Starting a Company

01/23/25 • 46 min

In this episode, Rob, Tom and Jono discuss a compelling quote from American internet entrepreneur Reid Hoffman (who is also the founding host the Masters of Scale podcast), which compares starting a company to jumping off a cliff and assembling a plane on the way down. Tom and Jono share their personal experiences and insights into the chaos and exhilaration of entrepreneurship. We also explore the deeper meanings behind such journeys, offering advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and relating to various iconic metaphors. Highlights include the challenges and rewards of starting a business, the importance of having a supportive team, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. They also bring up Wallace and Gromit's hilarious train track scene and share insights into psychological and logistical hurdles faced while building a business.

Other links to references made in the podcast include:

+ A video of a lone dancer in a field at a festival who starts a craze - a very uplifting watch demonstrating the different roles of leadership and first follower.

+ The Sketchplanations The Podcast episode on Optimism Bias - referencing a typical character trait of entrepreneurs.

+ The Sketchplanation on The Twin Engines of Altruism and Ambition

+ Big Ideas, Little Pictures: The Sketchplanations book where you can see the Starting a Company sketch with even more detail and on a double page spread.

+ American writer Ray Bradbury and his wonderful quote about missing life if you don't jump off cliffs and build your wings on the way down.

02:16 The Chaos of Starting a Company

04:48 The Role of Money and Support in Entrepreneurship

06:50 The Importance of Team and Adaptability

10:05 The Reality of Entrepreneurial Risks and Rewards

18:36 The Power of Early Adopters and Team Dynamics

21:16 Wallace and Gromit: A Metaphor for Entrepreneurship

23:14 Navigating Business Challenges

23:52 Growth and Expansion Strategies

24:18 Facing New Market Requirements

25:34 Building a Supportive Team

26:09 The Reality of Running a Business

29:01 The Role of Optimism in Business

33:53 The Rewards of Entrepreneurship

37:16 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

41:13 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

All music in this series is provided by Franc Cinelli.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Other links to references made in the podcast include:

+ A video of a lone dancer in a field at a festival who starts a craze - a very uplifting watch demonstrating the different roles of leadership and first follower.

+ The Sketchplanations The Podcast episode on Optimism Bias - referencing a typical character trait of entrepreneurs.

+ The Sketchplanation on The Twin Engines of Altruism and Ambition

+ Big Ideas, Little Pictures: The Sketchplanations book where you can see the Starting a Company sketch with even more detail and on a double page spread.

+ American writer Ray Bradbury and his wonderful quote about missing life if you don't jump off cliffs and build your wings on the way down.

02:16 The Chaos of Starting a Company

04:48 The Role of Money and Support in Entrepreneurship

06:50 The Importance of Team and Adaptability

10:05 The Reality of Entrepreneurial Risks and Rewards

18:36 The Power of Early Adopters and Team Dynamics

21:16 Wallace and Gromit: A Metaphor for Entrepreneurship

23:14 Navigating Business Challenges

23:52 Growth and Expansion Strategies

24:18 Facing New Market Requirements

25:34 Building a Supportive Team

26:09 The Reality of Running a Business

29:01 The Role of Optimism in Business

33:53 The Rewards of Entrepreneurship

37:16 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

41:13 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

All music in this series is provided by Franc Cinelli.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Cake Wrecks with guest John Cutler

Have you ever had your order or instructions (for a cake or otherwise) go hilariously awry?

Oh dear... How funny. Never mind eh?!? I'm sure there's a lesson in these somewhere.

In this episode, we discuss the phenomenon of 'Cake Wrecks,' where instructions for creating something go hilariously wrong, and how this applies broadly to miscommunication in product development. The conversation is joined by John Cutler, a prolific writer and ("on second") thought leader in digital product development. We delve into the importance of clear communication, prototypes, and iterative understanding in avoiding these 'wrecks' in both hardware and software realms. As always, we also touch on real-world examples, the role of user experience, and the necessity of involving all team members in the design process to ensure a shared and accurate understanding of project goals.

Stay tuned for practical advice on improving clarity and collaboration in your projects.

Topics Covered.

00:00 Introduction to Cakewrecks

00:57 Everyday Essentials and the Magic of Three

01:44 The Versatile Bic Four Colours Pen

02:17 Reminiscing About Handwriting and Notes

05:31 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

05:39 Exploring Cake Wrecks and Misinterpretation

06:29 John Cutler's Journey and Insights

13:47 Challenges in Product Development

20:07 The Illusion of Fixing Decisions

20:28 Challenges in Hardware Manufacturing

21:13 The Importance of Clear Communication

22:44 Prototyping and Specification

23:46 Avoiding Misunderstandings in Projects

25:20 Participatory Design and User Experience

28:18 Embracing Diverse Perspectives

34:48 The Role of Sketching in Communication

37:55 Concluding Thoughts and Resources

Get in Touch

Have you ever had your instructions result in something way more literal than intended? Or did you mis-interpret the orders of someone else?

Let us know:

email us: [email protected]
OR leave us a voice note

Reference Links

In this episode we also reference:

YouTube clip of John's first digital product development project; the computer bar tending game, Last Call
Jen Yates' amusing blog on Cake Wrecks
Jeff Patton's book; User Story Mapping
Spinal Tap's Cake Wreck moment when they accidentally order an 18" tall model of Stonehenge in stead of an 18' model.
Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner's book, How Big Things Get Done

All music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Anchors & Tugboats

Inspired by Sports Psychologist, Justin Ross on the Løw Tide Bøyz Podcast, this episode explores the metaphors of 'anchors' and 'tugboats' to illustrate the impact of negative and positive self-talk on our mental state and performance. We discuss how negative thoughts can anchor us down, whereas positive thinking acts as a tugboat, pulling us forward. We delve into examples from sports psychology, personal professional experiences, parenting and everyday scenarios to highlight the importance of being aware of our inner dialogue. The conversation also touches on the role of friends, the significance of small changes like having a snack, and practical tips for reframing negative thoughts. Join us as we navigate these concepts, and provide practical advice for turning your mental anchors into tugboats that propel you forward.

We reference the following in the podcast:

+ Jono's Sketchplanations on The Stages of Competence Framework

+ David Goggins' Book: Can’t Hurt me.

+ Jono's sketch on Complaining at the Weather

+ Jono's Paradox of Choice sketch

+ Tommy's positive manifestations of "There will be a parking space" - as popularised by Paul McKenna

Timeline of topics discussed:

00:00 Understanding the Power of Self-Talk

00:57 Introducing Anchors and Tugboats

02:11 The Origin of Anchors and Tugboats

03:49 Applying the Metaphor to Sports and Life

05:09 Awareness and Self-Talk