Comments on: Don’t Underestimate a Head Start http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/ Building Intimate Business Relationships Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:06:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG » Blog Archive » Top 10 Small Business & Home Office reads of the Week 2009/07/01 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/comment-page-1/#comment-2093 THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG » Blog Archive » Top 10 Small Business & Home Office reads of the Week 2009/07/01 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:25:28 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/#comment-2093 [...] ryanstephensmarketing.com:- Don’t Underestimate a Head Start [...] [...] ryanstephensmarketing.com:- Don’t Underestimate a Head Start [...]

]]> By: Elisa http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/comment-page-1/#comment-2067 Elisa Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:44:49 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/#comment-2067 Haha, after our series this past week (BoSox of course!) I have to concur with a local sportsradio guy...those games just shouldn't count. It's like a Futures at Fenway series...makes me very worried about Smoltz though. Losing your starting game with the clubhouse against the Nationals is not the best way to endear yourself to OUR nation. :) Haha, after our series this past week (BoSox of course!) I have to concur with a local sportsradio guy…those games just shouldn’t count. It’s like a Futures at Fenway series…makes me very worried about Smoltz though. Losing your starting game with the clubhouse against the Nationals is not the best way to endear yourself to OUR nation. :)

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/comment-page-1/#comment-2066 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:01:11 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/#comment-2066 @Sam - I definitely think passion is a key component to getting ahead. Without it, I suspect it's tough to find the incentive to endure what's necessary to keep pushing forward. And I love that you bring up "waiting around" and "second guessing" because you're right, there's no time for either. If you fail, fail fast, adjust accordingly, but waiting, apathy, etc. will get you beat -- everytime. I won't even comment on the worst team in baseball, though I've been once and I enjoyed the stadium experience until I realized I was watching the Nats. Sad the "Presidential Race" is more enticing than watching Acta's club determine to stay in the cellar. @Sam – I definitely think passion is a key component to getting ahead. Without it, I suspect it’s tough to find the incentive to endure what’s necessary to keep pushing forward. And I love that you bring up “waiting around” and “second guessing” because you’re right, there’s no time for either. If you fail, fail fast, adjust accordingly, but waiting, apathy, etc. will get you beat — everytime.

I won’t even comment on the worst team in baseball, though I’ve been once and I enjoyed the stadium experience until I realized I was watching the Nats. Sad the “Presidential Race” is more enticing than watching Acta’s club determine to stay in the cellar.

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/comment-page-1/#comment-2065 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:55:52 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/#comment-2065 @Elisa - You can have whatever you want to allow yourself. I'm just thankful you find the time to stop by my humble community and contribute at all. I really appreciate your insights and the depth you so often bring to the conversations we're all sharing here. @Elisa – You can have whatever you want to allow yourself. I’m just thankful you find the time to stop by my humble community and contribute at all. I really appreciate your insights and the depth you so often bring to the conversations we’re all sharing here.

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/comment-page-1/#comment-2064 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:54:04 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/#comment-2064 @Carlos - I agree that it's easy to get ahead of individual people, particularly those intent on preserving the status quo, but in terms of businesses I think (depending on your sector) that's really hard. And is your company going to sacrifice a core competency of your own to shift gears and resources to try and catch another company that already has a head start? Doubtful. You have to keep innovating (it's why Apple's been a success, right?) but a lot of things have to happen to generate a enough momentum to catapult a new company to profitability, much less catching the leaders. @Carlos – I agree that it’s easy to get ahead of individual people, particularly those intent on preserving the status quo, but in terms of businesses I think (depending on your sector) that’s really hard.

And is your company going to sacrifice a core competency of your own to shift gears and resources to try and catch another company that already has a head start? Doubtful.

You have to keep innovating (it’s why Apple’s been a success, right?) but a lot of things have to happen to generate a enough momentum to catapult a new company to profitability, much less catching the leaders.

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/comment-page-1/#comment-1867 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:40:33 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/#comment-1867 @Matt – I commend your efforts and they certainly shine through. Let’s face facts. There are some people in this world who aren’t brilliant, who don’t know anything the rest of us don’t, but who worked HARDER and SACRIFICED more and as a result they’re uber successful. My great grandfather used to say, you can do anything you set your mind to provided you’re willing to sacrifice everything else. Most of us aren’t willing to make that kind of commitment. For example, I wasn’t going to not have friends and make C’s in college to take batting practice/ground balls 4 more hours each day. But if I had would I be in the big show? Eh, maybe. While it’s incredibly unrealistic for most of us, it’s worth acknowledging, as the NBA says, “Anything is Possible.” @Matt – I commend your efforts and they certainly shine through. Let’s face facts. There are some people in this world who aren’t brilliant, who don’t know anything the rest of us don’t, but who worked HARDER and SACRIFICED more and as a result they’re uber successful. My great grandfather used to say, you can do anything you set your mind to provided you’re willing to sacrifice everything else. Most of us aren’t willing to make that kind of commitment. For example, I wasn’t going to not have friends and make C’s in college to take batting practice/ground balls 4 more hours each day. But if I had would I be in the big show? Eh, maybe.

