Mental Models: Mastering the Art of Clear Thinking
MBA ASAP Podcast
John Cousins's introduces the concept of mental models as frameworks for understanding the world and making better decisions. The book emphasizes building a diverse "latticework" of models from various disciplines to overcome cognitive biases and navigate complexity. It explores specific models like probabilistic thinking, first principles thinking, and the Dunning-Kruger effect, illustrating how these frameworks improve decision-making and foster intellectual growth. The author also advocates for continuous learning, intellectual humility, and the importance of adapting to changing...
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MBA ASAP Deep Dive: Focus
MBA ASAP Podcast
John Cousins's Focus: Building a Startup That Solves the Right Problems is a guide to help startup founders prioritize effectively. The book emphasizes the crucial role of focus in navigating the challenges of starting a business, arguing that it's more important to say "no" to many good ideas than to say "yes" to everything. It provides practical strategies for identifying the most impactful problems to solve, recognizing signs of both good and poor focus, and building a culture of focus within the team. Using examples from successful companies like Apple and...
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Episode 13 The Pitch Deck
MBA ASAP Podcast
This episode goes over the top dozen things you should include when somebody asks you: "what does your company do?"
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Episode 12 Marketing Lecture 1
MBA ASAP Podcast
This lecture is driven by an initial question: what does it mean that Amazon is now a trillion dollar company? I discuss: Balance Sheets, Present Value, Wisdom of Crowds, Statistics, Amazon, Nike, Supply and Demand, micro economics, Discounting Cash Flows, AI, autonomous vehicles, and lots more.
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Episode 11 Cornelia Gamlem on Management
MBA ASAP Podcast
In this episode I discuss management issues with Cornelia Gamlem. She covers tools to build trust and teams, maximize your impact and influence, and how to best respond to challenges that face managers at all levels.
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Episode 10 Brenner Adams
MBA ASAP Podcast
Brenner is a cofounder and CEO of The LINK Group, a FinTech startup in Utah’s “Silicon Slopes. Brenner is an adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurism in the Strategy Department of the Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah where he has mentored nearly 200 student based startups. He also serves as Strategic Liaison for the Foreign Direct Investment office of Southern France known as Team Cote d’Azur. Brenner has was a CoDesigner and Director of Business Development at Microsft Xbox’s Indie Built Studios, Global Brand Director for Burton Snowboards and advised Cannondale, GT,...
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Episode 9 Donatas Jonikas
MBA ASAP Podcast
In this episode Dr. Jonikas talks about his pathbreaking work on what makes startups successful and how to avoid common, but not obvious, pitfalls.
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Episode 008 Engel Jones
MBA ASAP Podcast
This episode is a twelve minute conversation with Engel Jones. It is from his podcast where he interviewed 1001 people in 3 months. Now that takes efficient coordination and organization! I was one of his interviews and this is that conversation.
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Episode 006 - Croft Edwards and the principles of Leadership Flow
MBA ASAP Podcast
Croft Edwards is a very interesting, thoughtful and engaging leadership thinker and practitioner. In this episode he provides lots of actionable ideas and advice.
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Episode 005 MBA Jam
MBA ASAP Podcast
In this episode I am interviewed by Avinash Bajaj of The MBA Jam podcast from London. You can find his podcast at thembajam.com
info_outlineFocus: Building a Startup That Solves the Right Problems
John Cousins's Focus: Building a Startup That Solves the Right Problems is a guide to help startup founders prioritize effectively. The book emphasizes the crucial role of focus in navigating the challenges of starting a business, arguing that it's more important to say "no" to many good ideas than to say "yes" to everything. It provides practical strategies for identifying the most impactful problems to solve, recognizing signs of both good and poor focus, and building a culture of focus within the team. Using examples from successful companies like Apple and Slack, the author illustrates how disciplined attention to core objectives leads to greater efficiency and success. Finally, the book offers tools and frameworks for setting clear goals, measuring progress, and adapting to change while maintaining long-term focus.
Unlock the Power of Focus to Build a Startup That Thrives
Are you overwhelmed by endless tasks, shifting priorities, and relentless distractions? The Focus Edge: How Startups Thrive by Mastering Clarity and Commitment is your ultimate guide to cutting through the noise and driving your business toward meaningful success.
This actionable book offers startup founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders the tools and strategies to prioritize effectively, simplify processes, and achieve sustainable growth. Whether you’re launching a new venture or scaling an existing one, this book will help you focus on what matters most: solving real problems, engaging customers, and aligning your team.
What You’ll Learn:
- Master Prioritization: Eliminate distractions and identify high-impact activities using proven frameworks like SMART goals, OKRs, and the Eisenhower Matrix.
- Simplify to Amplify: Avoid the complexity trap by streamlining workflows and focusing on delivering value.
- Stay Customer-Centric: Put your audience at the heart of your business by solving their core problems and fostering trust.
- Track and Measure Progress: Learn how to define KPIs, establish feedback loops, and refine your strategies for long-term success.
- Build Resilience: Adapt to changing environments with a continuous improvement mindset and disciplined focus.
Featuring real-life examples from successful companies like Slack, Airbnb, and Amazon, as well as practical checklists and templates, Focus is packed with insights to help you stay on track and build a startup that stands the test of time.
Why You Need This Book:
- Optimized Content for Startups: Get ahead in a competitive market with strategies tailored to modern business challenges.
- Actionable Advice: Each chapter is designed to provide clear steps you can implement immediately.
- Growth-Centric Strategies: Learn how to scale effectively without losing sight of your mission.
Perfect for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone looking to cut through the chaos, Focus is your roadmap to creating a focused, impactful startup. Start transforming your business today. Your focused future begins now!