Guy Kawasaki: The Top 10 Mistakes of Entrepreneurs

[@cburgdorfer]

8:48 Multiplying big numbers by 1% 10:57 Scaling too soon 15:30 Partnering 16:29 Pitching instead of prototyping 19:54 Using too many slides and too small font 22:12 Do things serially 23:37 Believing 51% = control 24:52 Believing Patens = Defensibility 28:09 Hire in your own image 29:24 Befriending your VCs Bonus: 35:55 Thinking VCs can add value

[@taumohlodi5875]

Thanks for the break down

[@BusinessBasics]

Thanks!

[@MrGuitarguru95]

Thank you!🎉

[@mohammedrashid2906]

Nice

[@jupitercyclops6521]

Interesting. I would think #1 would be selling out your customers to over reaching government & governments ultra wealthy marionettes. He must not realize the damage he is doing to our nation

[@HelloAll1990]

Mistake 1: Thinking that getting 1% of a market (car market, hamburger market, phone app market) is easy. It is not easy, so don't think like that. Mistake 2: Scaling too fast. You anticipate huge growth and customers that will love your product and you invest so much and then it turns out no one wants to buy your product, and you run out of money. Mistake 3: Being obsessed with partnering. Partnering is essentially two companies coming together in an attempt to band-aid their weaknesses. Focus on SALES. Sales fix everything. Mistake 4: Being too focused on your 'sales pitch' and perfect 'powerpoint presentation' that your prototype lacks. Focus MAINLY on improving your prototype. PROTOTYPE. Mistake 5: This kind of a rule. 10-20-30 rule. 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30 pt font on a presentation. Mistake 6: Doing things serially. In the real world, you will need to stay on top of multiple things at once. Not just hiring. Not just raising money. You will need to move everything down the road at once. Mistake 7: Thinking that owning 51% of your company means you have control. NOT TRUE. The moment you take outside money (investor money), you lose control of the company and you have an obligation to the investor. Mistake 8: Thinking that because you have a patent that makes you defensable. Don't even think about telling an investor that the reason you're defensable is because you have patents. You'll never have the time of money to sue Microsoft. Mistake 9: Hiring too many of the same person. Hire a variety of types of people. In other words, have strong branches for every aspect of your company. Generally, you will need people who specialize in MAKING the product, SELLING the product, and COLLECTING the money. Mistake 10: Trying to befriend you VC (venture capitalists or investors). They are just here to make money. Meet your deadlines/projections of 80% confidence minimum. Don't think that they're out there to help you and babysit your company. Mistake 11: Thinking that VC's are the key to your success just because you know that they have invested in a successful company before. *You should definitely watch the Q & A that begins at 41:05 *

[@suma9684]

Julio Ochoa Thank you!

[@HelloAll1990]

you're welcome!

[@haythambouifraden7345]

Thank you very much!

[@Ferventdisciple7]

Julio Ochoa thank you mate.

[@neilintherapy4865]

Thanks.

[@riccello]

Guy’s sense of humor is the biggest indicator of his honesty

[@gubstav]

Watching this in 2022. Dang this guy was ahead of his time. All his points hit on target. Talking about trends such as cheap tech infrastructure and free marketing in 2013.

[@rotimibest8530]

Guy is just an amazing speaker. He is able to connect the dots in his speech and convey one message. It would be hard to forget the lessons he shared in this talk. Key things that stood out for me are 1: Patents are not really useful 2: Shut up and show a prototype 3: Still shut up and improve your prototype then show it again 4: Being frugal is an asset. 5. 10 slides, 20 mins, 30+ font size

[@daveb4446]

This is exactly why Guy is my favorite speaker.

[@DenysMarushchak]

I wish stand up comedy would be as informative as this talk. Very entertaining

[@arifulislamleeton]

Thank you so much

[@marcorocchio4620]

"Sales fixes everything" - in business, truer words were never spoken

[@warrenjoseph76]

Except bad accounting of course

[@zendoc49]

I would make this mandatory watch for all students in college regardless of whether they plan to start a company or not. Best lecture I ever heard and so timely just as I was planning to start a company bigger than apple, bigger than microsoft and bigger than Tesla and bigger than all three combined.

[@uqox]

Some of the most honest, "I don't know", I've ever heard out of a super successful person's mouth.

[@JaimePradoRodriguez]

Pure common sense, transparency and good communication. Thank you!

