Comments on: In Defense of Lifestyle http://bhargreaves.com/2010/07/lifestyle-small/ Brad Hargreaves on entrepreneurship, community and life Mon, 14 May 2012 06:25:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Scott http://bhargreaves.com/2010/07/lifestyle-small/comment-page-1/#comment-883 Scott Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:36:00 +0000 http://bhargreaves.com/?p=353#comment-883 Great post, and an important thing for techie entrepreneurs to remember (ie that making money is a great thing for a business, and not just shooting for 1bn users and the holy grail google acquisition and figuring out monetization later...). Ironically, one setting out to create a scalable, profitable 'simple' business can often find himself with something that can be grown quite nicely if it passes the litmus tests you point out. I think that running a startup like a true small business is a good thing for entrepreneurs to think about. Great post, and an important thing for techie entrepreneurs to remember (ie that making money is a great thing for a business, and not just shooting for 1bn users and the holy grail google acquisition and figuring out monetization later…). Ironically, one setting out to create a scalable, profitable ‘simple’ business can often find himself with something that can be grown quite nicely if it passes the litmus tests you point out. I think that running a startup like a true small business is a good thing for entrepreneurs to think about.

]]> By: Scott http://bhargreaves.com/2010/07/lifestyle-small/comment-page-1/#comment-827 Scott Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:36:51 +0000 http://bhargreaves.com/?p=353#comment-827 Great post, and an important thing for techie entrepreneurs to remember (ie that making money is a great thing for a business, and not just shooting for 1bn users and the holy grail google acquisition and figuring out monetization later...). Ironically, one setting out to create a scalable, profitable 'simple' business can often find himself with something that can be grown quite nicely if it passes the litmus tests you point out. I think that running a startup like a true small business is a good thing for entrepreneurs to think about. Great post, and an important thing for techie entrepreneurs to remember (ie that making money is a great thing for a business, and not just shooting for 1bn users and the holy grail google acquisition and figuring out monetization later…). Ironically, one setting out to create a scalable, profitable 'simple' business can often find himself with something that can be grown quite nicely if it passes the litmus tests you point out. I think that running a startup like a true small business is a good thing for entrepreneurs to think about.

]]> By: jonathanjaeger http://bhargreaves.com/2010/07/lifestyle-small/comment-page-1/#comment-826 jonathanjaeger Mon, 19 Jul 2010 03:54:57 +0000 http://bhargreaves.com/?p=353#comment-826 You can compare lifestyle vs. scalable businesses to being in a metal band. Being in a successful underground metal band is more like a lifestyle business (at best). You might have to "sell out" and soften your sound to become more mainstream (i.e. scale). If it's not aligned with your core music interests, you shouldn't do it, even if it gets you more fans or money. The same goes for an entrepreneur: if you don't actually want to leave your small niche, you shouldn't do it in the name of a trend or a paycheck. You can compare lifestyle vs. scalable businesses to being in a metal band. Being in a successful underground metal band is more like a lifestyle business (at best). You might have to “sell out” and soften your sound to become more mainstream (i.e. scale). If it's not aligned with your core music interests, you shouldn't do it, even if it gets you more fans or money. The same goes for an entrepreneur: if you don't actually want to leave your small niche, you shouldn't do it in the name of a trend or a paycheck.

]]> By: Brad Hargreaves http://bhargreaves.com/2010/07/lifestyle-small/comment-page-1/#comment-825 Brad Hargreaves Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:14:01 +0000 http://bhargreaves.com/?p=353#comment-825 Primarily, I think entrepreneurs should align their efforts with their own interests / desires rather than external sensibilities and trends. Starting a business in a small niche or with scaling issues may not be sexy, but it may be the best choice for the entrepreneur. Primarily, I think entrepreneurs should align their efforts with their own interests / desires rather than external sensibilities and trends. Starting a business in a small niche or with scaling issues may not be sexy, but it may be the best choice for the entrepreneur.

]]> By: Guest http://bhargreaves.com/2010/07/lifestyle-small/comment-page-1/#comment-824 Guest Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:58:27 +0000 http://bhargreaves.com/?p=353#comment-824 That's right...it was an angel. But I strongly agree with your more general point, which is that there is an over-emphasis among entrepreneurs on creating an OMG NEXT BIG THING product, rather than something that is initially simply cash flow positive (or just breaks even). <br><br>A lot of the points you raise here are not in defense of running a lifestyle business, but in defense of bootstrapping. Maybe a future post? That's right…it was an angel. But I strongly agree with your more general point, which is that there is an over-emphasis among entrepreneurs on creating an OMG NEXT BIG THING product, rather than something that is initially simply cash flow positive (or just breaks even).

A lot of the points you raise here are not in defense of running a lifestyle business, but in defense of bootstrapping. Maybe a future post?

]]> By: Brad Hargreaves http://bhargreaves.com/2010/07/lifestyle-small/comment-page-1/#comment-822 Brad Hargreaves Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:42:31 +0000 http://bhargreaves.com/?p=353#comment-822 Noted. Although I haven't kept up with it, my guess would be that the<br>capital didn't come from traditional venture capitalists -- correct me if<br>I'm wrong. Noted. Although I haven't kept up with it, my guess would be that the
capital didn't come from traditional venture capitalists — correct me if
I'm wrong.

]]> By: Guest http://bhargreaves.com/2010/07/lifestyle-small/comment-page-1/#comment-821 Guest Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:24:25 +0000 http://bhargreaves.com/?p=353#comment-821 Not to nitpick, but that grilled cheese restaurant you mention _did_ raise a significant round of capital before launching. Not to nitpick, but that grilled cheese restaurant you mention _did_ raise a significant round of capital before launching.

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