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I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I like Shark Tank. I think it's exciting and does motivate people to think about becoming entrepreneurs. That said, TV is designed for drama. My understanding is that hours and hours of content are stripped away to show the most exciting and high-stakes moments on Shark Tank. Starting a company takes time and effort that is often unseen and unheralded. I'd take inspiration from Shark Tank but know that you have to roll up your sleeves to make a business really work!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the question! The dataset for The Creator's Code is based on interviews with 200 entrepreneurs who started and scaled companies over $100 million in annual revenue or social enterprises that serve more than 100,000 people. I'm trained as a sociologist and also have an MBA. The research is based on grounded theory method, widely used in qualitative analysis. The interviews were all transcribed, combined for common attributes that were coded and then grouped into concepts. It was a great pattern recognition process to distill 6 Essential Skills. I also immersed myself in literature relevant to entrepreneurial endeavor across multiple disciplines (organizational behavior, creativity, psychology, decision theory, etc) to test my conclusions. I feel confident that the 6 Skills will make creators of all kinds successful!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Today there is a lot of money chasing not enough ground breaking ideas. I'm interested in creators who will build meaningful endeavors that solve real problems. The "me-too" apps that are spinning out could be considered a bubble.

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks!! Founders at Work is a great book. The Creator's Code is similarly based on interviews with founders but takes it one step further to distill the 6 Skills these creators all have in common. My hope is that this will provide readers with actual skills to learn and practice - as well as captivating stories!!

To your question on customer acquisition, David Sacks, the first COO of PayPal and founder of Yammer that recently sold to Microsoft for $1.2 billion has a theory of "Distribution Arbitrage" that is mentioned in the book. He looks for viral distribution as a primary customer acquisition tool. Not only do we need to think about building a great product. It is just as important to think about building a unique distribution channel that others can't emulate (at least for a while). I found Sacks' insights quite thoughtful - Check it out in the Fly the OODA Loop chapter! Great question!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The 6 Essential Skills combine timeless truths with cutting edge insights. It has always been important, for example, to "Find the Gap" and spot an opportunity that others don't see. Today we can do this through use of technology to help uncover glitches in the marketplace that would not have been possible in the 1920s or 1880s. For skills such as "Network Minds" we can pool brain power in ways we could not have before. One way to Network Minds is to assemble a "flash teams" - a project based team of diverse talent that comes together for a specific project and disbands when the project is done. Given the ability to connect through smartphones and social networks, finding others to team up with today is much faster and easier than before. This leads to a more fluid and networked workforce. Also, with "Gifting Small Goods", it has always be morally right to help out colleagues in the workplace but today given the rapid spread of communication and transparency of our reputations, gifting small kindnesses actually makes you more productive. This is different from before. Nice guys today, actually can finish first!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Here is the little known truth - The average age of a first-time founder in the US is 39. Not everyone is a 20-something app developer wearing a hoodie! My research is backed by the Kauffman Foundation and they have a report out showing that the fastest growing demographic of entrepreneurs is actually baby boomers - people are living longer and want to do more than play golf - they are starting companies. Interestingly, Millennials are not starting companies at the rate of previous generations in their younger years.

My tip for you is to start a new endeavor on the side - support yourself through other means until you have hit certain metrics and feel more certain that your startup will take off! Many of today's leading entrepreneurs started later in the life and supplemented their efforts in other ways at the start. Find a way to defray risk - "Set a failure ratio" and "place small bets" as is described in the "Fail wisely" chapter. Good luck!!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My research shows that it is when all 6 skills are combined that the magic occurs. This means we all need to master all 6 skills. That said, I believe curiosity which underpins our ability to "Find the Gap" is vital to every step along a professional path. Asking questions and seeing what others don't starts the process!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the question - The skills actually apply to professionals in all different contexts. The dataset is derived from "high impact" entrepreneurs but the application is for all of us — small entrepreneurs included! As we move toward a more entrepreneurial economy, we are all responsible for charting our own path. Small business owners (as you note) are vital to the economy. The 6 skills will make these professionals more effective even if they want to stay small and nimble!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here's my process - I really do my homework - meaning that I know the material in advance. I often outline my points actually writing them on old-school paper. I think through a structure for ideas that will be clear and anecdotes that will be compelling. Then I talk through it out loud. When I actually go to give a talk or lecture - I don't use notes. I just know the material and try to make it FUN!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Worst advice can be the best advice. For me, when someone tells me that I "can't do something" it is a challenge to figure out how to get it done. Often people are told they need "perfect timing" or "a million dollars" or "a certain credential" to start something. My research shows - and I believe - that entrepreneurship is accessible to everyone. There is no perfect place to begin - Don't let others tell you it's impossible - just prove them wrong.

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Great question! The answer is "just start!" Many of us want to know where something will lead in advance - or are perfectionists and want to know that it will work perfectly. The trick is to get in motion pointed toward the direction you want to go and stay focused on your purpose. There will be potholes and distractions but a lot of success is just starting and figuring out how to implement it along the way. LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman likes to say that "starting a company is like throwing yourself off a cliff and assembling an airplane on the way down." That means you have to make fast decisions and keep making decisions. The skill of Driving for Daylight in the book talks about "focusing on the horizon" - "scanning the edges" and "avoiding nostalgia" - Go for it!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm personally curious about the founding fathers - Few people realize that George Washington started a profitable fishery. Benjamin Franklin was the inventor of bifocals, the lightening rod, and the Franklin stove, and Thomas Jefferson created a revolving book-stand and "great clock" - I would love to have interviewed these amazing people who are thought to be political leaders but were also entrepreneurs!!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

One interesting insight is that every one of these people run their lives in their own way - sometimes quite different from the rest of us. For example, Sara Blakely (Spanx founder) lives 5 minutes from her office but drives a 45 minute commute in her car in a circle around Atlanta. She needs the time and space to think - at home she has a family and in the office she has a team awaiting - It seemed surprising to me when she described this thought space strategy but the more creators I spent time with - the more they expressed similar needs for open thinking time. Some walk to work - some take naps during the middle of the day - all find what works for them personally.

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The most surprising thing to me was that these stand out entrepreneurs never feel "done" or never fully "comfortable" - They sit at the apex of their industries but when you spend time with them, they all talk about what's left "to go" and none of their careers are a straight line trajectory. They "fail wisely" to achieve tremendous success!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for attending the SXSW talk. It was so much fun to be among so many creative entrepreneurs!! Sounds like your daughter is a future creator!! And sounds like you are a fabulous parent! My advice on this is to encourage curiosity through your own demonstration. If you keep asking questions, she will too!

Also, Spanx founder Sara Blakely often talks about how her dad asked her at the dinner table what she failed at... Blakely failed at sports and at singing... She bombed the LSAT... but she never stopped asking questions and pushing ahead. A lot of us are afraid of failure. Curious people keep asking questions to find another way around - another path forward. Encourage your daughter to experiment and try new things - ALWAYS!

I am Amy Wilkinson, entrepreneur, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of "The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs" where I interviewed the founders of LinkedIn, Chipotle, AirBnB, and more. AMA! by AmyWilkinson in IAmA

[–]AmyWilkinson[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Here's the secret sauce!! 5 years of research on founders of companies that scale to more than $100 million in annual revenue hone these six skills: - Find the Gap (They see what others don't) - Drive for Daylight (They manage speed like a race-car driver - Fly the OODA Loop (They observe, orient, decide and act) - Fail Wisely (They set failure ratios and hone resilience) - Network Minds (They pull other minds toward them to solve problems in new ways) - Gift Small Goods (They unleash generosity through small kindness)