One idea a day for people building things.https://craigrivett.com/en-gbhttps://craigrivett.com/posts/make-it-safe-to-say-yes/https://craigrivett.com/posts/make-it-safe-to-say-yes/A big company rarely buys the best product. It buys the one nobody will be blamed for choosing, so your job is to take the risk out of saying yes.Thu, 12 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/confidence-is-not-volume/https://craigrivett.com/posts/confidence-is-not-volume/We judge confidence by how people talk, and how people talk is mostly habit. Back whoever sounds most sure and you will often back the wrong person.Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/doubt-is-the-entry-fee/https://craigrivett.com/posts/doubt-is-the-entry-fee/Feeling like a fraud is rarely evidence that you are one. More often it is what moving into a bigger pond feels like, and a leader's job is to say so out loud.Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/you-only-need-one-yes/https://craigrivett.com/posts/you-only-need-one-yes/Raising money is not a vote. Thirty investors can turn you down and it changes nothing, because you only ever needed one to say yes.Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/looking-good-is-not-the-job/https://craigrivett.com/posts/looking-good-is-not-the-job/Every idea this week came down to one choice. Do you want to look good in the room, or do you want the result? You rarely get both, and the room is a poor judge.Fri, 06 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/admit-it-and-take-your-medicine/https://craigrivett.com/posts/admit-it-and-take-your-medicine/The fastest way to get better at anything is a room where mistakes are named out loud, starting with the person in charge, and nobody's ego is allowed to get in the way.Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/let-them-score-the-points/https://craigrivett.com/posts/let-them-score-the-points/You win an argument when you get the outcome you wanted, not when the other person admits you were right. Decide what you want before you open your mouth, then give away every point that costs you nothing.Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/back-the-daring-mistake/https://craigrivett.com/posts/back-the-daring-mistake/Not all mistakes deserve the same response. Judge a mistake by the direction it was facing before you judge it by its cost.Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/go-and-look/https://craigrivett.com/posts/go-and-look/The biggest market you are missing is probably one you drive past every day. You will not find it from your desk.Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/tie-yourself-to-the-mast/https://craigrivett.com/posts/tie-yourself-to-the-mast/Make your important decisions while you are calm, so the heated moment can't undo them.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/are-you-hunting-mice-or-wildebeest/https://craigrivett.com/posts/are-you-hunting-mice-or-wildebeest/A lion is fully capable of killing and eating a mouse.Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/successful-organisations-are-like-water/https://craigrivett.com/posts/successful-organisations-are-like-water/It’s tempting to create a safety net around underperformance.Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/keep-on-swimming/https://craigrivett.com/posts/keep-on-swimming/There’s a story about a boy who set out to swim across a raging river.Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/simplify-your-strategy/https://craigrivett.com/posts/simplify-your-strategy/Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/mediocrity-hides-behind-comparisons/https://craigrivett.com/posts/mediocrity-hides-behind-comparisons/“Our product’s not the best, but we’re better than most”Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/do-you-want-to-be-the-boss-or-do-you-want-to-win/https://craigrivett.com/posts/do-you-want-to-be-the-boss-or-do-you-want-to-win/Our egos often get in the way.Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/you-dont-deserve-something-just-because-you-imagine-it/https://craigrivett.com/posts/you-dont-deserve-something-just-because-you-imagine-it/Dreaming doesn’t deliver.Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/ask/https://craigrivett.com/posts/ask/Asking is scary. It invites [rejection](/posts/embrace-the-no/).Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-build-a-killer-product/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-build-a-killer-product/Your product doesn’t need to solve every problem.Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/what-wont-you-compromise/https://craigrivett.com/posts/what-wont-you-compromise/All partnerships require compromise.Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/master-the-things-that-dont-require-talent/https://craigrivett.com/posts/master-the-things-that-dont-require-talent/Some parts of business require talent.Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/go-into-every-meeting-knowing-exactly-what-outcome-you-want/https://craigrivett.com/posts/go-into-every-meeting-knowing-exactly-what-outcome-you-want/It’s easy to wing it. Go to a meeting unprepared and just see where it goes.Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/trust-your-ability-to-adapt/https://craigrivett.com/posts/trust-your-ability-to-adapt/A sailor does not set out believing the seas will remain calm.Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/optimism-fuels-action-pessimism-kills-it/https://craigrivett.com/posts/optimism-fuels-action-pessimism-kills-it/The pessimist sees obstacles. They list why a deal can’t get done or a problem is unsolvable.Sun, 02 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/fix-the-right-problem/https://craigrivett.com/posts/fix-the-right-problem/There are always things to do for your business.Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/make-a-good-past/https://craigrivett.com/posts/make-a-good-past/You can recover from a bad first impression.Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/inputs-matter-but-only-results-count/https://craigrivett.com/posts/inputs-matter-but-only-results-count/Are there any books on people who worked hard and achieved nothing?Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/creativity-isnt-just-for-artists-its-survival-for-entrepreneurs/https://craigrivett.com/posts/creativity-isnt-just-for-artists-its-survival-for-entrepreneurs/Things change fast in new businesses.Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/more-people-are-defeated-by-blisters-than-by-mountains/https://craigrivett.com/posts/more-people-are-defeated-by-blisters-than-by-mountains/It’s easy to ignore the small problems.Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/appreciate-whats-good-to-change-what-isnt/https://craigrivett.com/posts/appreciate-whats-good-to-change-what-isnt/The world is impressive.Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/say-exactly-what-you-mean/https://craigrivett.com/posts/say-exactly-what-you-mean/We often imply what we mean instead of just saying it.Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/people-do-judge-a-book-by-its-cover/https://craigrivett.com/posts/people-do-judge-a-book-by-its-cover/First impressions matter. And bad first impressions are very hard to undo.Sat, 25 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/you-dont-tie-two-boats-together/https://craigrivett.com/posts/you-dont-tie-two-boats-together/They’ll drag each other down.Fri, 24 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/be-reliable/https://craigrivett.com/posts/be-reliable/If no one can count on you, no one will trust you.Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/people-only-care-about-the-stories-of-the-winners/https://craigrivett.com/posts/people-only-care-about-the-stories-of-the-winners/We only hear about the companies that make it.Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-satisfy-your-customer/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-satisfy-your-customer/Delight them.Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/embrace-the-no/https://craigrivett.com/posts/embrace-the-no/When I was in Grade 5, I asked Jacky to the movies.Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/the-climb-prepares-you-for-the-summit/https://craigrivett.com/posts/the-climb-prepares-you-for-the-summit/If you were dropped on the summit of Mount Everest tomorrow, you would die.Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/its-hard-to-ignore-a-person-waiting-outside-your-office/https://craigrivett.com/posts/its-hard-to-ignore-a-person-waiting-outside-your-office/Emails and WhatsApp are easy to ignore.Sat, 18 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/a-product-only-has-value-if-it-is-turned-into-a-business/https://craigrivett.com/posts/a-product-only-has-value-if-it-is-turned-into-a-business/No matter how innovative, a product only holds value when it is turned into a business.Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/a-crisis-doesnt-create-character-it-exposes-it/https://craigrivett.com/posts/a-crisis-doesnt-create-character-it-exposes-it/Everything in your business seems to be spiralling out of control.Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/get-your-partners-to-announce-your-partnership/https://craigrivett.com/posts/get-your-partners-to-announce-your-partnership/Try to get your customers to announce they are your customers, too.Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/business-is-a-race/https://craigrivett.com/posts/business-is-a-race/Business isn’t just a marathon or a sprint; it’s a bit of both.Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-pitch-multiple-deals/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-pitch-multiple-deals/Fundraising for a business idea is uncertain, especially when the opportunity and your market understanding are evolving quickly.Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/action-starves-anxiety/https://craigrivett.com/posts/action-starves-anxiety/Have you noticed how anxiety peaks just before you take action? And how it fades away the moment you commit and start moving?Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/your-rise-to-the-level-of-other-peoples-expectations-of-you/https://craigrivett.com/posts/your-rise-to-the-level-of-other-peoples-expectations-of-you/This is known as the Pygmalion effect.Sat, 11 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/a-captain-must-have-a-destination/https://craigrivett.com/posts/a-captain-must-have-a-destination/You can be in the strongest ship or the fastest aeroplane. If the captain doesn’t know where to go, you’ll drift around or end up in the wrong harbour.Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/time-is-a-tradeoff/https://craigrivett.com/posts/time-is-a-tradeoff/An hour on social media is an hour of reading lost.Thu, 09 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/the-team-you-build-is-the-company-you-build/https://craigrivett.com/posts/the-team-you-build-is-the-company-you-build/Once they’ve selected [a growing market](/posts/you-cannot-swim-against-an-outgoing-tide/) and have identified the product they will build, every entrepreneur needs to focus on building a company.Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/you-cannot-swim-against-an-outgoing-tide/https://craigrivett.com/posts/you-cannot-swim-against-an-outgoing-tide/Like a rising tide lifting all ships, even mediocre companies can succeed in a growing market.Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/sell-to-the-departments-with-budget/https://craigrivett.com/posts/sell-to-the-departments-with-budget/The HR department typically does not have a budget.Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/give-loyalty-before-it-is-earned/https://craigrivett.com/posts/give-loyalty-before-it-is-earned/Conventional wisdom suggests one should only extend loyalty and trust to someone after they have earned it.Sun, 05 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/lean-into-what-makes-you-unique/https://craigrivett.com/posts/lean-into-what-makes-you-unique/> “Eccentricity is one of those English traits that looks like frailty but masks a concealed strength; individuality disguised as oddity.“Sat, 04 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/you-cant-do-a-good-deal-with-a-bad-person/https://craigrivett.com/posts/you-cant-do-a-good-deal-with-a-bad-person/Considering going into business with a bad person?Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-be-needy/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-be-needy/A needy person is someone who prioritizes what other people think of them over what they think of themselves.Thu, 02 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/looking-ahead-my-year-in-advance/https://craigrivett.com/posts/looking-ahead-my-year-in-advance/2024 was a challenging but rewarding year.Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/just-take-another-step/https://craigrivett.com/posts/just-take-another-step/No matter what, take one more step.Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/only-those-who-believe-they-can-move-mountains-do/https://craigrivett.com/posts/only-those-who-believe-they-can-move-mountains-do/Those who believe they can’t, will not.Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/fish-dont-just-jump-into-the-boat/https://craigrivett.com/posts/fish-dont-just-jump-into-the-boat/You need to go out and catch them.Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/my-wife-lifts-heavier-at-the-gym-than-me/https://craigrivett.com/posts/my-wife-lifts-heavier-at-the-gym-than-me/Something I discovered when her trainer tried to hide her weights and give me a lighter set (he was worried it would hurt my ego).Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/today-is-the-best-day-to-plant-a-tree/https://craigrivett.com/posts/today-is-the-best-day-to-plant-a-tree/There’s a Chinese proverb:Sat, 14 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/smart-people-vs-ideas-vs-execution/https://craigrivett.com/posts/smart-people-vs-ideas-vs-execution/Smartness is only table stakes. It’s just a requirement to play.Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/you-only-have-a-business-when-you-sell-something/https://craigrivett.com/posts/you-only-have-a-business-when-you-sell-something/Until then, you almost have a business.Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/the-three-areas-of-your-business-to-keep-an-eye-on/https://craigrivett.com/posts/the-three-areas-of-your-business-to-keep-an-eye-on/You need to bring the best people in and remove bad elements.Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/a-culture-of-curiosity/https://craigrivett.com/posts/a-culture-of-curiosity/All growth businesses need to innovate constantly. To stay relevant, they need to improve their product consistently. They also need to reshape marketing and sales iteratively.Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/avoid-competition-but-build-a-culture-passionate-to-compete/https://craigrivett.com/posts/avoid-competition-but-build-a-culture-passionate-to-compete/In his book, Sam Walton, the legendary business wizard who built Walmart, said that if he had to single out an element of his life that made a difference, it would be the passion to compete.Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/seek-genuine-feedback-not-validation/https://craigrivett.com/posts/seek-genuine-feedback-not-validation/Knowing what you’re doing right or wrong and identifying areas of improvement is one way to become a better leader, entrepreneur, writer, friend, spouse, or whatever. It’s also how you build a better product or business.Thu, 16 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/your-mask-becomes-you/https://craigrivett.com/posts/your-mask-becomes-you/Happy with a smile. Sad with a gloomy face.Mon, 21 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/11-ways-to-strangle-personal-growth/https://craigrivett.com/posts/11-ways-to-strangle-personal-growth/Personal growth compounds. It builds over time from an ever increasing base.Mon, 21 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/a-team-of-horses-or-a-pack-of-mules/https://craigrivett.com/posts/a-team-of-horses-or-a-pack-of-mules/Horses look good.Wed, 09 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-expect-to-find-diamonds-without-searching-for-them/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-expect-to-find-diamonds-without-searching-for-them/Erasmus Jacobs, 15 years old in 1867, spent some of his free time playing with stones on his family farm in the Northern Cape.Mon, 12 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/earn-your-scars-in-the-front/https://craigrivett.com/posts/earn-your-scars-in-the-front/The army of Alexander the Great threatened mutiny.Wed, 07 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/a-business-needs-birds-and-frogs/https://craigrivett.com/posts/a-business-needs-birds-and-frogs/Birds see the world from up high. They scan the landscape and look at the big picture.Wed, 09 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/run-a-business-and-you-will-learn-something-you-cant-learn-any-other-way/https://craigrivett.com/posts/run-a-business-and-you-will-learn-something-you-cant-learn-any-other-way/That cash flow exercise at the back of a financial management textbook may be difficult, but it is not real.Sun, 07 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/follow-the-money/https://craigrivett.com/posts/follow-the-money/Of all entrepreneurial proverbs, few are said as often as “follow the money”.Sat, 30 May 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-rely-on-average-inputs-if-youre-looking-for-non-average-outcomes/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-rely-on-average-inputs-if-youre-looking-for-non-average-outcomes/In life, business, sport… when looking to achieve something abnormal, don’t rely on the normal.Tue, 14 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/few-thoughts-from-lockdown/https://craigrivett.com/posts/few-thoughts-from-lockdown/Lockdown in South Africa, Day 12.Tue, 07 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/life-isnt-fair-the-best-product-doesnt-always-win/https://craigrivett.com/posts/life-isnt-fair-the-best-product-doesnt-always-win/If life were fair, the best product in a market would be the best selling product in that market.Sat, 04 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/optimism-a-tale-of-two-frogs/https://craigrivett.com/posts/optimism-a-tale-of-two-frogs/One evening, two frogs — an optimist and a pessimist — were hopping around a dairy.Thu, 02 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/we-already-have-all-the-pieces-we-need-in-the-fight-against-crime/https://craigrivett.com/posts/we-already-have-all-the-pieces-we-need-in-the-fight-against-crime/There is no shortage of organisations trying to stop crime in South Africa.Sat, 09 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/does-marketing-become-derivative-when-the-founders-leave/https://craigrivett.com/posts/does-marketing-become-derivative-when-the-founders-leave/Before 2011, Kulula was funny. SA’s first low-cost cost airline became well known because of its cheap fares and its sense of humour.Wed, 06 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/business-is-hard/https://craigrivett.com/posts/business-is-hard/Herb Kelleher started his career as a Texas-based lawyer with no experience or understanding of planes and air travel.Thu, 10 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/keep-a-forward-trajectory/https://craigrivett.com/posts/keep-a-forward-trajectory/When Steve Jobs was kicked out of Apple he could have become bitter and started living in the past.Sat, 05 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/you-dont-win-by-focusing-on-the-scoreboard/https://craigrivett.com/posts/you-dont-win-by-focusing-on-the-scoreboard/In sports, you don’t win by focusing on the scoreboard. You win by focusing on what you need to do in the game right now.Fri, 13 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/good-process-bad-process/https://craigrivett.com/posts/good-process-bad-process/Good processes allow people to think. Bad processes turn them into robots.Sat, 25 May 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-just-know-your-customers-understand-them/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-just-know-your-customers-understand-them/The Sears Catalog was the Amazon of its time.Sat, 11 May 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/stop-expecting-others-to-care-about-your-startup-as-much-as-you-do/https://craigrivett.com/posts/stop-expecting-others-to-care-about-your-startup-as-much-as-you-do/Taking an idea from zero to a business is hard. You invest time, stress and money, and sacrifice alternative career paths.Thu, 11 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/trust-is-integrity-and-more/https://craigrivett.com/posts/trust-is-integrity-and-more/No matter how isolated you are or how innovative your business is, there will always be people. To operate well — socially or in business —you need to trust others, and they need to trust you.Tue, 09 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/would-you-rather-be-in-the-business-of-moving-pianos-or-installing-lifts/https://craigrivett.com/posts/would-you-rather-be-in-the-business-of-moving-pianos-or-installing-lifts/If you live in a multi-story apartment block, it is probably more expensive for you to have your piano moved in or out than it is to have a new lift installed in your