Classic Post Archive

Note: This is part IV of the four part series. Access part I HERE, part II HERE and part III HERE. Marketers have long known...

ConTraps Part IV – Avoid Exclusion From Future Revenue Opportunities
May 23, 2011 | No Comments
Note: This is part IV of the four part series. Access part I HERE, part II HERE and part III HERE. Marketers have long known that people are drawn to exclusivity. As discussed in Jedi Mind Tricks, scarcity and fear of loss are powerful principles of persuasion. Students expend small fortunes of their parents’ money to attend exclusive, private colleges. Hipster-wannabes routinely wait in line for hours for the opportunity to buy exorbitantly priced drinks in an exclusive nightclub. As noted in Contract Traps Entrepreneurs Should Avoid, exclusivity can kill a small company. Unfortunately, many Big Dumb Companies (BDCs) assume they must unfairly skew the market in their favor by precluding you from freely working with anyone you choose. Exclusivity excludes your startup from taking full advantage of future customer, partner and market opportunities. As such, deals are not exclusive, they are excludesive.

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Note: This is part III of a four part series. Access part I HERE, part II HERE and part IV HERE. As noted in parts...

ConTraps Part III – Contract Traps Entrepreneurs Should Avoid At All Costs
May 19, 2011 | No Comments
Note: This is part III of a four part series. Access part I HERE, part II HERE and part IV HERE. As noted in parts I and II of this series, agreements with Big Dumb Companies (BDCs) can be alluring and potentially fatal. In many cases, agreements contain the promise of future riches, much like a piece of cheese in a mousetrap. This series describes how entrepreneurs can craft company-changing agreements with BDCs, while avoiding Kiss of Death contract provisions.

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Note: This is part II of a four part series. Access part I HERE, part III HERE, and part IV HERE. As noted in part...

ConTraps Part II – Contract Traps Entrepreneurs Should Avoid At All Costs
May 9, 2011 | 6 Comments
Note: This is part II of a four part series. Access part I HERE, part III HERE, and part IV HERE. As noted in part I of this series, agreements with Big Dumb Companies (BDCs) can be alluring and potentially fatal. In many cases, agreements crafted by BDC lawyers resemble ConTraps rather than mutually beneficial contracts. This series describes how entrepreneurs can craft company-changing agreements with BDCs, while avoiding Kiss of Death contract provisions.

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