[@ekanem2954]

Amazing speaker, never get bored of hearing his talks

[@anthonyleonard]

Fantastic over-delivery by Guy. Here is the 30 Point Font version. 1. Mistake: Multiplying big numbers by 1 percent (Truth: Don’t use this type of logic. It does not work.) 2. Mistake: Scaling too soon (Truth: Companies don’t die if they don’t scale fast enough.) 3. Mistake: Partnering (Truth: Sales fixes everything.) 4. Mistake: Pitching instead of prototyping (Truth: A functional prototype reduces the risk that you can deliver.) 5. Mistake: Using too many slides and too small a font (Truth: 10/20/30 rule-10 Slides, 20 Minutes, 30 Point Font.) 6. Mistake: Doing things serially (Truth: Doing everything at the same time is how the real world works.) 7. Mistake: Believing 51% = control (Truth: The moment you take outside money, you have lost control. You have a moral, ethical and financial obligation once you take outside money.) 8. Mistake: Believing patents = defensibility (Truth: Only use the P word once. “We have filed patents.” “If you are acquired someday, the acquiring company will love that you have patents.”) 9. Mistake: Hiring in your own image (Truth: Seek balance to complement your skills. You need someone to make it, sell it, collect it.) 10. Mistake: Befriending your VCs (Truth: VCs are in the business of making money, not making friends. Just make your forecasts. They will ask you step aside if you don’t. “Just meet your projections.” “Under promise and over deliver.”) Bonus. Mistake: Thinking VCs can add value (Truth: Fundamentally you want their money and 2 to 3 hours of their bandwidth each month.)

[@fanadclicofficial7363]

Here here!! Well said! Guy Cowa suckee!!

[@bmejia220]

Guy Kawasaki is so great. I have not heard him speak before. This is valuable information. Thank you Guy!

[@fgbowen]

I love the way he's coining the phrase/words - "Band Width" - That. is brilliant.

[@fgbowen]

In the middle right now - and Wow! Incredible - best Seminar in a long time - Thanks for this.

[@TheSteinbitt]

54:00, It's better to be lucky than smart. Wisdom right there, people don't give enough creedence to luck and the complexity of the world.

[@johnnybizaro1]

It's better to be born with wealth, people don't give enough credence to that fact and how the rich think that being born with 1000 times what everyone else has gives them no advantage.

[@sephervin]

Luck = opportunity + preparation though.

[@TheSteinbitt]

sephervin Opportunity = luck - preparation

[@sephervin]

That´s mathematically the same thing...

[@arthurkorir7846]

Opportunity= luck + preparation

[@MrDarryl90210]

This was so friggin' helpful that I have to watch it 2 or 3 more times as I apply each note!

[@KienTranTonmat]

Such a brilliant, funny and humble person Guy Kawasaki is

[@Titanos001]

One of the best speech that I've seen

[@mohitT098]

This is 200 th time, this video popped up in my KZbin recommendations (algorithm)... Finally clicked. Wow.... So so good. Everything makes sense, but very well articulated

[@lomaluv1590]

I really enjoyed his presentation. He was not only knowledgable, but captivating through his humor. He sounds like he's from Hawaii. He has this very down to earth quality which is nice to see.

[@bearjameson]

This dude is a legend and he’s funny so it’s easier to listen to him talk!

[@darenklum1958]

If you are a first time Entrepreneur this is a must see.

[@MistaSmith]

The thing about the parallel stuff: True problems appear in parallel and need to be solved in parallel. But learning can only be done serially. It's physically impossible to learn financing and hiring at the same time. So be prepared to do a lot of crappy stuff, but do one thing well. Put all your heart in one area. And after doing that for 3-5 years you have learned something in most areas and can do much less crap, maybe little enough to finally win.

[@DiptenduRoy1]

One of the best startup video I've ever seen.

[@OzarkGenerations]

Greatly enjoyed this talk. Grew up listening to Zig Ziglar and other motivational speakers. I appreciate your directness and candor. You have one new follower.

[@sianazari9239]

I like his craziness!! and I like his last point! "Integrity" , doesn't matter if they copy, truth will come out eventually.

[@kouroskirkansari9923]

I just put up my first video on KZbin this afternoon; Talked last week to my daughter's tenant who is a MBA student at Berkeley Haas; Right now we have a distinguished visiting professor staying in our vacation rental in Berkeley who is teaching at Berkeley Haas MBA program; Our son is finishing his MBA at UCLA Anderson School of Management; We bought our home from one of original founders of Berkeley Evening MBA program; NOW, somehow this great presentation from Guy Kowasaki to Berkeley Haas MBA students appears like a rocket on my lap top. Talking about Google following me around?I started on my MBA program some 35 years ago but never finished it. It is scary. At any case Mr. Kawasaki has many good things to say and he is very entertaining as well. Have you done your prototype? That seems to be his most important advice for the new start ups.

