Business Archives

The 4 Traits of a Profitable Technological Monopoly

What sets up a startup business for long-term profitability? What qualities must it have? Why isn’t having a monopoly enough? In his book Zero to One, entrepreneur Peter Thiel presents creative monopolies as the solution to destructive competition, but he also cautions that creating a technological monopoly does not in and of itself guarantee the success of your startup. Thiel measures the worth of a startup by considering how much profit it has the potential to bring in ten or twenty years down the road. He identifies four traits common to startups that achieve long-term success. Keep reading to learn

Is Competition Good for Business? Peter Thiel Says No

Is competition good for business? Is there such a thing as “healthy competition”? Entrepreneur Peter Thiel believes that the idea of healthy competition is a myth. But it’s a myth that is so deeply ingrained in our society that it tends to exercise a destructive influence on our business strategies. As such, Thiel spends a chapter in his book Zero to One exposing and debunking the myth. Keep reading for Peter Thiel’s take on why competition is bad.

The Challenge of the Future: Peter Thiel’s Take

What’s the future of the world? What are the main challenges the future holds in store? Peter Thiel likes to ask job candidates what he calls a contrarian question: “What important truth do few people agree with you on?” The best answers provide insight into the future. While most people think that globalization will dictate the world of the future, Thiel believes that technology will. Keep reading for Thiel’s take on the challenge of the future.

How a Resonant Leadership Style Promotes Harmony

What is a resonant leadership style? How do resonant leaders affect their teams? Daniel Goleman, a co-author of Primal Leadership, coined the term “resonant leadership.” This means that an emotionally intelligent leader is able to influence their team’s emotions and lead them to success. Here’s how the resonant leadership style works and why team harmony is so important.

You Are Not a Lottery Ticket: Don’t Rely on Luck

Is business success a matter of luck or planning? If success is just a matter of luck, why bother with planning? There is an ongoing debate in the business community about the relative importance of planning versus luck in determining the success of a venture. For example, Warren Buffet, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates all attribute their success at least partially to luck. Peter Thiel disagrees. In the chapter titled “You are not a lottery ticket,” he emphasizes the importance of planning and shares four ways of thinking about the future. Here’s why planning should not be underestimated, according to

From Zero to One: The 7 Principles of Startup Success

How do you go from “zero to one”? How do you successfully get your startup on the road to success? According to Peter Thiel, the author of Zero to One, there are seven things you need to achieve startup success: 1) revolutionary technology, 2) unique insight, 3) monopoly status, 4) strategic timing, 5) a great team, 6) effective distribution, and 7) enduring value. He uses the clean tech crash and the rise of Tesla as case studies to illustrate his checklist. Read more to learn these seven principles for startup success.

What Is Electronic Trading? A Simple Guide

What is electronic trading? Is it easy to buy and sell stocks electronically? The answer is, if you know what you’re doing, it’s fairly simple. Electronic trading is the process of trading stocks using computer technology. It only takes three steps: gathering market data, making a smart trade decision, and executing an order. We’ll explain what electronic trading is and how it fits into the modern stock market that relies on technology.

Your Next Five Moves: Book Overview

How good are you at strategizing for long-term business success? Do you know what your next five moves should be? What do master chess players and master businesspeople have in common? Both always plan five steps ahead. Your Next Five Moves, a book by Patrick Bet-David, argues that what distinguishes exceptional business leaders from average ones is their ability to anticipate future events and plan effectively for them—ideally by thinking five steps ahead. To turn you into a master business planner, Bet-David presents five strategic steps you must start taking now: learn about yourself, improve your problem-solving skills, create a

Primal Leadership: Book Advice for Group Leaders

Are you trying to become an emotionally intelligent leader? How can you create an emotionally intelligent culture at your company? In the book Primal Leadership, Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee explain that emotional intelligence in groups and organizations creates a harmonious work environment. They share clear steps on how to transform your company from one of discord to one of resonance. Here’s the Primal Leadership book advice on how to create an emotionally intelligent group.

How to Become an Industry Leader: 2 Bold Moves

Do you know how to become an industry leader? What skills and actions are required for your company to come out on top? The ultimate step in the journey toward enduring business success is to position yourself as an industry leader. This requires two bold moves: (1) take down your huge competitors and (2) become skilled in high-stakes negotiations. Patrick Bet-David discusses these steps in his book Your Next Five Moves. Read more to learn how to take these two steps.