The most important thing in startups is getting a product to market, as imperfect as it may be, and then iterating on it and continually making it better. A first rev of a site that has a few typos may not be perfect, but it was the start of something that I deeply believed in. Kathryn Minshew believecontinuallydeeply share on social
There were so many lessons I learned the hard way: missing out on a raise because I didn't know to ask, having colleagues consistently get credit for my ideas because of how I spoke up in meetings. When I looked for a resource that addressed the challenges I was facing, I couldn't find it. There was nothing. Kathryn Minshew addresschallengecolleague share on social
Keeping a 'CEO blog' or 'founder's blog' can be a great platform for engaging your users in a nontraditional way, reaching people outside of your product pitch and building rapport without selling them anything except a belief in your ideas. Kathryn Minshew beliefblogbuild share on social
My first company failed completely. And it failed at about ten months old. I had about 12 months of savings, so when it failed I was thinking: 'Do I go back to work?' And at that point I believed so deeply in what I was doing that I couldn't imagine anything else other than trying to make this business work. Kathryn Minshew backbelievebusiness share on social
It's fantastic to be known as a company that responds quickly to users, shares great resources and friendly banter with them over Twitter, and forges relationships on Pinterest, Facebook, and every other social media site out there. Kathryn Minshew bantcompanyfacebook share on social
For those working menial jobs or putting in 100-hour weeks for corporations, the lure of starting your own business can seem like a great way to get more flexibility, upside, and ownership. Kathryn Minshew businesscorporationflexibility Change image and share on social
When you start a new company, you have to do it all. Yes, all of it. Kathryn Minshew companystart Change image and share on social
Even your most talented employees have room for growth in some area, and you're doing your employee a disservice if the sum of your review is: 'You're great!' No matter how talented the employee, think of ways he could grow towards the position he might want to hold two, five, or 10 years down the line. Kathryn Minshew areadisserviceemployee share on social
Get your product in front of actual, living, breathing strangers. Your college roommate's approval does not mean there's market demand. Kathryn Minshew actualapprovalbreathe Change image and share on social
For almost the first year of The Muse's life, I would do 5 to 8 networking events a week. And I don't necessarily think that's the right path for everyone, but I realized that as an entrepreneur, one of my strengths was finding the right people who could help us. I didn't come into startups with any network. Kathryn Minshew entrepreneureventfind share on social