Mental Preparation for Software Startups
A startup is as much about mental preparation as it is about the idea. If you have never done one you can do a lot of wheel spinning all the while burning precious capital and time. Software can be especially daunting especially if you have either never done it before or you have come from a traditional large company. If you have an idea for a software application - a web app or possibly a mobile app here are 5 resources that will put you in the right mental frame of mind:
1. Getting Real - The smarter faster easier way to build successful web applications
- A bible for the software startup, written in 2006 by 37 Signals. You can read it for free online or purchase PDF or paperback..
2. The Entrepreneurs Guide to Customer Development
- Forget traditional product development methods. They assume you have a market. The goal of a startup is to find a market. This e-book is a quick start to understanding new thinking on customer development. Once you have digested this, you can then migrate up to the original authority on the topic: The 4 Steps to the Ephiphany.
- I was just recently made aware of this presentation but find that it provides a great summary perspective on an often missing link in many software startups - how to think about the user experience, and design. For consumer apps, the design and user experience is more important that the technical design - especially early on.
The last two are not strictly related to software development - more of what I would refer to as 'business philosophy' books that will complete you mental preparation.
4. Rework
- Another resource from 37 Signals. A collection of amazing and quick-to-read essays in one consise book.
5. Linchpin
- An amazing book from Seth Godin on making yourself indispensible (which is required if you want your startup to be successful)