[@mohammedrashid2906]

Thanks

[@elvireprochilo5079]

Great moment with Guy Kawazaki. Funny but at the same time full advices ! THX !

[@cameronbulluss2424]

The lecture is fantastic, but the questions are terrible. start at 3:16, finish at 40.09

[@devinmickey8125]

This Guy is an excellent speaker! Thanks Guy!

[@BrettHaase]

I love his quotes about partnering and stupid money. Good stuff and very practical advice.

[@Thesketchmonkey]

Great presentation, great insight! I get the impression that having a prototype is pretty important.

[@Timefairyjina]

This is really great. Every word he says is gold.

[@atharsuhail]

this guy is the best standup comedian.

[@warrenjoseph76]

Watching in Dec 2020. Today 57:15 would clear the room

[@MrFujinko]

Interesting how fast things can change. Now i understand 1920's and 1930's germany much better.

[@snehagavli5382]

Gery nice lecture infact it was not a lecture it is how one should connect to audience. Beautiful presentation and good jest. Loved it.

[@TNTEXPLOSIVESOUNDS]

I loved this video Guy is not only an excellent and knowledgeable speaker but he is down earth no bullshit

[@LukeEdwards05]

Guy Kawasaki LOL hilarious & incredibly insightful presentation

[@VinBhaskara_]

What a talk!! Fantastic Guy Kawasaki!

[@andrewboey4838]

have alwys been a fan of his delivery style.... good one Guy :)

[@entrepreneurshipsmedevelop3356]

Good to see a successful entrepreneur, VC, and ex-Executive of Apple, give this advise.

[@saiprasadsomayajula]

great video. Guy Kawasaki's message to entrepreneurs on top 10 mistakes is awesome. He touched upon everything from wrongly projecting a market share to the defensibility of patents.

[@kyoungd]

Great lecture. Very useful information. Thank you, Guy, and thank you Berkeley.

[@distancerides1417]

I like this guy. Very practical outlook on startups.

[@anikyt7570]

So many valuable extraordinary advice ...

[@trzagor2769]

It is better to BE lucky than smart!! YOU HAVE POINT THERE!!!

[@vanessahuntlier8664]

His book on "Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions" is awesome.

[@TechnomTigerGeek]

i love dis guy! he is absolute joy and talks with humour keeping his humbleness even though he was one of the reasons the macintosh was a success! respect!

[@AmyAnsel]

"the key is not the pitch, it's the prototype." Guy would pick the prototype over the pitch all day long. "you can fix the pitch but you can't fix the prototype." that makes sense

[@mariaarcher377]

just brilliant - a rock of sense and I have made all of these!!!

[@randallhoover7688]

Finally, a REAL person. Researching!

[@OverflowCafe]

Lucky to have Guy Kawasaki at your group!

[@williammaldonado3516]

I like when he mentioned the prototype oh my God you know this is the only way to go I've been doing this for quite some time and sometimes I get great feedback from people that would love to have said product. Thank you very much I enjoy your video and your lecture and believe it or not it's kind of sad that I can't subscribe to your channel because believe it or not I have too many subscriptions but I will follow you whenever you come up thanks and much blessings 🙏

[@paulocgrf]

00:47:00 - 2 students building the product THEY WANTED TO USE

[@talara.9605]

a good informative video with nice questions and answer.thank you

[@JusTinaMarieSimbaMasozera]

Guy is simply amazing in his inspirations.

[@NatalieVanVeenNatalia]

Fantastic, I really appreciate the no BS expertise from Guy :-)

[@LucPaquette2helpu]

Lots of golden nuggets there.

[@sweetabcde]

Thank for sharing your experience Guy Kawasaki

[@1337Noobster]

Great Talk! Thank you Guy. And thank you Uc Berkeley for uploading this :)

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

If a VC tells you your patents are worthless in defending your market position then tell them you want to hold on to your patents personally and you will give a non-exclusive license for $1 per year to the company you want them to invest in. That’s very fair and will make them put up or shut up about the value of your patents as well as wether they are useful in defending market share, marketing purposes, etc. It’s easy and common to claim something you want to get for free is worthless.

[@susanmcvea]

Loved the video! Business is hard and failure along the way is inevitable. Glad to see someone who is real about the industry.

[@oldericosisno5115]

I learned more here and gaining more knowledge and strategies...

