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This presentation consists of highlights from the interview with Moe Abdou,
founder & host of 33voices®.
Diana is a successful entrepreneur, having founded and sold a number of ven-tures, and a Senior Fellow at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the larg-
est non-profit in the world dedicated to entrepreneurship and education.
A sought-out public speaker, consultant and writer, Diana has advised startup founders and Fortune 500 executives on her methodology for launching cus-
tomer-focused products and services.
Diana Kander@dianakander
Public speaker, consultant, writer
Think of entrepreneurship like the game of basketball; the rules and fundamentals can
be taught, but the heart and drive has to come from within.
Insight #1
Insight #2
Entrepreneurs who beat the odds have an unwavering tenacity to overcome obstacles,
and a relentless curiosity to learn about their customer and niche.
Insight #3
The smart approach to building anything is to experiment with small bets and proceed in
this order: Idea - Customer - Build - Brand.
Insight #4
Distinguish whether the problem you’re solving for your customer is a headache or a migraine -
for the latter is what requires urgency.
Insight #5
Customer obsessed builders never shy from asking their customers open-ended questions to crystalize their needs. Be cautious not to ask
about the future, it’s their past and present that will be most revealing.
Insight #6
In assembling your initial team, opt to hire generalists, and never outsource
the competencies that reflect the core of your product.
Insight #7
When you do objective experiments with specific success or failure criteria, pivots
become more strategic and less emotional.
Insight #8
Fear and inaction can be paralyzing.Try making a public announcement of
your project and count on a few trusted relationships to hold you accountable.
Insight #9
If your entrepreneurial pursuit is about getting rich, you’ll likely be disappointed. If, instead you
want to affect the future in a positive manner, expect to be rewarded.
Insight #10
“The most successful businesses have an idea for the future that’s very different
from the present.”
- Peter Thiel on success
If you could ask a potentially new customer one question,
what would it be?
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