Book SummaryHangry, by Mike Evans

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Hangry

The Entrepreneurial Journey and Building a Successful Startup

This section of the book focuses on Mike Evans' journey of launching Grubhub, highlighting the initial challenges and strategies he employed to build a successful business from scratch. It delves into his technical expertise, salesmanship, and ability to adapt and innovate in response to market feedback.

The Writer's Initial Struggle to Establish GrubHub

Evans' path begins with a simple desire for easy access to food delivery options. He encounters various challenges in gathering information and building a user-friendly platform. Despite his strong technical skills, he realizes that creating a successful business requires much more than simply a functional website.

Delivery Convenience Requirements and Website Creation Challenges

Evans highlights the irritation of using traditional methods to order delivery food, mainly relying on cumbersome Yellow Pages lacking necessary details like delivery areas and quality indicators. He also finds existing online platforms inconvenient as they require calling and lack menu comprehensiveness. This annoyance with existing systems motivates him to develop a site to streamline the process, a decision stemming from his inherent discontent with the status quo, a trait he believes is common among entrepreneurs.

Building the aptly named Grubhub site presents technical challenges, such as implementing software for precise mapping of service zones. Commercially available options are prohibitively expensive, pushing him to find innovative solutions by utilizing open-source tools and public domain data. He emphasizes the importance of finding creative workarounds for common new-business challenges. This early stage focuses on creating a product that addressed his own needs: easy access to delivery menus for his zip code.

Other Perspectives

• In areas with limited or unreliable internet service, traditional methods of ordering delivery food may be more practical and accessible.
• Calling a restaurant can provide immediate confirmation and a chance to ask questions or make special requests that might not be as easily communicated through an online platform.
• The development of a new site does not guarantee that it will effectively streamline the food delivery process; it may face adoption challenges or fail to address all user needs.
• The assumption that discontent with the status quo is a common trait among entrepreneurs may overlook the diversity of motivations and personalities in the entrepreneurial community.
• The technical challenge of mapping service zones might be mitigated by partnering with companies that specialize in geolocation and mapping services, rather than developing this technology in-house.
• Some commercial mapping software providers might offer scalable pricing models, making them accessible for startups and small businesses.
• Utilizing public domain data might restrict the site's ability to differentiate itself from competitors who may also have access to the same data.
• Workarounds can introduce risks, especially if they involve cutting corners or not following industry best practices.
• Addressing the founder's specific needs may result in overlooking potential features or services that could differentiate the product in a competitive market.

Winning Over Skeptics and Securing Customers With Persistence and Innovation

Evans' initial attempts to win over eateries were marked by rejection and skepticism. He details his struggles to convince restaurant owners of the value proposition of Grubhub, finding his early sales pitches ineffective. He perseveres, learning from mistakes and adapting his approach in response to market feedback. He utilizes his technical skills to create unique features and utilizes clever strategies to overcome operational hurdles.

Leveraging Technical Skills to Create the System

Evans initially focuses on providing detailed listings of eateries with meal offerings and delivery zones, a significant improvement over existing options. However, he realizes his technical background can be leveraged to offer additional information. He uses his engineering skills to develop a telephone platform that logs and captures calls, enabling accurate order tracking and providing tangible proof of worth to dining establishments. This innovation showcases his ingenuity and ability to create solutions tailored to specific client requirements.

Context

• By offering more detailed information than competitors, Evans could position his platform as a more reliable and user-friendly option in the food delivery market.
• Before Evans's innovation, restaurants might have relied on manual order-taking processes or basic phone systems without integrated tracking capabilities, leading to inefficiencies and errors.
• The system is designed to handle a high volume of calls, making it scalable for use by multiple restaurants or...

Hangry Summary Managing Growth, Success, and Scaling an Organization

This section highlights the challenges and strategies Evans employs as Grubhub transitions from a startup to a rapidly expanding national business. He tackles building a strong team, delegating responsibilities, navigating investor relations, and preparing the organization for public scrutiny. He learns through experience the importance of mentorship, creating a robust company culture, and balancing personal goals with corporate ambitions.

Constructing a Strong Team and Delegating Responsibilities

Evans quickly realizes that managing a rapidly expanding company requires a strong, diverse team. Initially, he relies on his circle of friends, but later realizes the importance of intentional recruiting strategies to build a more inclusive workforce. He hires skilled salespeople, designers, and customer support professionals, recognizing the need to delegate tasks he can't manage alone. He struggles with delegating control, learning to trust his team members’ expertise.

Transitioning From Technical Role to Executive Position

With an expanding team and increasing operational complexity, Evans must undertake a crucial transition from a hands-on developer to a strategic...

Hangry Summary Personal Reflections and the Writer's Own Entrepreneurial Experience

This section delves into Evans' introspective journey as he steps back from Grubhub, reflecting on the personal cost of building a successful startup. He examines the impact of relentless work on his health, relationships, and sense of self. He embarks on a cross-country cycling trip, seeking a fresh perspective and a more profound understanding of himself and the country he lives in.

Impact of Success on Personal Life and Relationships

As Grubhub expands, Evans experiences the complex consequences of success. The long working hours, constant pressure, and intense focus take a toll on both his marriage and his personal well-being. He prioritizes his business's achievements over his personal life, making sacrifices he later comes to regret. He navigates the changing dynamic of his relationship with his wife, facing challenges due to her career aspirations and yearning for a more equitable partnership.

Reflecting on Sacrifices to Expand the Company

Evans openly shares the sacrifices he made to build his company, acknowledging the strain his single-mindedness put on his marriage and his personal life. He grapples with feelings of guilt and frustration stemming from his...