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- The Startup Drake Equation
The Startup Drake Equation
Why do smart, driven and capable founders fail
Jakub Chodounsky
February 10, 2025
The Startup Drake Equation
14 minutes by Jason Cohen
Why do smart, driven and capable founders fail, despite having great ideas and execution? In this article Jason introduces the "Startup Drake Equation" model, inspired by Frank Drake’s formula for estimating the number of alien civilizations in the universe, to explain why most startups fail and how to increase chances of success.
Tests are dead. Meticulous AI is here.
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Stop apologizing for reasonable business decisions
5 minutes by Wes Kao
As a leader, the one thing you are expected to do is make hard decisions and saying sorry might unintentionally shift the power dynamics. In this article Wes discusses the counterproductive habit of unnecessary apologizing in leadership communication, particularly when delivering difficult news. She provides practical guidance on how to communicate challenging decisions firmly and respectfully, emphasizing the importance of providing context and logical rationale instead of defaulting to apologetic language.
The Stories in Our Heads
4 minutes by Andy Sparks
In this article Andy discusses how people often confuse facts with the meanings they attribute to events, particularly when information is missing. He explains that while facts are observable events everyone can agree upon, meanings are personal interpretations or stories we create about those facts, which can significantly influence our reactions and relationships.
Dealing with strong opinions
6 minutes by Rob Lambert
Opinionated people go around the world arguing with other opinionated people. In this article Rob discusses strategies for dealing with strongly opinionated people in the workplace, particularly those who aggressively push their views on others. He provides several practical approaches, including truly listening to understand their perspective, not taking their behavior personally, appreciating different viewpoints, and responding with clarity and kindness rather than confrontation.
Product Development Processes You Might Not have Heard of
7 minutes by Richard Holmes
What are the alternatives to scrum and kanban you ask? In this article Richard discusses three alternative product development methodologies to the commonly used Scrum with 2-week sprints. These alternatives, including ShapeUp, Plan-Build-Ship, and Get Shit Done, emphasize rapid problem-solving through think, explore, and build phases and offer different approaches that may better suit certain teams and organizational needs.
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