how farming can help you frame the solution

HARVESTTILL

LAYFALLOW

SCOUTLAND

SHARPENTOOLS

PLANT

WEED PRUNE

SHARPENTOOLS

WATER

REPLANT

WEED

PESTCONTROL

REPLANTFraming the Problem

Farming the Solution

LIFE, CAREER, STARTUPS

A conversation with the NYC Salon June 28, 2016

Which season are you in?

We cannot always be in a season of harvest.

G O A L / S E A S O N F I T

Balance where you want to be with where you need to be.

G O A L / S E A S O N F I T

HARVESTTILL

LAY FALLOW

SCOUT LAND

SHARPEN TOOLS

PLANT

WEED PRUNE

SHARPEN TOOLS

WATER

REPLANT

WEED

PEST CONTROL

REPLANTG O A L / S E A S O N F I T

TILLSCOUT LAND

SHARPEN TOOLS

WEED

P R E P A R E

PLANT

E X E C U T E

PRUNE

WATER

WEED

PEST CONTROL

M A I N T A I N

PRUNE

WATER

WEED

PEST CONTROL

& F I X

M A I N T A I NREPLANT

SHARPEN TOOLS

WATER

WEED

PEST CONTROL

& P R E P A R E

M A I N T A I N

HARVEST

R E J O I C E

LAY FALLOW

R E S T

TILLSCOUT LAND

SHARPEN TOOLS

REPLANT

& R E B O O T

P L A N

Can you have it all?

0

25

50

75

100

2000 2005 2010 2015

Love Life Career Health Family

L I F E / H A P P I N E S S F I T

0

25

50

75

100

2000 2005 2010 2015


G R E A T P A R T N E R , A V E R A G E C A R E E R

The single most important career decision that a woman makes is whether she will have a life partner and who that partner is.

S H E R Y L S A N D B E R G

0

25

50

75

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2000 2005 2010 2015


built a successful company

…with a terrible partner

T E R R I B L E P A R T N E R , G R E A T C A R E E R

…at the cost of my health

…and as a checked-outdaughter, friend, sister

All that glittered was not gold.

M Y L I F E 2 0 0 6 – 2 0 1 2

R E C O G N I T I O N H I D T H E P E R S O N A L C O S T S

Two really sad / funny / true stories…

I . A M A D C L I E N T C A L L F R O M S P A C E O N M Y B I R T H D A Y

I I . A R I D I C U L O U S T R I P T O S P A I N

B L O G R E S K I N S C O P E - C R E E P S I N T O A S O C I A L N E T W O R K

S P E E C H I N B I L B A O B E C O M E S C R A Z Y R I D E

Now: Focus on the big rocks first.

0

25

50

75

100

2000 2005 2010 2015


focus: family,

faith, friends,

funds,fitness

dating life:

working on it

Should you become a founder?

P R O D U C T / F O U N D E R F I T

“I love to shop and I love when women’s bodies of al l s izes are celebrated…”

PASSION


UNIQUE INSIGHT

“When I shop onl ine, the model is always so unreal ist ic. It ’s hard to know how it would f it someone my s ize and I know I am not alone…”

PASSION


UNIQUE INSIGHT

“Having worked in ecommerce for 15 years, I know the market, the gaps, and what it wi l l take bui ld the solut ion I have in mind…”

DOMAIN EXPERTISE

PASSION


DOMAIN EXPERTISE

PASSION

NETWORK

Y A S

UNIQUE INSIGHT

“I know the r ight people at 10 major brands that I could test my hypotheses—and have them come on as eventual launch partners…”

What should you build?

Now that you've concluded you are the r ight founder for the space you are pursuing, are you going after the r ight product?

COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

P R O D U C T / M A R K E T F I T

Does your idea take advantage of current user behaviors and technologies? Is i t too ear ly? Or too late?

TIMING & TRENDS


UNMET NEED

Do exist ing products miss the mark?

Is there a gap in the market?


WILLINGNESS TO PAY

Are people wi l l ing to pay? How much? Is it a prof itable model?

Can you monetize the users without los ing them?



COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

UNMET NEED

WILLINGNESS TO PAY

Y A S

There are many nuances to each of these pi l lars and subjectiv ity can cloud them; be ready to test things and be wrong.

TIMING & TRENDS


L E T ’ S P L A Y !H T T P : / / B I T . L Y / P I T C H - D E C K - M X M

http://bit.ly/pitch-deck-mxm

Framings to consider using

Comprehension before career.

J E S S E W I L L I A M S

Always stay gracious,best revenge is your paper.

B E Y O N C É

Plan the work, work the plan.

C O A C H D E E M S Y A R I A S

No matter how many zeroes,your ethics are always the same.

M Y D A D

Politic around the ‘hood like your running for mayor.

5 0 C E N T

Be an impeccable communicator.In all mediums.

L B

In your 20s: Develop skills, reputation, network.

L B

In your 30s, 40s, 50s: Nurture your skills and network;

build wealth.

L B

It’s all in how you frame it, how you sell it to yourself.

P H I L K N I G H T

What really matters

Family.

Helping others.

Being kind.

Giving credit to others.

Enjoying what you do.

Taking responsibility.

Thank you!

@lesliebradshaw (managing partner @madebymany)

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