Actionable Metrics vs. Fail Conditions: Kill Your Ideas First
Stop setting success metrics that invite rationalization. Use fail conditions grounded in your business model to guard against self-delusion.
Blog
206 articles on innovation, lean startup, and entrepreneurship
Lean Startup Hypothesis vs. Assumption: Why the Difference Matters
Assumptions are taken on faith. A lean startup hypothesis is specific and falsifiable. Learn to convert vague beliefs into testable statements.
How to Choose the Right Lean Startup Experiment to Run
Learn how to pick the right experiment using the Real Startup Book framework. Map generative vs. evaluative research to market or product learning.
Playing Lean: The Innovation Board Game That Teaches Lean Startup
Interview with Simen Fure Jørgensen on Playing Lean, the innovation board game that teaches lean startup through 90 minutes of hands-on gameplay.
Generative Research: The Picnic in the Graveyard Technique
Learn the Picnic in the Graveyard technique — a generative research method that studies failed startups to discover what features to build for your MVP.
Comprehension Test Before Smoke Test: Stop Premature Surrender
Run a comprehension test before your smoke test. If customers can't understand your offer, zero conversions reveal a messaging problem — not a bad idea.
B2B MVP Pitfalls: When Large Customers Quietly Complete Your Product
Startups building a B2B MVP with one large customer risk invisible gaps. Learn how to map the whole product and avoid blockers with real-world cases.
Lean Healthcare Isn't Here Yet: An Interview with Mark Graban
Mark Graban explains why Lean Healthcare requires cultural transformation, not just tools—and why most health systems still get it wrong after 20 years.
Innovation Workshop Facilitation: The Complete Supplies Checklist
A practical checklist of supplies, facilities, food, and tech you need to facilitate an innovation workshop — from Sharpies to follow-up surveys.
Running Lean in a Corporate Startup: Lessons Across Company Size
Learn how to run lean in a corporate startup, align executives past the honeymoon period, and choose the right metrics for each stage of growth.
Business Card Fishbowl Leads: Why They Waste Startup Resources
Business card fishbowl contests generate false positives. Learn why startups should skip the raffle and qualify leads through conversations.
Sales Goals and Objectives: Why Your B2B Funnel Needs Clear Next Steps
Most startups set bold revenue targets but walk into sales meetings with no concrete goal. Learn how to define clear next steps at every funnel stage.