October 2011
COVER STORY
Creating the Lean Startup
Eric Ries is on a mission to save entrepreneurs from squandered capital, wasted efforts, and shattered dreams.
FEATURES
The Don't-Do Lists
Don't underestimate the importance of what not to do in certain situations. Here, we compiled a list of 14 scenarios and asked business leaders and experts for their tips on what they assiduously avoid doing in each.
Doing Business in China
Michael Lee is on the verge of becoming the first American entrepreneur to build big in the world’s most populous country.
How I Did It: Hartley Peavey of Peavey Electronics
Hartley Peavey couldn't cut it as a guitarist, so he built the company that makes rock's best-loved amplifiers.
Case Study: Targeting the Right Market
Fun and Function’s products for special-needs kids were a hit. Was it time to target the larger schools market?
COLUMNS
Street Smarts | Norm Brodsky
Being Prepared When Things Go Wrong
Norm Brodsky explains what you can do when the price of your materials go way up.
Street Smarts | Norm Brodsky
When to Change Your Business Model
If a competitor offers its product for free, should you do the same in hopes of increasing market share? Norm Brodsky shares his advice.
Street Smarts | Norm Brodsky
Keeping Your Company Healthy
A balance sheet is like a thermometer that provides a reading on the health of your business. Ignoring it could be fatal.
Get Real | Jason Fried
Want to Know What Your Employees Really Think?
Jason Fried suggests staging a Comedy Central-style celebrity roast of your top-selling product.
Trend Watcher | John Gerzema
Why You Should Hire E-lancers
When you don’t need a full-time employee to do the task at hand, hire an e-lancer from one of these new companies.
THE GOODS
The Goods: Water Coolers
The water cooler has long been a focal point of office life. But gone are the days of big plastic bottles. These bottle-free coolers cut down on landfill waste and offer nifty features such as sparkling water, ice chips, and extra-hot water, for the oatmeal eaters in the office.
Web Translation Made Simple
The skinny on a new Web-based service that can translate websites into more than 50 foreign languages
My Favorite Web Analytics Tool
Entrepreneur Andy Crestodina explains how he uses Crazy Egg to analyze web traffic.
Finding Workspace on the Fly
Tech Trends columnist John Brandon reviews LiquidSpace, a website designed to help you find a temporary workspace.
3 Travel Reward Cards
A look at three travel reward credit cards with added perks, like generous sign-up bonuses
Things I Can't Live Without: Elizabeth Cutler of SoulCycle
Cutler’s favorite things include the Polar Hearth Rate Monitor and Dakine’s Over Under Bag.
A Stylish New Labelmaker
Looking to get organized? Epson’s new LabelWorks LW-400 has plenty of design options for creating labels with style.
3 Souped-Up Note-Taking Apps
Here’s a look at three supercharged note-taking apps for a variety of smartphones and tablets.
INNOVATION
Innovation: A Cheaper Alternative to Kevlar
Novana says it has developed an antiballistic material that is just as tough as Kevlar, but less expensive to make.
ADVERTISEMENT
STRATEGY
Perfecting the Halloween Pop-up
A chain of New York City beauty stores relies on Halloween pop-ups to expand its reach.
Elevator Pitch: Take the Interview
Screening job candidates is a huge waste of time. This HR start-up makes it easy. Can it raise $1.25 million?
Why Learning to Tell Jokes Is Good for Business
Good comedians are usually good presenters. So can doing stand-up help close the deal?
A New Way to Cut Health Care Costs
Ever consider opening an on-site clinic of your own? It could be the next health insurance solution.
The New World of Open-Source Mentoring
Finding a mentor in-house isn't always easy. So some businesses are turning to social networks for help.
The Way I Work: Jen Bilik of Knock Knock
Jen Bilik, founder of the stationery and gift business Knock Knock, considers herself the company's "creative monarch."
BEHIND THE SCENES
The Business of The High Line
Here’s a look at the companies that make New York City’s High Line park a must-see destination.
LAUNCH
5 Tips to Rock Holiday Sales on Your Etsy Store
Handmade goods are attractive this time of year, but they don't exactly sell themselves. Start moving more product with these tips.
The Scary Side of Entrepreneurship
Chris Savage, the founder of Wistia, on the fear of entrepreneurship
Inc. 5000 Small Business Confidence Survey, Fall 2011
Inc. 5000 CEOs weigh in on the economy, hiring, and sales.
Book Review: Demand
Authors Adrian J. Slywotzky and Karl Weber offer tips on creating what people love before they know they want it.
Inc. 5000 Update: Costume Craze
Kate Maloney of Costume Craze started out selling software with her family, but a fluke product dominated sales.
Inc. Data Bank, October 2011
What small business owners want out of retirement, how employees feel about work-life balance, what countries are driving global e-commerce sales, and other intriguing statistics.
How to Create a “Weird” Company Culture
An offbeat culture and an obsession with product design helped turn Method into a $100 million company.
The Characteristics of a Great Leader
New research says that great leadership isn't so much about charisma as it is about managerial mystique.
LEGACY
Obituary: Norbert Olberz, 1925-2011
With a firm hand (a very firm hand) and an eye for detail, he built a regional sporting-goods giant.
VIEWS & OPINIONS
Meeting Some Very Smart People
Editor Jane Berentson discusses her recent visit to the headquarters of The Kauffman Foundation, which opened its first charter school in August.
Training CEOs to Be Better Leaders
Former Navy SEAL Rob Roy runs a hellish 80-hour leadership course inspired by military combat prep.
Reader Mail: October 2011
Readers respond to our our story about globetrotting 21-year-old Ankur Jain and our How I Did It feature package, along with columns by Jason Fried and Meg Hirshberg.
