I want to recommend storing this somewhere for future reference when people fall into the trap of overemphasizing the idea in the success of the venture.
Last week Business Insider published 10 huge business successes born from early failures. In my experience, these aren’t exceptions to the rule, they are the rule.
Oh, and the successes? Have you heard of them? How about AOL, Twitter, Intel, Microsoft . . . and those are just the first four. Microsoft (the example shown here to the right, an early picture of Microsoft, with Bill Gates at lower left) started doing a BASIC compiler for the Altair 8800, a computer that ceased to exist before the company made any money.
The point is that most businesses evolve. Business plans evolve. You don’t blindly follow the plan; you keep reviewing and revising the plan until you figure out something that works.
Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software and Bplans.com. Follow him on Twitter @Timberry.
