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The Lean Startup

336 pages, 2011

business & management

business & management

1082 books
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Description

The new book Lean Startup by Eric Ries describes a way to avoid the failure of a startup business. The author defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. 

This is true for one person in a garage or a group of seasoned professionals in a Fortune 500 boardroom. What they have in common is a mission to penetrate that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business. The Lean Startup approach fosters companies that are both more capital efficient and that leverage human creativity more effectively. 

Inspired by lessons from lean manufacturing, it relies on “validated learning,” rapid scientific experimentation, as well as a number of counter-intuitive practices that shorten product development cycles, measure actual progress without resorting to vanity metrics, and learn what customers want.

Embrace the Lean Startup Methodology

Eric Ries introduces the Lean Startup methodology, a new approach to business that's being adopted around the world. It's about learning what your customers really want and learning it quickly. It's about continuously testing your vision and adapting before it's too late. You'll see that it's not about spending a lot of money, but about being efficient and agile.

Understand the Importance of Validated Learning

Ries emphasizes the importance of validated learning - a process where one learns by trying out an initial idea and then measuring it to validate the effect. Each test is a learning experience and, if something doesn't work, it's an opportunity to pivot or make a course correction. So, don't be afraid to experiment and learn from your mistakes.

Build-Measure-Learn is the Key

The Lean Startup encourages a cycle of 'Build-Measure-Learn'. This means you should build a minimum viable product (MVP), measure how it performs, and learn from the results. This cycle helps you to quickly identify what's working and what's not, allowing you to make changes and improvements faster.

The Power of the Pivot

In the book, Ries talks about the concept of the 'pivot'. If an initial product isn't meeting expectations, it doesn't mean it's time to give up. Instead, it's time to pivot - to change direction but stay grounded in what you've learned. This could mean a change in product, strategy, or even target audience.

Innovation Accounting is Crucial

Ries introduces the concept of 'Innovation Accounting'. This is a way of evaluating progress when all the metrics typically used in startups (like revenue) are effectively zero. It's about looking at the right indicators of growth and making decisions based on them. So, dig into the numbers and see what they're really telling you.

Quotes 5

The Lean Startup is a foundational blueprint for entrepreneurial success.

Mark ZuckerbergMark Zuckerberg - Facebook Founder

The Lean Startup isn't just about how to create a more successful entrepreneurial business, it's about what we can learn from those businesses to improve virtually everything we do.

Tim O'ReillyTim O'Reilly - O'Reilly Media Founder

The Lean Startup has changed the way we teach entrepreneurship.

Steve BlankSteve Blank - Silicon Valley Entrepreneur

The Lean Startup is the book that every startup founder should read.

Marc AndreessenMarc Andreessen - Netscape Co-Founder

The Lean Startup is a game changer for entrepreneurship and business planning.

Tom PetersTom Peters - Management Guru
Mark ZuckerbergTim O'ReillySteve BlankMarc AndreessenTom Peters

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