building.Fri, 05 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/if-your-startup-is-financially-unsustainable-its-a-burden-on-society/https://craigrivett.com/posts/if-your-startup-is-financially-unsustainable-its-a-burden-on-society/Startups typically use software to solve a problem at scale. In exchange, they demand money — an exchange of value — from the users, a class of user or some other stakeholder with a vested interest like an advertiser, sponsor or government.Tue, 02 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/people-will-buy-from-you-out-of-boredom-alone/https://craigrivett.com/posts/people-will-buy-from-you-out-of-boredom-alone/In the 1960s, McDonald’s introduced The Monotony Index to help them put a value on how boring a town was. They would use this metric to prioritise potential franchise locations.Sat, 30 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/will-you-be-happy-if-you-benchmark-yourself-against-others/https://craigrivett.com/posts/will-you-be-happy-if-you-benchmark-yourself-against-others/> Tweet: “What would you do if you woke up tomorrow with a million dollars in your bank account?”Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/every-race-needs-two-dogs-and-maybe-even-a-rabbit/https://craigrivett.com/posts/every-race-needs-two-dogs-and-maybe-even-a-rabbit/“Well, boys, if you are going to have a dog race, then you are going to need a rabbit. And Oracle will be one hell of a rabbit.” — Michael Ovitz to Ben Horowitz, from [The Hard Thing about Hard Things](https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building-ebook/dp/B00DQ845EA/ref=sr11?crid=1R5QTXDUWYCDW&keywords=the+hard+thing+about+hard+things&qid=1553695337&s=gateway&sprefix=the+hard+thing+about+%2Caps%2C382&sr=8-1).Thu, 28 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/life-is-a-series-of-long-term-tradeoffs/https://craigrivett.com/posts/life-is-a-series-of-long-term-tradeoffs/What do you want to be when you grow up? A professional athlete, a successful businessman, a famous painter or carpenter, a loving parent and faithful husband, or something else entirely?Wed, 27 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/be-in-a-team-with-your-spouse/https://craigrivett.com/posts/be-in-a-team-with-your-spouse/While being married gives you someone in your corner [when taking stressful risks](/posts/why-take-entrepreneurial-risks-alone/), it is critical that if you’re married that you’re in the same team, especially when in public.Sun, 24 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/look-for-small-improvement-that-add-up/https://craigrivett.com/posts/look-for-small-improvement-that-add-up/Minor changes in process, and effort, and thinking can add up to become remarkable improvements. Especially in the long run. Even more so if these changes have a compounding effect.Fri, 22 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/confidence-is-conditional-overconfidence-isnt/https://craigrivett.com/posts/confidence-is-conditional-overconfidence-isnt/In a survey of entrepreneurs, all will acknowledge that most new businesses fail. All will also believe their business will be a success.Tue, 19 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/why-take-entrepreneurial-risks-alone/https://craigrivett.com/posts/why-take-entrepreneurial-risks-alone/At its core, entrepreneurship is a tradeoff between risk and return. You risk financial certainty and an average career to pursue a business opportunity that may or may not bring you freedom in the future.Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-rush-to-the-smoke-in-the-distance/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-rush-to-the-smoke-in-the-distance/A few years ago, I read a story about a high ranking American soldier in Vietnam. He was a great leader with a large number of troops reporting up to him.Sat, 16 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/we-live-in-a-world-of-bubbles/https://craigrivett.com/posts/we-live-in-a-world-of-bubbles/We tend to hang out with people who are similar to us.Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/are-you-selling-an-a-product/https://craigrivett.com/posts/are-you-selling-an-a-product/In the late 1940s, the first tobacco company of Anton Rupert — the South African ‘child of depression’ who went on to build a multi-billion Dollar business empire — was losing money. The post Second World War economic climate was difficult, particularly on new businesses wanting to gain market share.Tue, 12 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/feedback-through-ego-tinted-glasses/https://craigrivett.com/posts/feedback-through-ego-tinted-glasses/Personal feedback from friends, family, colleagues and mentors on how we’re doing and what we should improve on is essential. It helps us learn, develop and grow.Mon, 11 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/but-can-you-sell-it/https://craigrivett.com/posts/but-can-you-sell-it/An incredible idea or a fabulous product doesn’t mean anything unless you can sell it.Sun, 10 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/confirmation-bias-disprove-your-opinions/https://craigrivett.com/posts/confirmation-bias-disprove-your-opinions/The French dislike English speakers. All politicians are corrupt. Children should be vaccinated. Apple makes the best computers. Music helps you concentrate. Donald Trump is a great president. Global warming is real. Men are better drivers than women.Tue, 11 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/base-your-decisions-on-future-value-and-not-on-past-costs/https://craigrivett.com/posts/base-your-decisions-on-future-value-and-not-on-past-costs/The sunk cost bias is our greater willingness to continue with something once we’ve invested time, money or effort into it. Our previous investment clouds our judgement and makes it harder for us to walk away.Fri, 23 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/keep-making-it-easier-for-your-customer-to-purchase/https://craigrivett.com/posts/keep-making-it-easier-for-your-customer-to-purchase/Find a book that you may want to read. Click on the big orange button and receive an SMS from your bank saying that $10.39 has been deducted from your credit card. Before you’ve had enough time to consider whether you’re really going to read that book it had been paid for and delivered to your Kindle.Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/stay-in-there-and-pitch/https://craigrivett.com/posts/stay-in-there-and-pitch/25 December 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 were on their way back to Earth. The three astronauts had become the first humans to travel beyond low Earth orbit and enter the gravity of the moon. They were also the first to see the far side of our distant neighbour and witness an Earthrise with their own eyes.Thu, 11 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-be-fooled-by-your-vanity-metrics/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-be-fooled-by-your-vanity-metrics/Vanity metrics like the total number of app downloads or daily active users play an important role in helping you and others understand your business.Tue, 09 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/namola-and-making-south-africa-safer/https://craigrivett.com/posts/namola-and-making-south-africa-safer/Namola is South Africa’s fastest growing security, policing and emergency response app. It is available nationally, has 160,000 registered users and is quickly becoming an essential part of making South Africa safer.Fri, 04 May 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/a-good-idea-means-very-little/https://craigrivett.com/posts/a-good-idea-means-very-little/Most businesses fail. Far more never get off the ground.Fri, 06 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/switch-off-your-rational-mind-from-time-to-time/https://craigrivett.com/posts/switch-off-your-rational-mind-from-time-to-time/You’re facing a difficult decision. You need to choose Option A or Option B; perhaps you’re considering a pivot of your business or the introduction of a new product.Fri, 29 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/thank-you/https://craigrivett.com/posts/thank-you/It’s that time of year again…. Family, reflections and new years resolutions.Sun, 24 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/are-you-as-awesome-as-you-think-you-are/https://craigrivett.com/posts/are-you-as-awesome-as-you-think-you-are/We all have our blind spots. For certain skills — perhaps our ability to do maths, drive a car or see business opportunities — we may not be as awesome as we think we are.Fri, 24 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/superalert-hungry-but-not-weak-and-ready-to-hunt/https://craigrivett.com/posts/superalert-hungry-but-not-weak-and-ready-to-hunt/Yarak is a word from the sport of falconry used to describe when a bird is superalert, hungry but not weak, and is ready to hunt.Tue, 10 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/its-never-just-business/https://craigrivett.com/posts/its-never-just-business/Whether the deal gets done is never only about the numbers. The people, personalities, beliefs and the various other off-the-books circumstances impact what happens in the office.Mon, 18 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-step-over-the-trash-in-your-path/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-step-over-the-trash-in-your-path/The title is not a metaphor. If there is a dirty wrapper, an old coke can or a piece of plastic in your vicinity, don’t ignore it. Pick it up and throw it away.Sat, 16 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/using-people-is-like-picking-up-pennies-in-front-of-a-steamroller/https://craigrivett.com/posts/using-people-is-like-picking-up-pennies-in-front-of-a-steamroller/We’re all ambitious, we’re all driven and we all want to make a success of our short lives.Fri, 25 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/things-not-going-well-chase-cross-high-five/https://craigrivett.com/posts/things-not-going-well-chase-cross-high-five/Struggling to close a deal? Clients owe you money and your runway is rapidly coming to an end? Second guessing your decision to quit your job to become an entrepreneur, whatever that means?Thu, 24 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/passionately-sell-what-you-understand-and-believe-in/https://craigrivett.com/posts/passionately-sell-what-you-understand-and-believe-in/We’re all sales people. Like it or not. We’re all trying to convince someone to “buy” something from us. Maybe it’s a pair of shoes or a magazine. Maybe it’s persuading a potential employer into believing that you’re productive or convincing a pretty girl to go for a drink.Sat, 19 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/were-the-star-of-our-own-movie-and-no-one-elses/https://craigrivett.com/posts/were-the-star-of-our-own-movie-and-no-one-elses/We see the world through the eyes of a single character; ourselves. Our journey is watched through the lens of our individual past, our individual ambitions and our individual beliefs.Thu, 17 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/is-there-a-worm-in-your-banana-a-lesson-on-acknowledging-and-accepting-your-misbeliefs/https://craigrivett.com/posts/is-there-a-worm-in-your-banana-a-lesson-on-acknowledging-and-accepting-your-misbeliefs/“I haven’t eaten a banana since I was 10” he said. I didn’t believe him. He was in his 70’s. I was about 12 and was eating a banana at the time.Wed, 16 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/give-the-good-news-first/https://craigrivett.com/posts/give-the-good-news-first/We’re surrounded by bad news. Stories of terrorism, natural disasters, violence, crime, corruption and economic pessimism hog the headlines.Tue, 15 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/the-often-forgotten-power-of-google-analytics/https://craigrivett.com/posts/the-often-forgotten-power-of-google-analytics/I built my first website in 2006.Sun, 13 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/tedxjohannesburg-the-way-we-respond-to-crime-needs-to-change/https://craigrivett.com/posts/tedxjohannesburg-the-way-we-respond-to-crime-needs-to-change/November 2016 on [Namola](http://namola.com/)Fri, 11 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-write-killer-email/https://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-write-killer-email/[Business communication](/posts/trying-to-build-great-startup-teams-focus-on-communication/) revolves around email. No two ways about it. It has become the foundation of how teams get onto the same page. It is the basis for how we sell, request payment and provide customer services.Thu, 10 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/were-all-ducks-on-water/https://craigrivett.com/posts/were-all-ducks-on-water/Everyone in business (and in life in general) is the same. On the outside we try our best to look calm, collected and as if everything is under control. On the inside we all have our doubts, fears, insecurities and stresses.Fri, 04 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/execute-passionately-execute-aggressively-execute-now/https://craigrivett.com/posts/execute-passionately-execute-aggressively-execute-now/Do you want to be remembered for your amazing plans or for your epic execution?Sat, 29 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/culture-and-revolution-a-summary-of-the-talk-by-andreessen-horowitz/https://craigrivett.com/posts/culture-and-revolution-a-summary-of-the-talk-by-andreessen-horowitz/A video of the 30 minute talk can be found at the bottom of this post.Wed, 26 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/could-nelson-mandela-bay-become-south-africas-next-innovation-capital/https://craigrivett.com/posts/could-nelson-mandela-bay-become-south-africas-next-innovation-capital/From driverless cars to the green energy revolution, integrated smart cities and new apps for funny selfies, all the innovations that are going to change our lives will use software as their foundation, their core and or their user interface.Fri, 07 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/entrepreneurial-advantage-by-the-aggregation-of-marginal-gains/https://craigrivett.com/posts/entrepreneurial-advantage-by-the-aggregation-of-marginal-gains/Britain is one of the powerhouses of the sport of cycling. At the 2012 Olympics, Team Great Britain Cycling won 8 