Offers
What Makes an Offer Easy to Understand?
Learn how a clear offer names the customer’s situation, the change it promises and how it is delivered, so people can…
The reading shelf
All articles
Browse articles on offers, customers, experiments, operations and communication, all considered through a resourceful lens.
Customers
Conversation or Observation: Two Ways to Notice Customer Needs
Conversation or observation helps a small business spot customer needs from both what people say and what they…
Experiments
Before the Spreadsheet: A Short History of the Business Plan
The history of the business plan runs from merchant records to modern proposals, showing small ventures how to choose…
Operations
The Busywork Trap: When Activity Hides an Unclear Offer
The busywork trap can crowd out useful work. Review what your tasks change for customers, then choose a clear next…
Communication
A Two-Minute Introduction to a New Venture
A two-minute introduction to a new venture gives you a clear way to describe your work, adapt to the listener and…
Our point of view
Start with what you can put to work
A promising venture need not begin with a grand plan. We look at the small choices that help an idea meet real needs while making careful use of time, skills and materials.