尋找創新者

參考一下創新采用曲線（創新者、早期采用者、早期采用人群、后期采用人群和遲緩者）。尋找你所在領域的創新者，將他們作為第一批（也可能是）最有價值的客戶。如果他們的問題足夠大，他們會愿意接受尚未達到完美的產品，因為對于他們而言，問題太過痛苦，他們需要立即找到一種解決方案。他們會欣然（短期內）接受具有最低限度可用性的產品。而隨著你繼續增加產品，吸引到更多消費者（早期采用者和早期采用人群），他們還會給予你最大的善意。如果你找不到愿意使用最低限度可用性產品的創新者或早期采用者，那可能說明你并沒能解決真正的問題。

運氣是雙向的

創業從來都離不開運氣。不論你工作多么努力，你在創業過程中總是會遇到（好的或壞的）運氣。沒錯，運氣會青睞有準備的人，而且運氣也非決定成敗的唯一因素。但當運氣來臨的時候，要識別并利用它。如果你的運氣不佳，別為自己感到難過。接受它，并迅速從霉運的陰影中走出來。挫折在所難免。唯一的問題在于：你如何應對？你會就此沉淪，自怨自艾地問“為什么倒霉的總是我？”還是會奮起反擊，想方設法堅持下去？要記住，運氣是雙向的。如果你交了好運，要心存感激并欣然接受它。但不要太得意忘形，否則你可能傷到自己。

你責無旁貸

這是你的公司。導師和投資者只是來為你提供幫助，但這終究是你自己的事業。如果你有什么需要，當然可以向你的支持者們尋求幫助。但要記住，這是你的責任，你責無旁貸。

本文作者查克?坦普爾頓為OpenTable的創始人。坦普爾頓目前還擔任初創公司加速器Impact Engine的董事長，該公司的宗旨是幫助經營性公司解決社會和環境問題。（財富中文網）

譯者：劉進龍/汪皓

Look for the innovators

Think about the Adoption Curve (innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards). Look for the innovators in your space as the first (and possibly) most valuable customers. If their pain is big enough, they will take a suboptimal product, because for them, the problem is so painful that they need a solution immediately. They will be open and happy (for the short-term) with an MVP. They will also give you the benefit of the doubt as you continue to build out the product and bring on more (early adopters and early majority) customers. If you can’t find any innovators or early adopters that will use your MVP, then you are probably not solving a real problem.

Luck goes both ways

Luck is always involved in entrepreneurship. No matter how hard you work, there will be some (good and bad) luck in it. Yes, luck favors the prepared and it is not all about luck. But when it comes along, recognize it and take advantage of it. And when you have bad luck, don’t feel sorry for yourself. Embrace it and get back out there. There will be setbacks. The only question is: how will you respond? Will you sulk and think “why me?” or will you bounce back and find a way to persevere? And remember, luck goes both ways. So if something happens in your favor, be thankful and embrace it. And don’t pat your back too hard or you may bruise yourself.

The buck stops with you

This is your company. Mentors and investors are here to help, but ultimately it is your business. If you want or need something, don’t be afraid to ask your supporters for help. But remember, the buck stops with you.

Chuck Templeton is the founder of OpenTable. Templeton is currently the Chairman of Impact Engine, a startup accelerator helping for-profit businesses address societal and environmental problems.