While it’s incredibly unrealistic for most of us, it’s worth acknowledging, as the NBA says, “Anything is Possible.”

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/comment-page-1/#comment-1866 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:39:17 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/#comment-1866 @Stuart – Blue is not a flavor, it’s a color. If blue was coconut it would suck. Thanks you, come again. Great points. The game is always changing and evolving, especially in this world we live in. The best, the innovators, etc. Not only do they keep up with change, not only do they react to change, not only do they anticipate page, but the CREATE change. And I too live very frugally. One thing I’ve learned from my stoic readings are that if you live in bad conditions, you’ll realize it’s not that bad and everything else becomes gravy. For the first week I was in Charlotte, I lived on an air mattress with ZERO furniture. And you know what? It didn’t suck. It was kinda fun, even. Would I want to do it everyday? Probably not, but if that’s the worse that happens to me – that’s nothing my man. @Stuart – Blue is not a flavor, it’s a color. If blue was coconut it would suck. Thanks you, come again.

Great points. The game is always changing and evolving, especially in this world we live in. The best, the innovators, etc. Not only do they keep up with change, not only do they react to change, not only do they anticipate page, but the CREATE change.

And I too live very frugally. One thing I’ve learned from my stoic readings are that if you live in bad conditions, you’ll realize it’s not that bad and everything else becomes gravy. For the first week I was in Charlotte, I lived on an air mattress with ZERO furniture. And you know what? It didn’t suck. It was kinda fun, even. Would I want to do it everyday? Probably not, but if that’s the worse that happens to me – that’s nothing my man.

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/comment-page-1/#comment-1865 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:38:01 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/#comment-1865 @Jackie – Cherry? Seriously? Could you be more boring? You bring up 2 points of emphasis I want to address. One, staying ahead is imperative and it’s the reason a head start is so important. Once you have the head start it’s tougher for others to come catch you, but in reality the best (and the bigger with more resources) certainly can. The second complacency sets in, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Second, I LOVE you mention the recession. I think everyone that scaled back made mistakes. I think during a recession is the perfect time to re-evaluate and be more strategic, but to really make some plays b/c when we come out the other side the companies that did will be SO FAR ahead. @Jackie – Cherry? Seriously? Could you be more boring?

You bring up 2 points of emphasis I want to address. One, staying ahead is imperative and it’s the reason a head start is so important. Once you have the head start it’s tougher for others to come catch you, but in reality the best (and the bigger with more resources) certainly can. The second complacency sets in, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Second, I LOVE you mention the recession. I think everyone that scaled back made mistakes. I think during a recession is the perfect time to re-evaluate and be more strategic, but to really make some plays b/c when we come out the other side the companies that did will be SO FAR ahead.

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/comment-page-1/#comment-1864 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:37:40 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/#comment-1864 @Gail – You’re absolutely right though I fear you leave it open for interpretation in that you can get ahead in anything you approach. The reality is we have to pick and choose. While it’s great to have a broad knowledge of this space, to really be successful (success defined as profitability) you have to have a laser focus with respect to something others can’t duplicate, do better, or make more scalable than you. @Gail – You’re absolutely right though I fear you leave it open for interpretation in that you can get ahead in anything you approach. The reality is we have to pick and choose. While it’s great to have a broad knowledge of this space, to really be successful (success defined as profitability) you have to have a laser focus with respect to something others can’t duplicate, do better, or make more scalable than you.

]]> By: Sam http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/comment-page-1/#comment-1858 Sam Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:45:28 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/don%e2%80%99t-underestimate-a-head-start/#comment-1858 Sorry kids, my vote's for red. Oh, and Ryan, this is a great post! I think a good word for what you're talking about here is passion. If we're passionate about something, if we really want it, we have to be willing to do whatever it takes. There can be no waiting around or second guessing, because it doesn't take long for someone else to take advantage of the same opportunity. In a space like the blogosphere, where there are so many amazing people, it's about setting yourself apart and bringing something new and different. I would say the same is true for the booming snow cone industry. Come up with a plan and commit to it, make yourself unique, and sell yourself. Maybe Purpleberry is the next big thing in snow cones? One unrelated comment: love the picture! I spent a summer and a semester in DC, and my favorite part of the Nats games was the "presidential race" (unfortunately, the games weren't too exciting). Plus, they're so awkward with their disproportionate heads :) Sorry kids, my vote’s for red. Oh, and Ryan, this is a great post! I think a good word for what you’re talking about here is passion. If we’re passionate about something, if we really want it, we have to be willing to do whatever it takes. There can be no waiting around or second guessing, because it doesn’t take long for someone else to take advantage of the same opportunity.

In a space like the blogosphere, where there are so many amazing people, it’s about setting yourself apart and bringing something new and different. I would say the same is true for the booming snow cone industry. Come up with a plan and commit to it, make yourself unique, and sell yourself. Maybe Purpleberry is the next big thing in snow cones?

One unrelated comment: love the picture! I spent a summer and a semester in DC, and my favorite part of the Nats games was the “presidential race” (unfortunately, the games weren’t too exciting). Plus, they’re so awkward with their disproportionate heads :)

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