[@luckyboypictures]

Really enjoy this video, very informative and highly entertaining...great job Guy!

[@PetrSmrtka]

Very nice and inspirational, I am definately getting all advices mentioned. I have to listen others. But one think I don't agree with an example part at [1:03:10] solving housing issue. There are so many nice places around world ( Europe for example ), not all rich people will move to US becuase of citizenship, statistically there's quite high criminality comparing to others.

[@seek2find]

Make it, sell it and collect the money! 3 fundamentals of a business.

[@iphietalk-2056]

This was a good one, I learnt a lot. Thanks for posting it.

[@fochoac]

What a luxury to have Kawasaki talking for you guys

[@IMRecipes]

Guy, so much great information ... thanks for sharing your knowledge about entrepreneurs :) You rock!!!

[@RobGoris123]

How refreshing and to the point. Thanks for sharing.

[@divern]

This Guy knows how to enjoy life...I'm getting his book

[@DeborahMacDonald]

Very informative along with a very good presentation. Thank you for posting this video.

[@Growndweller]

Re: the last question. The guy was worried his venture capitalists would be bent out of shape over his patent being stolen... I would have thought this alone would be a great pitch for his product. I mean, who would bother to try and copy a design that's no good? Kawasaki didn't make this point, though. Still, what an excellent and entertaining speaker. I am so glad I clicked on this video. This information couldn't have come at a better time. Thank you for uploading & thank you Guy! :-)

[@maphaimasie4894]

This is so insightful

[@nemanjastankovic941]

This guy is a true legend!!!

[@m.h.323]

Movinga is a good example for scaling too fast "However, the biggest mistake we made is scaling too quickly. We were fully on fire to bring the moving industry to the next level. It is a complicated service and we have underestimated some of the challenges. Mistakes happen every single day, but we’re not afraid of making changes when we need to."

[@hahorin]

Great great speaker I am impressed.

[@jaffaizal]

A MUST WATCH for ENTERPRENEUR

[@shintanovitasari7784]

this is really helpful. thank you very much.

[@whiteknight7wayne493]

So like i have heard a few of Guys presentations....he nt usually a very smooth presenter, but boy was he funny and relatable AND informative! so kudos...."north or south, ..just in case we get nuked"...yea

[@javierbaldrich]

I didn't know anything about this guy. He is so cool!

[@stefanodsica2522]

It amazes me greatly how I go from living an average lifestyle to making over 63k per month I've learned a lot over the past few years that there are plenty of opportunities in the financial markets; all it takes is just to focus on the right thing. Credits to Zach Micah Demers

[@carolsitsons443]

I looked up his name on Google and was impressed by his resume; I consider myself lucky to have found this comment section.

[@Infinitetrucker]

That's a lot of money you're making. How do you do this on a regular basis? You have to be a trading genius.

[@teddy.bisson.411]

How can I reach him?

[@stefanodsica2522]

Search his full name

[@stefanodsica2522]

Zach Micah Demers

[@ob1productions75]

even today such a great video thank you

[@inframarketing3072]

Remarkably informative video clip. Excellent job. Hermann Brumm, President, Infra Marketing Group

[@AshleyWincer]

Excellent speaker and great advice.. Thank-you for posting this video online..

[@arturwillonski7456]

how do you understand the Collect it - part in the rule "sell it, build it, collect it"?

[@tonys516]

Really informative & entertaining

[@swfrazier1]

This is a little dated as of 2020, but still mostly applicable and certainly entertaining.

[@abhishekb-om]

Thanks Guy for this truly priceless 20*2 = 40 mins of your views.. Learning = Priceless.. :)

[@JackBinder]

Excellent tips and such a funny approach. Thanks Guy!

[@rajatbansal512]

difference between a marketing guy and a technical guy he is charismatic af.

[@curtiscardwell6961]

Take a drink every time he says "Rockstar"!

[@rocus80m]

how many did you count? ;)))

[@deville295]

That's healthy

[@TAURUS100580]

I really admire what you do and what you teach through your videos. I think I will be succesful by following your advice.

[@skneti]

Very nice. Will recommend to my friends.

[@kiwi07050kr]

One of my favorite speakers!

[@AshleyWincer]

Excellent speaker and great advice..

[@InnocentDjiofack]

Thanks! This is just awesome!

[@KishorTwist]

My personal entrepreneurial mistakes 1 to 10: Procrastination and bs excuses.

[@KishorTwist]

***** sadly, true. The worst in this world.

[@ArneWidding]

Disciplin can be learned in many ways. Find your destiny and you can nothing but work to get there!