Startups and the Stockdale Paradox

http://bnoopy.typepad.com/bnoopy/2005/01/startups_and_th.html

by nostrademons • 19 years ago

23 6 19 years ago

bnoopy.typepad.com

brett• 19 years ago

That article is awesome. I've always has trouble articulating my belief in the power of positive thinking without sounding like a hippie.

bluemoo• 19 years ago

It is a compelling story, but I think the lesson is that you need the right *kind* of positive thinking.

bootload• 19 years ago

'... the power of positive thinking ...'

Not so much the power of 'positive thinking' as accepting the 'reality of the situation' and making sure you can get beyond it. Another example of this type of 'conscious acceptance of a situation' can be found in the phrase ... 'there is no land-rover' ~ http://tinyurl.com/35xy9m

imp• 19 years ago

I've heard that story before, but never thought about how it could be applied to startups. Interesting.

papersmith• 19 years ago

I read "Good to Great", it's an awesome book for mature companies, but not really relevant for startups. Though never mentioned, I can sort of see Google fitting the profile of an up-and-coming "great company" according to the author's definition (one that will beat the market over the long term).

nostrademons• 19 years ago

The prequel "Built to Last", however, is great for startups. He studied "visionary companies" in that one (including HP, IBM, Merck, 3M, etc.), and includes a lot about *how* a visionary company starts. I heard echoes of Built to Last in Woz's presentation at the startup school, so it's not just old-economy companies that it applies to.

Startups and the Stockdale Paradox

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