- Entries
- 26
- Span
- 2011–14
- 2014Aug 28
Why Do People Dislike Basecamp? Blank Canvas Syndrome
The real reason people say they could never get into Basecamp is blank canvas syndrome — no onboarding, no starting point — and how sample data can change that for any SaaS product.
Aug 28, 2014 / 2 min2 min - 2014May 14
It Pays to Know Where You Sit
Whether you're doing the work or managing someone else doing it, success demands understanding scope, infrastructure, roles, and accountability — knowing your seat means being fully prepared.
May 14, 2014 / 2 min2 min - 2014Apr 30
A Few Things to Consider When Hiring an Agency
Hard-won lessons from 30+ agency engagements covering quality vs. budget trade-offs, freelancer churn, Fortune 500 bias, and when hiring an agency actually makes sense for startups.
Apr 30, 2014 / 5 min5 min - 2014Apr 23
Please Don't Be Offended, but I Think You're an Idiot
A candid take on why the "praise sandwich" approach to feedback backfires and why blunt, direct criticism is more respectful and effective than sugarcoating hard truths.
Apr 23, 2014 / 2 min2 min - 2014Mar 27
Two Types of Entrepreneurs: Risk Takers vs. Small Bettors
Entrepreneurial partnerships fail when risk tolerances clash. Understanding the difference between big-bet risk takers and iterative small bettors can save you from painful conflict.
Mar 27, 2014 / 2 min - 2014Mar 12
Technology Might Not Be the Core Challenge for a Digital Startup
Technologists often focus too much on the build and too little on the market. The core challenge for many digital startups isn't technology — it's marketing and customer acquisition.
Mar 12, 2014 / 2 min - 2014Feb 12
When You Screw Up in Business Make It Right
Every professional makes mistakes. What separates good entrepreneurs from bad ones is how they respond — owning up, compensating customers, and restoring lost value.
Feb 12, 2014 / 2 min2 min - 2013Oct 03
The Art of the Long Email
While most people preach short emails, Cloudmanic's approach is the opposite: long, detailed emails filter out poor communicators and reduce back-and-forth for those who value thoroughness.
Oct 3, 2013 / 2 min - 2013Sep 12
Need to Make a Decision? Ask the Magic 8 Ball
From childhood toy to phone app, the Magic 8 Ball remains a surprisingly useful decision-making tool. A meditation on randomness, commitment, and what it means to trust a 20-sided die.
Sep 12, 2013 / 2 min2 min - 2013Aug 08
B2B Is Bi-Curious But Unwilling to Admit It
The line between B2B and B2C sales is blurring. Cloudmanic uses consumer marketing tactics for Skyclerk, a B2B product, and believes the best companies embrace both worlds.
Aug 8, 2013 / 2 min - 2013May 22
When Your Devotion to Quality Makes Time (and You) its Bitch
Balancing quality obsession against time constraints — when perfectionism is a liability, when it is a virtue, and how to make peace with the tension between the two.
May 22, 2013 / 2 min2 min - 2013May 09
An Angst-Free Workplace
Why angst-free work matters more than salary or perks, and how management and employees can collaborate to identify and eliminate workplace stress at its source.
May 9, 2013 / 2 min2 min - 2013Jan 30
Price Is A Feature
Price is a real feature that influences product choices — even when a more expensive option is objectively better. A look at how price tips the scales.
Jan 30, 2013 / 2 min2 min - 2012Sep 11
Deadlines Are Harmful To The Creative Process
At Cloudmanic Labs we run a deadline-free zone. Most deadlines are soft and arbitrary — forcing creative work into a time box produces mediocre results and burns out your best people.
Sep 11, 2012 / 4 min - 2012Aug 20
Learning Is Hard: Hire Employees With A Learning Scale Of 10
Not all learning is equal — we each have a passion scale of 1–10 for any subject. When hiring, seek people whose scale is a 10 for their field so they stay sharp and keep growing.
Aug 20, 2012 / 4 min - 2012Aug 12
NDAs Are Often Misused & Dumb!
Most startups asking you to sign an NDA before pitching their idea are shooting themselves in the foot. Ideas need evangelism, not secrecy — here's why NDAs early on are counterproductive.
Aug 12, 2012 / 2 min2 min - 2012Jun 26
Loyalty, Its Important
Loyalty — in business and personal relationships — has more long-term value than the "it's just business" mindset. Here's why prioritizing loyalty pays bigger dividends over time.
Jun 26, 2012 / 3 min3 min - 2012May 23
A Special Thanks To Wildbit
A shout-out to Wildbit — makers of Beanstalk and Postmark — for their mentorship community Think Strapped and their generous support of bootstrapped software startups.
May 23, 2012 / 1 min1 min - 2012May 02
20 Mile Hikes
A lesson from Jim Collins' Great by Choice about consistent 20-mile-a-day progress and why disciplined, steady growth beats the temptation to sprint or stall in building a startup.
May 2, 2012 / 2 min2 min - 2012Apr 12
Consistent UI Design For Apps & Marketing Sites
Why startups should maintain consistent look and feel from marketing site to app to mobile — and how Cloudmanic Labs is committing to a unified experience across all its properties.
Apr 12, 2012 / 2 min2 min - 2012Apr 03
Hiring Programmers When They Are Excited
Drawing a parallel between snowboarding passion and software engineering drive, this post argues for hiring programmers while they're still in the growth phase of their career.
Apr 3, 2012 / 3 min3 min - 2011Jun 26
I Don't Care About Your Resume
Why a GitHub account matters more than a polished resume when hiring programmers — a look at how public code reveals true passion and primary language focus.
Jun 26, 2011 / 2 min - 2011Jun 07
Communication with Your Virtual Team
A practical breakdown of when to use IM, micro-blogs, project management tools, Google Docs, and intranet sites to communicate effectively with remote and virtual team members.
Jun 7, 2011 / 3 min - 2011May 05
Co-Working 101: What Is It, How To Find Co-Working Spaces, and Is It for You
A practical guide to co-working — what it is, how to find spaces near you using directories like DeskWanted and Loosecubes, and how to decide if shared office space fits your work style.
May 5, 2011 / 3 min - 2011Apr 12
The Web Is Hard
A 4th-generation entrepreneur questions whether the rise of internet startups — with their low success rates — is slowly killing the entrepreneurial spirit that built Main Street businesses.
Apr 12, 2011 / 2 min - 2011Apr 06
How to get hired: What not to do
A hiring committee member shares candid advice on the cover letter, resume, and interview mistakes that get applications sent straight to the shredder — and how to avoid them.
Apr 6, 2011 / 4 min
