Inspired by Sahar's how to ruin your health, here's my advice for how to fail in business on the Internet:
10. Write long e-mails, click more, faster. Most people read carefully and repetitive strain injuries do not happen to entrepreneurs.
9. Think about nothing but your business as long as you are awake. Do that 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, year in and year out. It’s good for your health and relationships too!
8. Stay highly focused. Avoid networking and do not attend events outside your niche. You can get more done at your desk than anywhere else.
7. Use lengthy legal contracts. Work with lawyers closely to make sure you are protected from everything at all times under any circumstances.
6. Remember big is beautiful. Do your banking with Bank of America and your payroll with Paychex or ADP. They rarely make mistakes, provide reliable services and will not embarrass you or waste your time. And they make you look big too.
5. Rely on group decision-making. The wisdom of crowds means that your group consensus will always take you in the right direction. But let your IT folks decide how your software works because they know what's possible and what isn't.
4. Be innovative. Give all of your inventions special names and teach your market about them. Once everyone is educated, you will have millions of customers.
3. Be polite, be respected. Watch your etiquette and make friends. Don't break any rules. Play it safe.
2. Hire quickly and fire slowly. Train, train, train... patience, patience, patience. Make sure to hire locally also because it's just too hard to communicate with people in other states or countries. Of course, you will need to lease a large office but the gains in productivity from face-to-face interaction will more than pay for that.
1. Hire friends. Keep it fun and treat your friends delicately.
At one time or another, I have experimented with most of the above and can vouch for them. Have I left out any good business advice in your experience?
