Secrets of Success

by Scott on March 21, 2007

Every interview in Jessica Livingston’s Founders at Work is full of interesting perspectives from successful people who had no guarantees when they started and probably claim to have no secrets of success. This is not a “success” book or a “how to” book, but simply an interesting book. Yet a read between-the-lines exposes secrets of success.

They are summed up in the interview with Paul Buchheit, creator of GMail and Adsense. Here is Buchheit on the idea for and the first implementation of Adsense:

”It was an idea that we had talked about for a long time, but there was this belief that it wouldn’t work. But it seemed like an interesting problem, so one evening I implemented this content-targeting system, just sort of as a side project, not because I was supposed to. And it turned out to work.”

Two Secrets of Success

In this quote we see two secrets of success common among folks that rise to the top of their industry:

1. They work on what they find interesting. Not just on what they are told to or supposed to.
2. They pursue ideas not generally expected to work.

Success and the micro-ISV

I suspect many micro-ISV owners have these traits and see themselves in this approach. To micro-ISV owners, it’s no secret.

In fact there are not really any “secrets of success” – it’s a simple risk-reward formula. Yet if this JoelOnSoftware thread is any indication, it is one that is too easily forgotten.

Success and the Employee

Work on what other people assign to you and you will likely complete the task, but will not find career-changing success. Work on something you find interesting and others find unlikely, and your chances for breakout success are increased almost immeasurably.

This advice is for everyone – not just company founders. For example, Paul Buchheit who I quoted above, is not a Google founder but an employee who practices these non-secret but too easily forgotten “secrets of success”.

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4 Ways for People to Contact Us

by Scott on March 20, 2007

Our work thrives on contact and feedback from users so I have four ways for people to contact us. If you are considering adding contact methods, here is my anecdotal experience of what contact methods are most popular and two questions for you.

In order of most used contact method to least used contact method by LeadsOnRails demo and trial users:

1. Contact/Feedback form built into the product
2. Email
3. Campfire chat room here
4. Phone: (303-683-3522)

I think it’s no coincidence that the two asynchronous contact methods are the most popular choices. This could be for any number of reasons. Maybe there is not a need for immediate contact, or fear that any live contact will turn into a sales call, or that those top two contact methods are just simply the most convenient.

Do you find the same preference for online contact forms and email or do people contact you more directly? Am I missing any important contact methods?

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