Zero to One, Peter Thiel

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These are the highlights from Thiel's book.

The communicator's takeaway:

Thiel says, "You should never assume that people will admire a company without a public relations strategy."

The press can help attract investors and employees

What is found when you're Googled will determine your success

He also asserts the value of internal communications: "You have to sell your company to employees and investors... No company is so good that people will be, by default, clamoring to get in."

Overall: 

Poor sales is the most common cause of failure.

You have to sell your company to employees and investors; selling more than your product.

Appealing to the media is a form of sales; it's important to sell to the media.

Computers are complements to humans, not substitutes; Humans can substitute for other humans. Companies that create complimentary technology and products will succeed.

Strong AI: computers that eclipse humans on every dimension. 

7 questions that every business must answer:

  1. The Engineering Question: can you create breakthrough technology instead of incremental improvements?
  2. The timing question: is now the right time to start your particular business?
  3. The monopoly question: are you starting with a big share of a small market?
  4. The people question: do you have the right team? 
  5. The distrubution question: do you have a way to not just create, but deliver your product?
  6. The durability question: will your market position be defensible 10/20 years in the future? 
  7. The secret question: have you identified a unique opportunity that others don't see? 

Every great business plan must answer these questions.