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First Mile
You have a great idea, now what?
That first mile—where an innovation moves from an idea on paper to the market—is often plagued by failure. In fact, less than one percent of ideas launched by big companies end up having real impact. The ideas aren’t the problem. It’s the process.
The First Mile focuses on the critical moment when an innovator moves from planning to reality. It is a perilous place where hidden traps snare entrepreneurs and roadblocks slow innovators inside large companies.
In this practical and enlightening manual, strategic adviser Scott Anthony equips innovators with new tools, questions, and examples to speed through this crucial early stage of innovation. You’ll
• How to evaluate your idea’s strengths and weaknesses using the “DEFT” process—Document, Evaluate, Focus, and Test
• Fourteen recipes from an “experiment cookbook” to gain confidence in your idea or business
• Why “spinouts,” “wrong turns,” and other challenges commonly trip up innovation—and the practical strategies you can use to avoid them
• Why innovators need to seek chaos in an age of constant change—and other essential leadership skills
Drawing on his decade of experience as an innovation adviser and investor, Anthony describes hard-won lessons from disruptive start-ups and global giants alike. The First Mile will give you the knowledge and confidence to travel this perilous—but ultimately promising—terrain.
The first mile can be a scary place, but you don’t have to traverse it alone. This book can help.
That first mile—where an innovation moves from an idea on paper to the market—is often plagued by failure. In fact, less than one percent of ideas launched by big companies end up having real impact. The ideas aren’t the problem. It’s the process.
The First Mile focuses on the critical moment when an innovator moves from planning to reality. It is a perilous place where hidden traps snare entrepreneurs and roadblocks slow innovators inside large companies.
In this practical and enlightening manual, strategic adviser Scott Anthony equips innovators with new tools, questions, and examples to speed through this crucial early stage of innovation. You’ll
• How to evaluate your idea’s strengths and weaknesses using the “DEFT” process—Document, Evaluate, Focus, and Test
• Fourteen recipes from an “experiment cookbook” to gain confidence in your idea or business
• Why “spinouts,” “wrong turns,” and other challenges commonly trip up innovation—and the practical strategies you can use to avoid them
• Why innovators need to seek chaos in an age of constant change—and other essential leadership skills
Drawing on his decade of experience as an innovation adviser and investor, Anthony describes hard-won lessons from disruptive start-ups and global giants alike. The First Mile will give you the knowledge and confidence to travel this perilous—but ultimately promising—terrain.
The first mile can be a scary place, but you don’t have to traverse it alone. This book can help.
242 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2014
29 people are currently reading
313 people want to read
About the author
Scott D. Anthony
17 books81 followersScott D. Anthony is the managing partner of the innovation and growth consulting firm Innosight. Based in Innosight's Singapore office, he also leads its venture capital investment arm (Innosight Ventures). His most recent books are The Little Black Book of Innovation and the new HBR Single, Building a Growth Factory. Follow him on Twitter at @ScottDAnthony.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 22, 2017
Read the full review here.
The first mile is a book by Scott D. Anthony who is a managing partner at Innosight, a global strategic innovation consulting and investment firm.
The First Mile was an interesting read and I would recommend it to all the budding entrepreneurs out there who are planning to launch their products.
The First Mile serves as a reality check, asking the difficult questions that need to be answered and followed during the first mile of a product launch.
Entrepreneurship overall and product launches, in particular, are riddled with unknown unknowns a term used by Donald Rumsfeld and later adopted by the industry to specify the lack of knowledge of things we don’t know about. There are a lot of variables that come into play when you venture out on your own on an entrepreneurial journey, variables you couldn't possibly think about. Strategic management of these variables and uncertainty is the key to overcoming these difficulties.
The author lays out a framework "DEFT" (Document, Evaluate, Focus & Test) to evaluate an ideas strength. The book contains hard-won lessons learned on the field enabling entrepreneurs to walk through the unknown territory known as Startup.
The first mile is a book by Scott D. Anthony who is a managing partner at Innosight, a global strategic innovation consulting and investment firm.
The First Mile was an interesting read and I would recommend it to all the budding entrepreneurs out there who are planning to launch their products.
The First Mile serves as a reality check, asking the difficult questions that need to be answered and followed during the first mile of a product launch.
Entrepreneurship overall and product launches, in particular, are riddled with unknown unknowns a term used by Donald Rumsfeld and later adopted by the industry to specify the lack of knowledge of things we don’t know about. There are a lot of variables that come into play when you venture out on your own on an entrepreneurial journey, variables you couldn't possibly think about. Strategic management of these variables and uncertainty is the key to overcoming these difficulties.
The author lays out a framework "DEFT" (Document, Evaluate, Focus & Test) to evaluate an ideas strength. The book contains hard-won lessons learned on the field enabling entrepreneurs to walk through the unknown territory known as Startup.
August 27, 2020
How do you create an innovation pattern that's predictable? This book is hot to the introduction, engaging and really beautiful entree for the ideas of the 21st century. I liked this book already. Depends on the further material, this book definitely has high potential of 4 or 5.
Focus on at least 6 uncertainties. Make sure outsiders involved in your process. Because our brain familiarity blinds us on innovation and possibilities.
Focus on at least 6 uncertainties. Make sure outsiders involved in your process. Because our brain familiarity blinds us on innovation and possibilities.
January 9, 2022
Good book with an emphasis on not allowing paralysis by analysis run corporate effort to invade. Quick read with several good introductions to concepts for combatting and tactics for disallowing a "single point of failure" sometimes found among one person serving as THE decision-maker.
February 6, 2017
Great book with tools and tons of things to watch out while jumping to market with your new ideas.
Loved it.
Loved it.
September 2, 2015
A good, easy to understand guide for innovators in small teams or in big companies looking to launch new ideas, products or services in the market today. Scott Anthony provides step by step guidelines to develop, evaluate and launch ideas in an efficient way. Learning is the emphasis as it helps the innovator to gain confidence on his ideas or revise/pivot if necessary. A handy guide for innovation teams as it also talks about building the team and the necessary behaviors and mindset to succeed.
June 19, 2014
The First Mile includes useful, concrete steps that an entrepreneur or intrapreneur can take to strengthen processes during the early stages of innovation. There are many risks as a team moves from idea planning to reality, but use of techniques like those covered in this book can improve the likelihood of survival.
Full disclosure: One of my favorite techniques -- identifying and listening to aliens within your organization -- is included in Chapter 9.
Full disclosure: One of my favorite techniques -- identifying and listening to aliens within your organization -- is included in Chapter 9.
May 14, 2018
The first mile is about how you can spread your great ideas into the world. It shows it in a very strategic way and also to have a simple storyline to keep readers interested but to give tips to the readers. One great thing I learned from this book is how strong and important advertisement is in a startup. Even if you have a groundbreaking idea, if no one knows about it, it doesn't become anything but your imagination.
February 14, 2015
I'm still no expert, but this book seems to really get to the essence of what causes success or failure in a new venture. I'd have probably saved and made a lot more money if I read this book years ago.
May 10, 2014
A must read book to understand the first part of product innovation. If you work launching new products and services read it first
August 25, 2014
Stating the obvious and boasting. Nothing to see here, move along.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews