https://longform.asmartbear.com/ Articles from A Smart Bear Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us (c) 2007-2026 Jason Cohen Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:51:17 +0000 https://longform.asmartbear.com/images/bear-green-512-sq.png https://longform.asmartbear.com/ https://longform.asmartbear.com/value-time/ Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-19T00:00:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/value-time/ Startup founders undervalue their time. Here's why you should act like it's $1000/hr, and how it changes the decisions you make. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/value-time/value-time-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/value-time/value-time-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/value-time/value-time.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/confidence/ Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 2026-06-22T17:06:34Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/confidence/ RICE and other confidence-based frameworks are mostly noise. Here's how to make decisions without pretending to know the unknowable. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/confidence/confidence-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/confidence/confidence-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/confidence/confidence.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/worry/ Sun, 24 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000 2026-05-24T08:00:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/worry/ Worrying makes things worse. Replace worry with preparation and strategic planning. https://longform.asmartbear.com/hire-better-than-you/ Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 2026-06-17T05:44:05Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/hire-better-than-you/ If you don't hire people better than you, the organization gets bigger, not better. But how do you hire for something you don't understand? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/hire-better-than-you/hire-better-than-you-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/hire-better-than-you/hire-better-than-you-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/hire-better-than-you/hire-better-than-you.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/creativity-over-optimization/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 2026-03-22T00:00:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/creativity-over-optimization/ In the quest for optimization, A/B tests, metrics, and funnels, we're in danger of losing the fun and value of creative work. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/creativity-over-optimization/creativity-over-optimization-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/creativity-over-optimization/creativity-over-optimization-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/creativity-over-optimization/creativity-over-optimization.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/strategic-choices/ Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 2026-02-22T20:52:18Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/strategic-choices/ Real strategy means choosing between two good options and accepting all the consequences--even the painful ones you don't like. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/strategic-choices/strategic-choices-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/strategic-choices/strategic-choices-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/strategic-choices/strategic-choices.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/compass/ Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-30T18:44:22Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/compass/ A compass tells you which way is north, not whether you should be heading north. So what is the map to startup success? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/compass/compass-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/compass/compass-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/compass/compass.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/focus/ Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-04T00:00:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/focus/ Do less, to create the space to be great. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/focus/focus-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/focus/focus-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/focus/focus.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/delegation/ Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2026-06-14T15:54:29Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/delegation/ Delegation doesn't scale your business. What does: Creating a team that is better than the current team. Including you. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/delegation/delegation-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/delegation/delegation-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/delegation/delegation.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/mission-vision/ Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-11-09T18:16:26Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/mission-vision/ Mission, vision, purpose, BHAG. Are they useful north stars, or academic nonsense? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/mission-vision/mission-vision-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/mission-vision/mission-vision-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/mission-vision/mission-vision.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/expert-harmful/ Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:22:20Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/expert-harmful/ Expertise hinders learning. Learn from these examples, so that you leverage your expertise, but aren't blinded by it. Insights come from curiosity, not certainty. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/expert-harmful/expert-harmful-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/expert-harmful/expert-harmful-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/expert-harmful/expert-harmful.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/target-market/ Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:51:10Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/target-market/ How to define your actual target market, which probably isn't traditional demographics and firmographics. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/target-market/target-market-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/target-market/target-market-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/target-market/target-market.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/customer-validation/ Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:23:32Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/customer-validation/ Have a great idea? Prove it by finding ten customers ready to hand over cash. Everything else is avoiding the truth. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/customer-validation/customer-validation-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/customer-validation/customer-validation-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/customer-validation/customer-validation.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/max-mrr/ Sun, 27 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-08-24T19:20:05Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/max-mrr/ Your company will stop growing sooner than you think. The "Max MRR" metric predicts revenue plateaus based on churn and new revenue. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/max-mrr/max-mrr-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/max-mrr/max-mrr-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/max-mrr/max-mrr.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/specificity/ Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:54:29Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/specificity/ Want to write better? Swap generic words for specifics to make your text clear, powerful, engaging, and even funny. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/specificity/specificity-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/specificity/specificity-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/specificity/specificity.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/prioritization/ Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-04T17:25:59Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/prioritization/ Because time is zero-sum, prioritization is mandatory. This is an index of purpose-built prioritization frameworks, and an overarching one to optimize your life. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/prioritization/prioritization-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/prioritization/prioritization-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/prioritization/prioritization.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/bootstrapped-cpc/ Sun, 08 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-08T00:00:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/bootstrapped-cpc/ Bootstrapped and unsure about CPC? Use the rule of ARPU/25. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/bootstrapped-cpc/bootstrapped-cpc-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/bootstrapped-cpc/bootstrapped-cpc-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/bootstrapped-cpc/bootstrapped-cpc.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/more-or-less/ Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-11-27T02:06:51Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/more-or-less/ You must select between three pricing strategies, and fully commit to their implications. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/more-or-less/more-or-less-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/more-or-less/more-or-less-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/more-or-less/more-or-less.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/devils-advocate/ Sun, 25 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:34:46Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/devils-advocate/ Nothing clarifies things quite like a hyperactive, all-knowing, all-seeing, real asshole of a devil's advocate beating the living crap out of you. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/devils-advocate/devils-advocate-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/devils-advocate/devils-advocate-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/devils-advocate/devils-advocate.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/buy-both/ Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:24:29Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/buy-both/ Little, unknown companies with silly names can sell to enterprises who have already spent millions. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/buy-both/buy-both-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/buy-both/buy-both-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/buy-both/buy-both.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/drudgery/ Sun, 11 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-11T16:48:10Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/drudgery/ Having skipped to the last page of other people's books, we forget the rest of the journey. And, that we have to take that journey, too. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/drudgery/drudgery-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/drudgery/drudgery-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/drudgery/drudgery.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/purgatory/ Sun, 04 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:54:11Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/purgatory/ When even "free" is too expensive. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/purgatory/purgatory-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/purgatory/purgatory-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/purgatory/purgatory.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/customer-love/ Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-01T01:49:21Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/customer-love/ Customers love you when you're honest, even about your foibles. We forgive honest mistakes from earnest people, not stolid, cold, inhuman corporations. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/customer-love/customer-love-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/customer-love/customer-love-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/customer-love/customer-love.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/ssebitda/ Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-11-22T16:02:52Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/ssebitda/ How can a business that is "spending to grow" determine whether it's truly profitable underneath all that "revenue acceleration?" Here's a way. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ssebitda/ssebitda-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ssebitda/ssebitda-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ssebitda/ssebitda.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-money/ Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-12T15:20:09Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-money/ What can't be solved with money, are the most valuable things. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-money/startup-money-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-money/startup-money-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-money/startup-money.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/never-compete-on-price/ Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-04-11T21:05:47Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/never-compete-on-price/ The difference between "low prices" as a race to the bottom or as a success story (like Amazon, Costco, IKEA, Vanguard) is in leveraging intentional weaknesses. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/never-compete-on-price/never-compete-on-price-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/never-compete-on-price/never-compete-on-price-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/never-compete-on-price/never-compete-on-price.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/complex-decisions/ Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-04-05T23:35:29Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/complex-decisions/ Simplify complex decisions by separating upsides from downsides, investing in upsides, vetoing with downsides, and using an appropriate decision framework. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/complex-decisions/complex-decisions-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/complex-decisions/complex-decisions-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/complex-decisions/complex-decisions.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/models/ Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-10T23:07:34Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/models/ Identifying useful frameworks for companies, strategy, markets, and organizations, instead of those that just look pretty in PowerPoint. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/models/models-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/models/models-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/models/models.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/freemium/ Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T22:06:24Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/freemium/ Freemium means high costs, low conversion, and customer feedback dominated by the non-ideal customer. Treat it as a marketing expense to ensure ROI. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/freemium/freemium-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/freemium/freemium-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/freemium/freemium.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/relativism/ Sun, 09 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-09T00:00:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/relativism/ Comparing yourself to other startups? Focus on yourself instead. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/relativism/relativism-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/relativism/relativism-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/relativism/relativism.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/scratched-my-own-itch/ Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T21:48:43Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/scratched-my-own-itch/ This isn't the humble-brag you think it is; The most common origin story is also common to startups that fail. But it's a start. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scratched-my-own-itch/scratched-my-own-itch-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scratched-my-own-itch/scratched-my-own-itch-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scratched-my-own-itch/scratched-my-own-itch.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/compete-on-profit/ Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-04-01T15:19:36Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/compete-on-profit/ Competing against big firms? Their revenue streams are their Achilles heel. Learn how smaller startups have a shot. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/compete-on-profit/compete-on-profit-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/compete-on-profit/compete-on-profit-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/compete-on-profit/compete-on-profit.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/first-marketing-channel/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-11-07T21:11:22Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/first-marketing-channel/ When you're brand new, how do you select your first marketing channel? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/first-marketing-channel/first-marketing-channel-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/first-marketing-channel/first-marketing-channel-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/first-marketing-channel/first-marketing-channel.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/copy-number-one/ Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-13T17:33:46Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/copy-number-one/ Being "undefeated" or "number 1" might be more luck than you know. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/copy-number-one/copy-number-one-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/copy-number-one/copy-number-one-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/copy-number-one/copy-number-one.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-drake-equation/ Sun, 02 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-12T00:49:21Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-drake-equation/ Why do smart, driven founders fail, despite having great ideas and execution? This model offers an answer, and a path to increase the chance of success. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-drake-equation/startup-drake-equation-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-drake-equation/startup-drake-equation-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-drake-equation/startup-drake-equation.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/design/ Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-09T02:37:30Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/design/ You redesign your entire website, customers and employees say it's better, but none of the metrics change… Does design even matter? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/design/design-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/design/design-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/design/design.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/stealth-mode/ Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-01T16:04:59Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/stealth-mode/ Oh you secretive devil! The last thing you need is anyone finding out about your startup. Like competitors. Or customers. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/stealth-mode/stealth-mode-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/stealth-mode/stealth-mode-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/stealth-mode/stealth-mode.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/the-important-thing/ Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T21:34:06Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/the-important-thing/ This is the reason that startups succeed despite their many weaknesses. And it's a reason to build a startup in the first place. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/the-important-thing/the-important-thing-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/the-important-thing/the-important-thing-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/the-important-thing/the-important-thing.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/explore-execute/ Sun, 05 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-12T15:20:17Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/explore-execute/ The two main business modalities are more different than you expect. When you hit PMF, it's a culture-shift to switch from one to the other. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/explore-execute/explore-execute-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/explore-execute/explore-execute-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/explore-execute/explore-execute.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/butterfly-effect/ Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:26:27Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/butterfly-effect/ It is true that small changes can have enormous effects? Or is this just what optimization consultants want us to believe? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/butterfly-effect/butterfly-effect-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/butterfly-effect/butterfly-effect-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/butterfly-effect/butterfly-effect.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/find-customers-to-interview/ Sun, 22 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-08-01T15:29:32Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/find-customers-to-interview/ How to find potential customers to interview before you have a product, a website, or even a name. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/find-customers-to-interview/find-customers-to-interview-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/find-customers-to-interview/find-customers-to-interview-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/find-customers-to-interview/find-customers-to-interview.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/low-budget-marketing/ Sun, 15 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T21:13:20Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/low-budget-marketing/ Low on cash but need marketing results? Here are four specific things you can do to grow on a budget. marketinghttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/low-budget-marketing/low-budget-marketing-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/low-budget-marketing/low-budget-marketing-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/low-budget-marketing/low-budget-marketing.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/brittle-points/ Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-16T15:05:24Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/brittle-points/ Brittleness is when the company fails because just one component breaks. Learn some strategies for fixing Brittle Points. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/brittle-points/brittle-points-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/brittle-points/brittle-points-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/brittle-points/brittle-points.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/scars/ Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-02-15T18:07:19Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/scars/ Our emotional baggage and experience make us unique, but also serve as blinders. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scars/scars-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scars/scars-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scars/scars.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/feelings-of-inadequacy/ Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-07T21:06:49Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/feelings-of-inadequacy/ Erica Douglass sold her company for $1M, yet still struggles with self-worth; why driven people can't escape Impostor Syndrome. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/feelings-of-inadequacy/feelings-of-inadequacy-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/feelings-of-inadequacy/feelings-of-inadequacy-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/feelings-of-inadequacy/feelings-of-inadequacy.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/p-hacking/ Sun, 17 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T22:05:08Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/p-hacking/ Half of your "successful" A/B tests are false-positives. This is why, and how to fix it. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/p-hacking/p-hacking-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/p-hacking/p-hacking-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/p-hacking/p-hacking.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/pascals-wager/ Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-15T14:41:49Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/pascals-wager/ Applying Pascal's Wager: Humility wins, arrogance loses. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pascals-wager/pascals-wager-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pascals-wager/pascals-wager-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pascals-wager/pascals-wager.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/saas-metric/ Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T21:12:05Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/saas-metric/ Is it LTV? Retention? NRR? Magic Number? Rule of 40? Or: Do you need to un-ask the question. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/saas-metric/saas-metric-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/saas-metric/saas-metric-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/saas-metric/saas-metric.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/tech-support-is-sales/ Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:25:28Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/tech-support-is-sales/ Tech support isn't just troubleshooting; it's the face of your company. Which means it's your brand, your positioning, and when it's excellent, it is sales. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/tech-support-is-sales/tech-support-is-sales-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/tech-support-is-sales/tech-support-is-sales-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/tech-support-is-sales/tech-support-is-sales.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/fallacies/ Sun, 20 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T20:55:26Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/fallacies/ A contrarian look at logical "fallacies" that maybe aren't so illogical after all. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/fallacies/fallacies-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/fallacies/fallacies-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/fallacies/fallacies.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/little-company/ Sun, 13 Oct 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2024-10-13T08:00:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/little-company/ You're afraid that looking like being a small company means you'll lose sales. It's actually the opposite -- you're alienating your best customers. executionpsychology https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-biz-dev/ Sun, 06 Oct 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2024-10-09T12:43:14Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-biz-dev/ Startups fail at biz dev because their proposals don't make sense to bigger companies. Here's how to adjust your approach. https://longform.asmartbear.com/pivot-points/ Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:19:59Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/pivot-points/ Not "enabling constraints", not "weaknesses", not even "strengths". The concept of a "Pivot Point" grapples with the same reality, but more constructive and useful. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pivot-points/pivot-points-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pivot-points/pivot-points-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pivot-points/pivot-points.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/code-is-your-enemy/ Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-08T21:36:40Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/code-is-your-enemy/ A short pep talk I delivered to kick off a Three-Day Startup challenge event. And overwhelming confirmation that the lesson is correct. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/code-is-your-enemy/code-is-your-enemy-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/code-is-your-enemy/code-is-your-enemy-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/code-is-your-enemy/code-is-your-enemy.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/wisdom-of-crowds/ Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-05-11T14:21:49Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/wisdom-of-crowds/ Discover how to leverage the wisdom of the crowds, but also when to avoid it, as it can easily lead you astray. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/wisdom-of-crowds/wisdom-of-crowds-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/wisdom-of-crowds/wisdom-of-crowds-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/wisdom-of-crowds/wisdom-of-crowds.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/legacy/ Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-09-06T15:46:45Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/legacy/ Humans have always tried to live forever. Maybe you can, but not in the way you imagine. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/legacy/legacy-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/legacy/legacy-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/legacy/legacy.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/authentic/ Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T13:29:02Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/authentic/ People love and forgive humans, not corporations. Expose your humanity to earn loyal, happy customers, even when you mess up. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/authentic/authentic-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/authentic/authentic-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/authentic/authentic.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/ramen-profitable/ Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T22:30:57Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/ramen-profitable/ You're not profitable if you couldn't afford someone else to do your job. $1000/mo isn't profitable. Fix your definition of "profitable," and build a truly profitable business. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ramen-profitable/ramen-profitable-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ramen-profitable/ramen-profitable-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ramen-profitable/ramen-profitable.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/mid-market/ Sun, 18 Aug 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2024-08-18T08:00:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/mid-market/ Mid-sized companies: Small enough to have small budgets, big enough for bureaucratic nightmares. https://longform.asmartbear.com/tension-autonomy-admin/ Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-16T15:05:14Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/tension-autonomy-admin/ When to prioritize individual autonomy, and when to standardize for global optimization. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/tension-autonomy-admin/tension-autonomy-admin-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/tension-autonomy-admin/tension-autonomy-admin-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/tension-autonomy-admin/tension-autonomy-admin.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/double-your-productivity/ Sun, 04 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-08-28T14:51:17Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/double-your-productivity/ People love to say that getting "1% better per day" makes you 37x better after a year, but this obviously makes no sense. But 2x better is possible. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/double-your-productivity/double-your-productivity-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/double-your-productivity/double-your-productivity-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/double-your-productivity/double-your-productivity.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/authentic-is-dead/ Sun, 28 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:54:42Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/authentic-is-dead/ It's lazy writing. It's boring and undifferentiated. Say something meaningful, specific, evocative, so your website wins, and you can be proud of it. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/authentic-is-dead/authentic-is-dead-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/authentic-is-dead/authentic-is-dead-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/authentic-is-dead/authentic-is-dead.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/lucky/ Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-02-15T18:36:16Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/lucky/ "You're so lucky." That's true. There's also decades of sacrifice, emotional turmoil, long hours, perseverance. So… is it lucky? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/lucky/lucky-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/lucky/lucky-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/lucky/lucky.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/annual-prepay/ Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T22:06:47Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/annual-prepay/ Dozens of founders have used this technique to transform the cash-flow of their businesses. Now it's your turn. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/annual-prepay/annual-prepay-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/annual-prepay/annual-prepay-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/annual-prepay/annual-prepay.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/procrastinate/ Sun, 07 Jul 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2024-07-07T08:00:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/procrastinate/ Procrastination can be a useful tool. You can't do everything. So don't. execution https://longform.asmartbear.com/disruptive/ Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:21:40Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/disruptive/ I remember "disruptive" when it was called a "paradigm shift." You should be worrying more about making something people want to buy, and less about disrupting everything. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/disruptive/disruptive-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/disruptive/disruptive-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/disruptive/disruptive.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/conflicting-choices/ Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-12T00:49:28Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/conflicting-choices/ Resolve decision-making conflicts by selecting the right approach: Make a bold choice, synthesize a new solution, or find the balance. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/conflicting-choices/conflicting-choices-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/conflicting-choices/conflicting-choices-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/conflicting-choices/conflicting-choices.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/be-yourself/ Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:53:09Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/be-yourself/ We're told "be yourself" to seek happiness and success. But what if "being yourself" also means striving to become better? What is "yourself?" https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/be-yourself/be-yourself-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/be-yourself/be-yourself-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/be-yourself/be-yourself.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/lindy-effect/ Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-25T22:49:37Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/lindy-effect/ On average, you're halfway to your final destination. How, then, do we not only double from here, but 10x? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/lindy-effect/lindy-effect-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/lindy-effect/lindy-effect-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/lindy-effect/lindy-effect.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/first-competitive-advantage/ Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-08-07T18:11:57Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/first-competitive-advantage/ Is it good to be "first?" It seems so -- what's the point of being a copycat? While "first" sounds impressive, in reality it's often not an advantage. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/first-competitive-advantage/first-competitive-advantage-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/first-competitive-advantage/first-competitive-advantage-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/first-competitive-advantage/first-competitive-advantage.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/three-languages/ Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-11-22T16:02:44Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/three-languages/ Stop talking past each other. Translate between the three "languages" of customer desires, product features, and business goals. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/three-languages/three-languages-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/three-languages/three-languages-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/three-languages/three-languages.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/scale-rare/ Sun, 19 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-12T15:20:20Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/scale-rare/ Software doesn't scale through architecture and automation alone. New, more difficult problems appear that didn't exist before, causing new downstream consequences. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scale-rare/scale-rare-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scale-rare/scale-rare-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scale-rare/scale-rare.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/hello-support/ Sun, 12 May 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2024-05-12T08:00:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/hello-support/ Is "customer service" a genuine service? Or is it a shield so that most people at your company never have to speak to one of those pesky customers? execution https://longform.asmartbear.com/adjacency/ Sun, 05 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-02-15T18:10:31Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/adjacency/ A simple workshop that evaluates new business ideas relative to your existing strengths -- the key to expanding without overreaching. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/adjacency/adjacency-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/adjacency/adjacency-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/adjacency/adjacency.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/capturing-luck/ Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-20T16:05:52Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/capturing-luck/ Luck always plays a role in startups, but there are ways to better capture upside and mitigate downside. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/capturing-luck/capturing-luck-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/capturing-luck/capturing-luck-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/capturing-luck/capturing-luck.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/chaos-at-start/ Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T21:45:46Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/chaos-at-start/ Even at wildly successful startups, the first few years are gut-wrenching, uncertain, on the brink of collapse, where pessimism is realism, and yet optimism is required. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/chaos-at-start/chaos-at-start-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/chaos-at-start/chaos-at-start-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/chaos-at-start/chaos-at-start.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/learn-by-copy/ Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T22:04:44Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/learn-by-copy/ In America we're trained that all copying is bad; of course plagiarism is, but perhaps we're throwing the baby out with the bathwater. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/learn-by-copy/learn-by-copy-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/learn-by-copy/learn-by-copy-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/learn-by-copy/learn-by-copy.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/good-startup-ideas/ Sun, 07 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-08T21:36:52Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/good-startup-ideas/ How to tell the difference between a truly great startup idea, and people saying "Sure, sounds good" when they really mean "No, I'm not buying." https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/good-startup-ideas/good-startup-ideas-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/good-startup-ideas/good-startup-ideas-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/good-startup-ideas/good-startup-ideas.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/avoid-blundering/ Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-11-11T16:48:20Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/avoid-blundering/ Why do startups typically fail? It turns out that "avoiding those things" is already a plan for success. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/avoid-blundering/avoid-blundering-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/avoid-blundering/avoid-blundering-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/avoid-blundering/avoid-blundering.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/color-wheels/ Sun, 24 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T22:54:57Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/color-wheels/ Artists say all colors are a mixture of red, yellow, and blue. But physics and TV screens and printers disagree. How does color really work? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/color-wheels/color-wheels-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/color-wheels/color-wheels-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/color-wheels/color-wheels.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/perseverance/ Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-15T14:53:13Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/perseverance/ How do you know when to stop, versus when to push through? You don't, not even in hindsight. But these guiding questions can help. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/perseverance/perseverance-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/perseverance/perseverance-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/perseverance/perseverance.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/pattern-seeking-fallacy/ Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T22:04:43Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/pattern-seeking-fallacy/ We humans are terrible at discerning patterns from randomness, and in marketing data we unwittingly find "insights" that are actually noise. Here's how to fix that. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pattern-seeking-fallacy/pattern-seeking-fallacy-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pattern-seeking-fallacy/pattern-seeking-fallacy-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pattern-seeking-fallacy/pattern-seeking-fallacy.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/ai-startups/ Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:21:19Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/ai-startups/ The typical dynamics between startups and incumbents do not apply in AI as they did in previous technology revolutions like mobile and the internet. Ignore this at your peril. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ai-startups/ai-startups-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ai-startups/ai-startups-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ai-startups/ai-startups.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-beats-incumbent/ Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-11T02:21:44Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-beats-incumbent/ A startup can beat a large, successful incumbent, if it does things the incumbent can not or will not do. Here are those things. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-beats-incumbent/startup-beats-incumbent-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-beats-incumbent/startup-beats-incumbent-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-beats-incumbent/startup-beats-incumbent.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/ab-testing-statistics/ Sun, 18 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2025-07-09T02:37:15Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/ab-testing-statistics/ A/B testing tools often lie about whether something is "statistically significant." Here's an extremely simple, mathematically sound formula to compute it for yourself. analysishttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ab-testing-statistics/ab-testing-statistics-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ab-testing-statistics/ab-testing-statistics-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ab-testing-statistics/ab-testing-statistics.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/criticize-create/ Sun, 11 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2024-05-12T18:18:36Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/criticize-create/ It's easy to explain why any given business will fail. So what? But neither is it wise to totally ignore the critics. psychology https://longform.asmartbear.com/investment/ Sun, 04 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-15T14:42:08Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/investment/ Why "expected value" doesn't work; here's a better framework for making long-term investments in your career, startup, and life. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/investment/investment-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/investment/investment-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/investment/investment.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/one-benefit/ Sun, 28 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:26:34Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/one-benefit/ What if your company could have only one single advantage over the competition? This exercise will make your positioning and strategy stronger. strategydecisionsmarketing https://longform.asmartbear.com/good-problems-to-have/ Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T21:00:53Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/good-problems-to-have/ Some things appear to be mistakes, but in fact should be celebrated as the expected outcomes of great decisions. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/good-problems-to-have/good-problems-to-have-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/good-problems-to-have/good-problems-to-have-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/good-problems-to-have/good-problems-to-have.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/forecast/ Sun, 14 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T22:05:50Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/forecast/ How do you assess forecasts, when the forecast is only a probability? It's not just about accuracy. Let's dive into the math. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/forecast/forecast-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/forecast/forecast-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/forecast/forecast.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/icp-ideal-customer-persona/ Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:46:09Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/icp-ideal-customer-persona/ Targeting your "Ideal Customer Profile" (ICP) is the best way to differentiate and win sales, but does it limit your target market? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/icp-ideal-customer-persona/icp-ideal-customer-persona-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/icp-ideal-customer-persona/icp-ideal-customer-persona-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/icp-ideal-customer-persona/icp-ideal-customer-persona.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/roi-selling/ Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-08-07T17:21:41Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/roi-selling/ Customers ask for ROI calculations to justify purchasing your software, but it still doesn't convince them. Here's what to do instead. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/roi-selling/roi-selling-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/roi-selling/roi-selling-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/roi-selling/roi-selling.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/product-market-fit-formula/ Sun, 24 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-03-05T22:50:01Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/product-market-fit-formula/ This eight-step process brought WP Engine from an idea to a Unicorn. While there are other roads to Product/Market Fit, consider copying some of these ideas. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/product-market-fit-formula/product-market-fit-formula-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/product-market-fit-formula/product-market-fit-formula-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/product-market-fit-formula/product-market-fit-formula.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/consulting-company-accounting/ Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-24T16:34:20Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/consulting-company-accounting/ Hiring even one person creates a lot less profit than you'd think, and launching a product rarely works out. Here are some tips for consulting companies. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/consulting-company-accounting/consulting-company-accounting-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/consulting-company-accounting/consulting-company-accounting-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/consulting-company-accounting/consulting-company-accounting.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/top-10/ Sun, 10 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-07T20:34:17Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/top-10/ If we happened to evolve with nine fingers, we would have "Top 9" lists. So, a "Top 10" list probably doesn't have the correct number of things. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/top-10/top-10-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/top-10/top-10-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/top-10/top-10.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/change/ Sun, 03 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-04-22T02:12:26Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/change/ Everyone wants change, but doesn't want to change. Though inevitable, change is uncomfortable and exhausting. Manage it with kindness. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/change/change-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/change/change-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/change/change.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/strategic-planning/ Sun, 26 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-12T15:20:24Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/strategic-planning/ Traditional fairytale structure fits naturally in our brains, and thus can guide strategic problem-analysis, and a plan that everyone understands. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/strategic-planning/strategic-planning-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/strategic-planning/strategic-planning-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/strategic-planning/strategic-planning.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/reputation/ Sun, 19 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-06-07T15:15:57Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/reputation/ Blogger with tens of thousands of subscribers launches a new venture… and gets only 2 signups. Not the advantage you thought it was. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/reputation/reputation-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/reputation/reputation-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/reputation/reputation.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/real-company/ Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-12T15:57:57Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/real-company/ What marks the moment when you become a "real" company? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/real-company/real-company-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/real-company/real-company-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/real-company/real-company.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/product-market-fit/ Sun, 05 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-25T06:31:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/product-market-fit/ Companies that achieve Product/Market Fit -- both self-funded and VC-funded -- exhibit the same prototypical metrics curves and subjective experiences. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/product-market-fit/product-market-fit-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/product-market-fit/product-market-fit-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/product-market-fit/product-market-fit.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/rich-vs-king-sold-company/ Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-15T14:52:50Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/rich-vs-king-sold-company/ Reflecting on selling Smart Bear in 2007, offering insights for entrepreneurs facing similar decisions. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/rich-vs-king-sold-company/rich-vs-king-sold-company-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/rich-vs-king-sold-company/rich-vs-king-sold-company-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/rich-vs-king-sold-company/rich-vs-king-sold-company.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/unmeasurable-metrics/ Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-15T14:43:26Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/unmeasurable-metrics/ Some of the most enticing, important metrics are impossible to measure, even after the fact. Here's how to identify and avoid this trap. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/unmeasurable-metrics/unmeasurable-metrics-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/unmeasurable-metrics/unmeasurable-metrics-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/unmeasurable-metrics/unmeasurable-metrics.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/building-in-public/ Sun, 15 Oct 2023 08:00:00 +0000 2023-12-01T18:40:28Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/building-in-public/ "Building in public" is popular: How fun when strangers cheer you on! But isn't competitive advantage ruined when competitors know your growth rate and steal your source code? executionproduct https://longform.asmartbear.com/utilization/ Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T13:34:19Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/utilization/ Is everyone working very hard, all the time, and yet accomplishing 1/10th of what it seems they should? Maybe this is why. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/utilization/utilization-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/utilization/utilization-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/utilization/utilization.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/say-yes/ Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T20:54:25Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/say-yes/ "Focus" requires saying "no" to most things, but there's a way to do it that allows you to say "yes" exactly when it matters most. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/say-yes/say-yes-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/say-yes/say-yes-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/say-yes/say-yes.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/scale/ Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-03-02T17:34:11Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/scale/ These forces make larger companies slower and more difficult to execute, but also more effective when harnessed and leveraged. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scale/scale-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scale/scale-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/scale/scale.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/success-guaranteed/ Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T22:26:13Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/success-guaranteed/ What is it like to reach the pinnacle of success? Is that where you attain happiness and fulfillment? Or are those found right here, right now. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/success-guaranteed/success-guaranteed-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/success-guaranteed/success-guaranteed-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/success-guaranteed/success-guaranteed.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/fail/ Sun, 10 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-15T14:57:20Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/fail/ Language shapes our perception of setbacks. Use words other than "failure" to describe situations and to suggest the next step. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/fail/fail-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/fail/fail-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/fail/fail.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/slc/ Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-07T17:42:15Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/slc/ "MVP" implies a selfish process, abusing customers so you can "learn". Instead, make the first version SLC: Simple, Lovable, and Complete". https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/slc/slc-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/slc/slc-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/slc/slc.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/worse-but-unique/ Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:53:26Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/worse-but-unique/ An objectively "worse" strategy can win, if it leverages something unique or unexpected. Startups can use this concept to beat incumbents. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/worse-but-unique/worse-but-unique-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/worse-but-unique/worse-but-unique-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/worse-but-unique/worse-but-unique.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/impostor-syndrome/ Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-11-07T21:10:52Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/impostor-syndrome/ Most high-performing people experience Impostor Syndrome. I did too. When you understand the cause, you can defeat it. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/impostor-syndrome/impostor-syndrome-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/impostor-syndrome/impostor-syndrome-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/impostor-syndrome/impostor-syndrome.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/great-strategy/ Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:20:37Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/great-strategy/ Most so-called "strategies" are vague, wishful thinking, written once and never seen again. Don't do that. These are the characteristics of great strategy. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/great-strategy/great-strategy-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/great-strategy/great-strategy-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/great-strategy/great-strategy.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/identity-selling-sadness/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T22:21:57Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/identity-selling-sadness/ Many founders experience a profound and prolonged sadness after selling their company. But "not selling" might be worse. Maybe my story will help you. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/identity-selling-sadness/identity-selling-sadness-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/identity-selling-sadness/identity-selling-sadness-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/identity-selling-sadness/identity-selling-sadness.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/in-command/ Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-30T16:12:47Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/in-command/ Being "in control" is impossible, perhaps not even desirable. Being "in command" is ideal: honest, introspective, agile, aware, and proactive. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/in-command/in-command-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/in-command/in-command-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/in-command/in-command.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/bad-advice/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-05-06T22:51:13Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/bad-advice/ Beware of advice that tries to change who you are. True wisdom guides you to a better version of yourself. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/bad-advice/bad-advice-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/bad-advice/bad-advice-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/bad-advice/bad-advice.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/product-metrics/ Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-19T13:36:35Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/product-metrics/ A novel system for selecting and presenting product KPIs, satisfying not only the product team, but also stakeholders, executives, and customers. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/product-metrics/product-metrics-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/product-metrics/product-metrics-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/product-metrics/product-metrics.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/survivor-bias/ Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T22:35:48Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/survivor-bias/ Advice from "successful entrepreneurs" might be unreliable due to Survivor Bias. What's real, and what's random? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/survivor-bias/survivor-bias-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/survivor-bias/survivor-bias-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/survivor-bias/survivor-bias.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/probability-words/ Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-15T14:40:39Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/probability-words/ Don't use phrases like "unlikely" or "almost certainly." Here's real-world data showing why not, and what to do instead. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/probability-words/probability-words-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/probability-words/probability-words-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/probability-words/probability-words.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/discount-gambit/ Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-27T17:08:04Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/discount-gambit/ Discounting is the typical sales technique, but refusing to discount can lead to a much better business, even in the Enterprise. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/discount-gambit/discount-gambit-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/discount-gambit/discount-gambit-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/discount-gambit/discount-gambit.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/leverage/ Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:53:40Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/leverage/ Leveraging strengths -- not "fixing weaknesses" -- is how to win. Better when differentiated. Best when durable. Here's how to create leverage. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/leverage/leverage-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/leverage/leverage-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/leverage/leverage.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/maximizing/ Sun, 11 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T21:25:45Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/maximizing/ Fast, or Best? Choose your decision-making goal wisely, especially if you're a natural perfectionist. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/maximizing/maximizing-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/maximizing/maximizing-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/maximizing/maximizing.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/needs-stack/ Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:55:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/needs-stack/ This simple method positions your product to be more valuable, especially against competitors who aim to disrupt you, or you them. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/needs-stack/needs-stack-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/needs-stack/needs-stack-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/needs-stack/needs-stack.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/emptiness/ Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-04-30T07:54:03Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/emptiness/ Everything about a startup changes over time. The few things that don't, are its essence. The voyage is meaningless, unless you decide what those things are. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/emptiness/emptiness-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/emptiness/emptiness-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/emptiness/emptiness.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/willingness-to-pay/ Sun, 21 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-11-22T16:02:32Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/willingness-to-pay/ This fresh take on "Willingness-to-Pay" analyzes three types of customer motivation, leading to superior strategies for growth that also better the world. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/willingness-to-pay/willingness-to-pay-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/willingness-to-pay/willingness-to-pay-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/willingness-to-pay/willingness-to-pay.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/two-big-things/ Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-09-24T14:06:21Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/two-big-things/ No you can't "have it all." You can have two things, but not three. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/two-big-things/two-big-things-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/two-big-things/two-big-things-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/two-big-things/two-big-things.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/more-money/ Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-25T00:24:37Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/more-money/ A business always takes more money than you expect, even when you take this fact into account. Here's why. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/more-money/more-money-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/more-money/more-money-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/more-money/more-money.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-life/ Sun, 07 May 2023 08:00:00 +0000 2023-12-13T19:49:49Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-life/ A startup is a crucible -- a fiery place that tests your limits, not by probing them but by violently exceeding them, all of the time. It's worth it. psychology https://longform.asmartbear.com/more-value-not-save-money/ Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:55:18Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/more-value-not-save-money/ You can charge much more than you think, if you reposition your value-proposition. Here's how. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/more-value-not-save-money/more-value-not-save-money-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/more-value-not-save-money/more-value-not-save-money-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/more-value-not-save-money/more-value-not-save-money.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/startups-emotionally-draining/ Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-01T20:20:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/startups-emotionally-draining/ Are you crying in the shower because you can't handle it anymore? Beyond Impostor Syndrome: Complete melt-down? Well, at least you're in good company. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startups-emotionally-draining/startups-emotionally-draining-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startups-emotionally-draining/startups-emotionally-draining-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startups-emotionally-draining/startups-emotionally-draining.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/problem/ Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:53:55Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/problem/ Many startups fail despite identifying a real problem and building a product that solves that problem. This explains why, so you can avoid their fate. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/problem/problem-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/problem/problem-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/problem/problem.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/decisions-fast-slow/ Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T20:53:34Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/decisions-fast-slow/ Decisions should usually be made quickly, to accelerate action and learning. But sometimes it really is smarter to take your time. Here's how to decide. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/decisions-fast-slow/decisions-fast-slow-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/decisions-fast-slow/decisions-fast-slow-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/decisions-fast-slow/decisions-fast-slow.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/pricing-determines-your-business-model/ Sun, 02 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2025-11-11T16:50:42Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/pricing-determines-your-business-model/ Pricing is inextricably linked to brand, product, and purchasing decisions. It cannot be "figured out later," because it determines your business model today. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pricing-determines-your-business-model/pricing-determines-your-business-model-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pricing-determines-your-business-model/pricing-determines-your-business-model-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/pricing-determines-your-business-model/pricing-determines-your-business-model.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/predict-the-future/ Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:20:58Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/predict-the-future/ We dramatically, repeatedly fail to predict the future. Does that mean "strategy" is senseless? No, it means you need these techniques to navigate a volatile world. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/predict-the-future/predict-the-future-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/predict-the-future/predict-the-future-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/predict-the-future/predict-the-future.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/fulfillment/ Sun, 25 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:52:45Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/fulfillment/ What creates a fulfilling existence? Exploration leads to a framework I've used for years for myself and the people around me. I hope it helps you too. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/fulfillment/fulfillment-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/fulfillment/fulfillment-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/fulfillment/fulfillment.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/customer-development/ Sat, 17 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:51:51Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/customer-development/ A simple but effective system, used to vet what is now a Unicorn, for generating insights about how your potential customers think, what they need, and what they'll buy. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/customer-development/customer-development-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/customer-development/customer-development-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/customer-development/customer-development.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/jit-backlogs/ Tue, 23 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2026-02-15T17:46:44Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/jit-backlogs/ The vaunted "single-threaded, ordered list" confuses "prioritization" with "work-planning," and forces comparisons of the un-comparable. Here's the solution. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/jit-backlogs/jit-backlogs-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/jit-backlogs/jit-backlogs-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/jit-backlogs/jit-backlogs.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/rocks-pebbles-sand/ Sun, 17 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T21:32:24Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/rocks-pebbles-sand/ This complete work-prioritization framework builds on the simplistic "Rocks, Pebbles, Sand" analogy, adding the details you need in the real world. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/rocks-pebbles-sand/rocks-pebbles-sand-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/rocks-pebbles-sand/rocks-pebbles-sand-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/rocks-pebbles-sand/rocks-pebbles-sand.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/maximized-decision/ Sat, 02 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T20:54:58Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/maximized-decision/ Binstack is a technique for selecting the "single most impactful" solution when there are multiple, incomparable dimensions to evaluate. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/maximized-decision/maximized-decision-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/maximized-decision/maximized-decision-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/maximized-decision/maximized-decision.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/roi-rubric/ Mon, 20 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2025-06-15T14:44:51Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/roi-rubric/ Traditional rubrics fail to reveal the best answers, or how to explain those answers to others. After explaining why, the following system solves both failures. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/roi-rubric/roi-rubric-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/roi-rubric/roi-rubric-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/roi-rubric/roi-rubric.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/talk-vs-walk/ Wed, 08 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-18T21:33:08Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/talk-vs-walk/ We invented this strategic exercise at WP Engine -- engaging both Marketing and Product, generating actions for both sides that make products more desirable and competitive. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/talk-vs-walk/talk-vs-walk-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/talk-vs-walk/talk-vs-walk-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/talk-vs-walk/talk-vs-walk.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/productive-meeting-activities/ Tue, 24 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T21:28:11Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/productive-meeting-activities/ Meetings are most productive when we create something that none of us could have created alone. Here are several ways to use meeting time wisely. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/productive-meeting-activities/productive-meeting-activities-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/productive-meeting-activities/productive-meeting-activities-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/productive-meeting-activities/productive-meeting-activities.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/moats/ Sat, 07 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T21:38:12Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/moats/ Industries commoditize over time, delivering similar products at similar prices resulting in low profit. Moats are the antidote; your strategy must create some. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/moats/moats-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/moats/moats-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/moats/moats.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/great-product-manager/ Sat, 23 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:25:34Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/great-product-manager/ According to the internet, being a Product Manager is impossible. Can you ever measure up? No. But don't worry, there's a better answer. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/great-product-manager/great-product-manager-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/great-product-manager/great-product-manager-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/great-product-manager/great-product-manager.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/failure-to-face-the-truth/ Sat, 09 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T13:17:31Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/failure-to-face-the-truth/ This admonition recurs in myriad books, frameworks, and topics, across decades of time. When something is so consistent, it must be wisdom. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/failure-to-face-the-truth/failure-to-face-the-truth-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/failure-to-face-the-truth/failure-to-face-the-truth-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/failure-to-face-the-truth/failure-to-face-the-truth.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/extreme-questions/ Sat, 26 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T21:04:36Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/extreme-questions/ We know, "no idea is a bad idea," but brainstorming is often unsuccessful. These prompts actually work. They could even lead to a unique business model. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/extreme-questions/extreme-questions-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/extreme-questions/extreme-questions-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/extreme-questions/extreme-questions.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/exponential-growth/ Sat, 05 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:22:52Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/exponential-growth/ Even Facebook and Slack did not grow "exponentially," as frequently described. Here is the correct model that you can use to understand and affect growth. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/exponential-growth/exponential-growth-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/exponential-growth/exponential-growth-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/exponential-growth/exponential-growth.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/whos-lying/ Sat, 26 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T21:11:45Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/whos-lying/ A lesson all pilots know: How you must use multiple dials, employing different sources of energy, to report identical data, because some of it is always lying. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/whos-lying/whos-lying-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/whos-lying/whos-lying-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/whos-lying/whos-lying.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/distributed-logical-time/ Sat, 23 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T21:02:33Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/distributed-logical-time/ A simple, decentralized, scalable, constant-memory mechanism for independent replicas to record events in time, preserving the "happened-before" relation in almost all cases. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/distributed-logical-time/distributed-logical-time-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/distributed-logical-time/distributed-logical-time-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/distributed-logical-time/distributed-logical-time.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/another-10x/ Tue, 18 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-12T15:19:48Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/another-10x/ What if your tech company has peaked? Is relentless growth the only path, or is it time to redefine your true impact on the world? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/another-10x/another-10x-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/another-10x/another-10x-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/another-10x/another-10x.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/acquisition-failure/ Tue, 29 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000 2025-05-12T15:20:05Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/acquisition-failure/ Independent or acquired, companies always evolve, and not always for the better. Smart exits can create opportunities for everyone involved. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/acquisition-failure/acquisition-failure-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/acquisition-failure/acquisition-failure-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/acquisition-failure/acquisition-failure.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/ho-rudolph/ Tue, 24 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-01T20:11:27Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/ho-rudolph/ Rudolph claps back. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ho-rudolph/ho-rudolph-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ho-rudolph/ho-rudolph-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ho-rudolph/ho-rudolph.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/ltv/ Mon, 07 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-16T15:05:19Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/ltv/ The LTV metric overcomplicates and misleads. Learn why you should use other SaaS metrics instead. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ltv/ltv-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ltv/ltv-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/ltv/ltv.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/coc/ Tue, 06 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T22:07:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/coc/ Introducing COC: The true cost of cancellations in a scaling SaaS business. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/coc/coc-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/coc/coc-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/coc/coc.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/price-vs-quantity/ Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-07T21:09:05Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/price-vs-quantity/ Which is better: Two companies have the same revenue, one from a few large customers and the other from many little customers https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/price-vs-quantity/price-vs-quantity-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/price-vs-quantity/price-vs-quantity-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/price-vs-quantity/price-vs-quantity.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-hiring-advice/ Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-08T21:39:05Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-hiring-advice/ If you want another pair of hands to screw things up, how do you acquire resumes, pair them down, and identify someone who is going to work well in your company? https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-hiring-advice/startup-hiring-advice-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-hiring-advice/startup-hiring-advice-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-hiring-advice/startup-hiring-advice.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/lean-startup-ballad/ Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T22:07:54Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/lean-startup-ballad/ An ode to validated learning. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/lean-startup-ballad/lean-startup-ballad-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/lean-startup-ballad/lean-startup-ballad-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/lean-startup-ballad/lean-startup-ballad.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-marketing-ideas/ Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:25:51Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/startup-marketing-ideas/ A/B tests and accumulating Twitter followers is not a marketing strategy, just as "we'll use salt and cheese" isn't a recipe. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-marketing-ideas/startup-marketing-ideas-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-marketing-ideas/startup-marketing-ideas-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/startup-marketing-ideas/startup-marketing-ideas.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/unfair-advantages/ Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-08T21:41:24Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/unfair-advantages/ It's not a question of if someone copies your business idea, it's when. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/unfair-advantages/unfair-advantages-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/unfair-advantages/unfair-advantages-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/unfair-advantages/unfair-advantages.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/competing-big-companies/ Mon, 31 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-08T04:03:59Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/competing-big-companies/ You worry about competition from the big, brand-name, deep-pocketed company. But there are better things to worry about and ways to avoid running into gorillas in the first place. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/competing-big-companies/competing-big-companies-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/competing-big-companies/competing-big-companies-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/competing-big-companies/competing-big-companies.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/expert-distraction/ Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T22:26:48Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/expert-distraction/ Tired of being told you need "10,000 hours" before you can call yourself an "expert," and maybe become a "success?" Maybe you don't. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/expert-distraction/expert-distraction-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/expert-distraction/expert-distraction-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/expert-distraction/expert-distraction.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/put-down-the-compiler/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000 2025-12-06T20:58:00Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/put-down-the-compiler/ Technical founders, step away from the code. Gather insights from non-buyers, rather than just adding more features. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/put-down-the-compiler/put-down-the-compiler-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/put-down-the-compiler/put-down-the-compiler-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/put-down-the-compiler/put-down-the-compiler.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/letters-to-joel-spolsky/ Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-03T21:35:25Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/letters-to-joel-spolsky/ I regret to inform you… https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/letters-to-joel-spolsky/letters-to-joel-spolsky-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/letters-to-joel-spolsky/letters-to-joel-spolsky-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/letters-to-joel-spolsky/letters-to-joel-spolsky.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/your-idea-sucks-do-it-anyway/ Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000 2026-01-13T17:20:46Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/your-idea-sucks-do-it-anyway/ Your idea probably sucks, and it doesn't matter because your business will probably turn out to be something completely different. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/your-idea-sucks-do-it-anyway/your-idea-sucks-do-it-anyway-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/your-idea-sucks-do-it-anyway/your-idea-sucks-do-it-anyway-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/your-idea-sucks-do-it-anyway/your-idea-sucks-do-it-anyway.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/breaking-the-rules/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000 2025-07-01T20:13:30Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/breaking-the-rules/ When you know the rules, then you can break the rules. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/breaking-the-rules/breaking-the-rules-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/breaking-the-rules/breaking-the-rules-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/breaking-the-rules/breaking-the-rules.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/limiting-options/ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000 2025-03-04T15:55:19Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/limiting-options/ The winning strategy in Othello is to minimize your opponent's options, rather than maximizing your own. The same principle applies to competitive strategy. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/limiting-options/limiting-options-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/limiting-options/limiting-options-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/limiting-options/limiting-options.md https://longform.asmartbear.com/opposite-test/ Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000 2026-07-26T16:54:34Z Jason Cohen https://longform.asmartbear.com/opposite-test/ Elevate your product marketing: Use the Opposite Test to avoid generic bullet points and craft compelling, unique features. https://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/opposite-test/opposite-test-kindle.epubhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/opposite-test/opposite-test-2up.pdfhttps://public.asmartbear.com/books/anthology/dist/opposite-test/opposite-test.md