gold medals. At #Rio2016 they took home 6 golds and topped the table in the discipline with a total medal count of 12 — twice as many as their nearest rival.Sat, 01 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/never-wrestle-with-a-pig/https://craigrivett.com/posts/never-wrestle-with-a-pig/Some people just want to argue and fight. They like the attention. They like the excitement.Wed, 21 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/we-are-biased-to-our-tribes-actively-seek-advice-elsewhere/https://craigrivett.com/posts/we-are-biased-to-our-tribes-actively-seek-advice-elsewhere/A few months ago I published a post on [how we should all choose our tribes](/posts/choose-your-tribes/) — groups of people who we want to spend time with and who we want representing us to outsiders.Tue, 30 May 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/take-a-breath-everything-is-going-to-be-ok/https://craigrivett.com/posts/take-a-breath-everything-is-going-to-be-ok/As a South African reading the daily news, it’s difficult not to feel like the proverbial frog sitting in a pot of water on a lit stove. You can feel it getting hotter. Do you jump or do you hope that someone will turn down the flame?Wed, 26 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dig-in-when-the-digging-gets-too-hard-for-others/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dig-in-when-the-digging-gets-too-hard-for-others/When diamonds were first discovered in Kimberly South Africa, they were found in abundance in a layer of soft, easy to mine, yellow looking soil.Thu, 20 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/lead-your-troops-over-the-alps/https://craigrivett.com/posts/lead-your-troops-over-the-alps/What is the biggest and most audacious goal that you have for your business? Whatever it is, think bigger and go for it.Wed, 12 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/the-three-people-we-need-for-effective-learning/https://craigrivett.com/posts/the-three-people-we-need-for-effective-learning/To learn about business from all angles we need to actively seek out and surround ourselves with three different people:Tue, 11 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/what-the-rise-of-the-mongol-empire-can-teach-us-about-conquering-the-business-world/https://craigrivett.com/posts/what-the-rise-of-the-mongol-empire-can-teach-us-about-conquering-the-business-world/The Mongol Empire was the largest continuous land empire the world has ever seen. Starting from Central Asia, the Mongol Empire grew rapidly and eventually stretched all the way from the Sea of Japan, through China to Central Europe, North into Siberia and South through Iran to the Persian Gulf.Fri, 31 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-feel-guilty-about-profit/https://craigrivett.com/posts/dont-feel-guilty-about-profit/Business is about making money. Don’t hide from that.Thu, 30 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/advice-for-new-software-companies/https://craigrivett.com/posts/advice-for-new-software-companies/Unless you want to be the next hotel chain, the next local taxi company, the next record label distributor, the next video rental outlet or the next telco caught off guard by the equivalent of Airbnb, Uber, Spotify, Netflix or WhatsApp your [company needs to become a software company](https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/07/software-is-eating-the-world-5-years-later/).Tue, 28 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/look-for-where-there-are-no-bullet-holes/https://craigrivett.com/posts/look-for-where-there-are-no-bullet-holes/In 1943, during WW2, the US military was trying to determine the optimum amount and position of armour on fighter planes and bombers.Sat, 04 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/there-are-no-substitutes-for-proximity/https://craigrivett.com/posts/there-are-no-substitutes-for-proximity/In the connected world of smartphones, emails, WhatsApp and Skype it is tempting to build geographic boundaries between you and the people that you work with.Mon, 27 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/launch-your-product-for-the-most-common-user/https://craigrivett.com/posts/launch-your-product-for-the-most-common-user/“Why don’t we add x feature”, “let’s accommodate this business case”, “we can throw that in”, “I’m sure that someone would want to customise the background colours”…Sat, 18 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/ignore-the-fomo/https://craigrivett.com/posts/ignore-the-fomo/Most of us suffer from the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO). We’re paranoid about missing opportunities, so we tend to follow crowds that seem to know where to find them.Fri, 03 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/to-master-a-new-skill-we-need-to-go-through-the-pain-of-learning/https://craigrivett.com/posts/to-master-a-new-skill-we-need-to-go-through-the-pain-of-learning/Ever since my wife and [I moved to Nelson Mandela Bay](/posts/where-should-i-live/) I’ve become surrounded by surfers. Every tenth car has a surfboard or two on the roof. My flat overlooks a local break so whenever I want to sit on my balcony I’m forced to watch them catch wave after wave.Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/choose-your-tribes/https://craigrivett.com/posts/choose-your-tribes/We all belong to various communities made up of family, friends, acquaintances, work colleagues and people that we don’t know well. Each of these tribes have different social norms, values and a varying degree of closeness.Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/stop-barking-at-all-the-cars-on-the-street/https://craigrivett.com/posts/stop-barking-at-all-the-cars-on-the-street/Resist the temptation to chase every opportunity that presents itself. Focus on the [quick wins](/posts/go-for-the-quick-wins/) and the things that will take you closer to your goal. Ignore, defer or say no to everything else.Fri, 27 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/a-sale-is-the-foundation-of-any-business/https://craigrivett.com/posts/a-sale-is-the-foundation-of-any-business/Just like building a house, when building a business, you need to start with the foundations. Once the foundations are in place, you can move above ground to add the walls, windows, doors and all the other beautiful things that people will see.Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/theres-a-fire-coming-down-the-mountain-what-do-you-do/https://craigrivett.com/posts/theres-a-fire-coming-down-the-mountain-what-do-you-do/“We’ve been evacuated” read the the WhatsApp message that woke me up early this morning. My wife was letting me know that her, our 7 week old baby girl and my mother have left my parent’s little farm, which now sits in the path of an out of control fire. A “wall of hell”.Tue, 17 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/persistence-and-perseverance/https://craigrivett.com/posts/persistence-and-perseverance/“Life can deal you an amazing hand. Do you play it steady, bluff like crazy or go all in?” ― Joe SimpsonThu, 27 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/find-the-long-term-balance-in-life/https://craigrivett.com/posts/find-the-long-term-balance-in-life/“Believe me it is better to understand the balance sheet of one’s own life than of the corn trade.” — SenecaTue, 25 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/do-hard-things-because-they-are-hard/https://craigrivett.com/posts/do-hard-things-because-they-are-hard/“Because it’s there”Sat, 22 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/always-do-whats-right/https://craigrivett.com/posts/always-do-whats-right/In business, life and politics there are opportunities to take ethical shortcuts to get ahead, be more popular or make more money. Some of them are perfectly legal. All of them are wrong.Fri, 21 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/you-dont-know-what-the-customer-really-wants/https://craigrivett.com/posts/you-dont-know-what-the-customer-really-wants/It’s easy to pitch what you want to sell. It’s harder to pitch what the customer actually wants to buy.Fri, 07 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/business-is-about-connecting-the-dots/https://craigrivett.com/posts/business-is-about-connecting-the-dots/Business is about fulfilling a need, for a profit.Sat, 17 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/leaders-show-up/https://craigrivett.com/posts/leaders-show-up/To be a leader in your startup you need to show up. No matter how hard it is.Sat, 10 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/you-dont-have-to-be-top-of-the-class-to-be-an-entrepreneur/https://craigrivett.com/posts/you-dont-have-to-be-top-of-the-class-to-be-an-entrepreneur/You don’t need to have been top of your class to be a successful entrepreneur. In fact, it may help if you weren’t…Sun, 28 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/trying-to-build-great-startup-teams-focus-on-communication/https://craigrivett.com/posts/trying-to-build-great-startup-teams-focus-on-communication/We all want our startup teams to be successful. We want them to be creative, committed, productive, profitable, loyal and energetic.Sat, 23 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/founders-are-obsessed-with-speed/https://craigrivett.com/posts/founders-are-obsessed-with-speed/It is easy to go slow. It is easy to bide your time hoping that someone else will do the actual work. Things feel safer when you’re moving slowly. It’s harder to move fast, but moving fast will make the difference between startup success or startup failure.Mon, 18 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/where-should-i-live/https://craigrivett.com/posts/where-should-i-live/Over the last four years I’ve moved from Stellenbosch to Cape Town. Cape Town to Wellington. Wellington back to Stellenbosch, and from Stellenbosch to Pretoria. Rebecca and I currently live in Port Elizabeth.Fri, 15 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/all-about-meetings/https://craigrivett.com/posts/all-about-meetings/Meetings can be a valuable or an expensive way to spend your time. They can open up opportunities, or cost you dearly.Thu, 14 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/the-success-of-your-startup-can-depend-on-how-you-deal-with-mistakes/https://craigrivett.com/posts/the-success-of-your-startup-can-depend-on-how-you-deal-with-mistakes/Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone.Wed, 13 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/focus-on-the-job-and-not-on-the-glory/https://craigrivett.com/posts/focus-on-the-job-and-not-on-the-glory/You’ve got a new high-profile project to complete. Maybe it’s internal, possibly the launch of a new product or the opening of a new division. Maybe it’s public, the founding of your new startup perhaps.Tue, 12 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/go-for-the-quick-wins/https://craigrivett.com/posts/go-for-the-quick-wins/You’ve just ditched the suit. Left the corporate world. And have started a new job at a startup.Mon, 11 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-get-your-startup-team-to-communicate-clearly/https://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-get-your-startup-team-to-communicate-clearly/The success or failure of any startup depends on team’s ability to communicate.Mon, 11 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/effort/https://craigrivett.com/posts/effort/It’s one thing to deliver the goods once you have the contract. It’s another to show your potential clients that you’re willing to put in effort.Fri, 24 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/how-namola-can-help-make-south-africa-safer/https://craigrivett.com/posts/how-namola-can-help-make-south-africa-safer/[Namola](http://namola.com/) is a smartphone application that dramatically improves police dispatch times and the communication between officers, the control room and citizens.Thu, 21 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/how-inqaku-can-assist-sa-win-a-world-cup/https://craigrivett.com/posts/how-inqaku-can-assist-sa-win-a-world-cup/[Inqaku](https://inqaku.com/) is an initiative launched in partnership with South African Football Associate (SAFA).Mon, 18 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/startup-smoke-and-mirrors/https://craigrivett.com/posts/startup-smoke-and-mirrors/In the [last episode of season 2 of the TV series Sherlock](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1942614/?ref=ttepep3), a remake of the books by Arthur Conan Doyle, the villain Jim Moriarty uses a smartphone app to simultaneously break into the Tower of London, Pentonville Prison and the Bank of London.Sun, 17 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/website-consistency-is-important/https://craigrivett.com/posts/website-consistency-is-important/People prefer consistency over inconsistency.Wed, 13 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-gauge-customer-loyalty/https://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-gauge-customer-loyalty/The best kind of startup is the one where your customers are your biggest sales team.Wed, 06 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-launch-an-online-shop/https://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-launch-an-online-shop/eCommerce is not easy. It is very difficult to get people to your site and even harder to get them to make a purchase.Tue, 05 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-decide-on-a-minimum-viable-product-mvp/https://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-decide-on-a-minimum-viable-product-mvp/So, you have an idea for a great tech business but before you go all in, risk your retirement, hire staff and rent office space you should test it.Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-be-a-leader-in-a-startup/https://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-be-a-leader-in-a-startup/In startups you work in teams made up of highly-motivated and super-ambitious individuals.Sun, 03 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-build-an-app/https://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-build-an-app/Uber, AirBnB, WhatsApp…. Modern business revolves around mobile apps.Tue, 29 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-register-a-domain-name/https://craigrivett.com/posts/how-to-register-a-domain-name/Finding an appropriate domain name (e.g. craigrivett.com) is one of the first and most important things that you need to do when you decide to launch a website.Mon, 28 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/sell-dammit/https://craigrivett.com/posts/sell-dammit/You’ve gone off alone, scrambled to get some seed money, hired a few staff, designed a logo, launched the website and opened the doors to your fancy new office.Mon, 22 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/apps-should-have-one-core-feature-only/https://craigrivett.com/posts/apps-should-have-one-core-feature-only/In the world to app development less per app is more.Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/the-least-life-changing-to-do-list-it-changed-my-world/https://craigrivett.com/posts/the-least-life-changing-to-do-list-it-changed-my-world/An effective to-do listFri, 06 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/my-stop-doing-list/https://craigrivett.com/posts/my-stop-doing-list/Inspired by [this article on Farnam Street](https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2014/07/jim-collins-stop-doing-list/) I decided to draft a Stop Doing list.Wed, 04 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/advice-for-startups-working-with-government/https://craigrivett.com/posts/advice-for-startups-working-with-government/There are 5 pieces of advice that one should follow when working with government or any large organisation.Mon, 02 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/4-reasons-why-entrepreneurs-should-study-for-as-long-as-possible/https://craigrivett.com/posts/4-reasons-why-entrepreneurs-should-study-for-as-long-as-possible/Many very famous entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of their university degrees and some like Richard Branson didn’t finish school.Fri, 30 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/what-wimpy-has-taught-me-about-building-an-everlasting-business/https://craigrivett.com/posts/what-wimpy-has-taught-me-about-building-an-everlasting-business/Launched here in 1967 Wimpy has stood the test of time and has become an iconic South African brand (like it or not).Tue, 26 May 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/its-important-to-dive-in/https://craigrivett.com/posts/its-important-to-dive-in/Venture: Panacea Mobile · Website: [www.panaceamobile.com](http://panaceamobile.com/)Thu, 26 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/my-everlasting-romance-with-wine/https://craigrivett.com/posts/my-everlasting-romance-with-wine/Venture: Hogan Wines · Website: [www.hoganwines.co.za](http://www.hoganwines.co.za/)Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/namola-and-the-public-sector/https://craigrivett.com/posts/namola-and-the-public-sector/The Tshwane Metro Police, together with the City of Tshwane, recently launched Namola, a pilot smartphone app that helps the user send a direct alert to the nearest Metro Police responders. The first available responder is automatically directed to the user by a dashboard-mounted smartphone.Sun, 08 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/its-all-about-making-the-first-move/https://craigrivett.com/posts/its-all-about-making-the-first-move/Venture: Tribage · Website: www.tribage.comWed, 04 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/when-it-comes-to-connectivity-the-poor-pay-more/https://craigrivett.com/posts/when-it-comes-to-connectivity-the-poor-pay-more/In Africa access to the Internet is not the problem, you can find 3G coverage almost anywhere. The problem is affordability.Sun, 01 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/why-startup-toast/https://craigrivett.com/posts/why-startup-toast/Recently I launched a new blog called www.startuptoast.com.Wed, 21 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/why-would-a-founder-or-attempted-founder-submit-a-letter-to-startup-toast/https://craigrivett.com/posts/why-would-a-founder-or-attempted-founder-submit-a-letter-to-startup-toast/There are three (plus 1) reasons:Wed, 21 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/burning-my-fingers-in-ecommerce/https://craigrivett.com/posts/burning-my-fingers-in-ecommerce/Venture: JuJuFire · Website: www.jujufire.comSun, 18 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/my-new-years-resolutions-for-startup-success/https://craigrivett.com/posts/my-new-years-resolutions-for-startup-success/This is the time of year for personal reflection. Reflection on what we’ve done right, what we’ve done wrong and most importantly on what we’re going to change or improve.Fri, 26 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/four-reasons-why-security-companies-are-not-threatened-by-stelliesafe/https://craigrivett.com/posts/four-reasons-why-security-companies-are-not-threatened-by-stelliesafe/StellieSafe is creating an “Uber for Armed Reponse” mobile application that connects users in need of assistance with the nearest available armed responder. It will be launched in a piloted area in Stellenbosch by Christmas.Tue, 11 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/three-ways-that-stelliesafe-can-help-security-companies-make-more-money/https://craigrivett.com/posts/three-ways-that-stelliesafe-can-help-security-companies-make-more-money/Here are 3 reasons why joining StellieSafe will help security companies sell more at-home and at-work armed response coverage, and make more money:Tue, 11 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/why-stelliesafe-cant-work-if-its-exclusive-to-one-company/https://craigrivett.com/posts/why-stelliesafe-cant-work-if-its-exclusive-to-one-company/StellieSafe is an aggregator of security companies that will provide armed response in public places. It will be launching a pilot area in Stellenbosch by Christmas.Tue, 11 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/im-engaged-what-does-it-mean/https://craigrivett.com/posts/im-engaged-what-does-it-mean/Last week Saturday I took my girlfriend for a gentle run in the rain on the mountain behind the Coetzenburg Gym in Stellenbosch. Half way through I stopped got down on one knee and I asked her to marry me.Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/coffee-is-the-new-smoking/https://craigrivett.com/posts/coffee-is-the-new-smoking/Not so long ago cigarette smoke was the lubricant for office gossip and strategic planning. People of all ranks would gather outside to smoke. Business relationships were forged, nurtured and transformed into partnerships.Thu, 10 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/creating-the-product-is-the-easy-part/https://craigrivett.com/posts/creating-the-product-is-the-easy-part/(First published on [Startup Toast](http://everafrica.com/blog/))Tue, 08 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/the-trick-to-increased-productivity/https://craigrivett.com/posts/the-trick-to-increased-productivity/As an entrepreneur productivity is key.Tue, 08 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://craigrivett.com/posts/taking-risks/https://craigrivett.com/posts/taking-risks/“If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on.” — Sheryl SandbergSun, 06 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT