We’re living in a defining era; and in the mists of this global uncertainty lies inspiring opportunities for those who call themselves – entrepreneurs. I’ve learned over the years that entrepreneurship is a craft, and as with any craft, it requires unwavering commitment, personal sacrifice and above all, the resilience to bounce back. The best entrepreneurs understand that before commercializing any ideas, you must first get intimate with your customer. In The Lean Startup, Eric Ries emphasizes the critical importance of building a minimum viable product early and testing it often in the marketplace. Only when you get that real time pulse of your target customer, will you be able to gauge the viability of your idea. In his 40 years as a celebrated entrepreneur, philanthropist and venture capitalist, Alan Hall’s acid test in evaluating business plans always starts with the marketplace – ‘An idea is worth nothing until it has been commercialized and there are paying customers. Some ideas will be wildly profitable; others will be a failed dream. In the end, remarkable ideas lead to compelling products purchased by vast markets of enthusiastic buyer.’ Here’s how Alan is helping the next generation of entrepreneurs ….
