In my blogging absence, I've been trying to build a better company. There's a lot of information out there. Some good, some not so good, some downright awful. And then I came across a speech that fredwilson gave at etsy.
I'm just assuming you know who he is, if not read his blog, follow him on twitter. Somehow he makes the pieces fit together. And somehow, I'm going to understand #4 and embrace it, if it kills me.
Here's the copy of the speech, reprinted with permission from Fred.
) Great companies are constantly innovating and delighting their customers/users with new products and services.
2) Great companies are built to last and be independent and sustainable. Great companies don't sell out.
3) Great companies make lots of money but leave even more money on the table for their users and partners.
4) Great companies don't look elsewhere for ideas. They develop their ideas internally and are copied by others.
5) Great companies infect their users/customers with their brand. They turn their users and customers into marketing/salesforces.
6) Great companies are led by entrepreneurs who own a meaningful piece of the business. As such, they make decisions based on long term business needs and objectives not short term goals.
7) Great companies have a global mindset. They treat every person in the world as a potential customer/user.
8) Great companies are attempting to change the world in addition to making money.
9) Great companies are not reliant on any one person to deliver their value proposition.
10) Great companies put the customer/user first above any other priority.
