeanFounder vision?
Actionable advice and community for new software entrepreneurs.
What are the measurable goals for LeanFounder?
Actionable Advice: 25 Missions
Community: 10 active contributors, 100 active commenters, and 1,000 weekly visitors.
For more information about LeanFounder, including an expanded description of the vision and goals, visit About LeanFounder.
Vision Recommended Reading
- Now, Discover Your Strengths – do what you love and the rest will work itself out.
- Tribes - build and empower a community around your passion.
- The Art of the Start – inspiration for starting a business.
Visualization is key. I love how this blog gives it the importance it deserves. Stating your vision is for sure the first step. And posting it to make yourselve accountable is even better. I would say post to a public forum like FB to make yourself even more accountable.
Visualization is key. I love how this blog gives it the importance it deserves. Stating your vision is for sure the first step. And posting it to make oneself accountable is even better. I would even say post to a public forum like FB to make yourself accountable to the world.