Don't Make These 10 Startup Mistakes

Starting a business is difficult. Launching a startup is even more challenging. Aside from facing the challenge of attempting to build a company from the ground up, many entrepreneurs have little prior experience in the business world. Even when they have an incredibly awesome idea, complex problems arise, such as managing the young enterprise, handling finances and hiring employees on a budget.

Due to a lack of experience, many startups endure the misfortune of failure -- if they launch at all. Be sure to not add to their tales of disaster. Here are 10 startup mistakes to avoid at all cost:

1. Going it alone. How many startups that have met with success have only one founder? Larry Ellison's Oracle is an exception.

Indeed establishing a company is hard work and it often takes more than a single individual to launch a business. There are highs and lows, not to mention some tasks that few can undertake alone. Crushing blows and setbacks sometimes make it hard to continue on without another person's encouragement. Then there's a need to market the plan and build the product or service. Money has to be raised to launch the startup.

In most situations, it's an incredibly daunting to tackle all this alone. A little help from friends and professional colleagues can help in launching the startup.

2. Skimping on the business plan. Having a solid business plan plays a vital role in determining future success. A business plan, after all, serves to guide the startup in the right direction by answering the following questions:

What is the purpose of the company? Who are the potential customers? What are the mission and values?What's the direction desired for the company? Who are the company's competitors and what are they doing? How can the company measure success?

In other words, a sound business plan determines every aspect of the startup. And whenever the company is stuck or a new venture is to be launched, refer to the business plan.

There's no need to go creating a business plan in as formal a manner as someone would in business school. But having a business plan is recommended since it will help determine the company's direction over the long term.

3. Not handling money correctly. When it comes to startups, having money is very much a big deal and it needs proper handling.

One of the biggest mistakes is spending too much, which may occur when a business owner or founder becomes overly eager and hires a ton of people. At first, the entrerpreneur may believe all the new employees are needed. But this will just mean burning through the startup's finances faster. To avoid this, hire those only those truly needed and take staffing up step by step.

A founder may be tempted to blow through a lot of cash pretty quickly, spending on unnecessary expenses. Instead of these funds going to good use, they're just wasted.

If a venture capital firm just handed the company a big, fat check, it may be expecting a big fat result very soon. No more fooling around. It’s time to get to work.

And what if the business suddenly has to undertake a costly change and insufficient funds have been set aside? What happens if the original plan must be scratched in favor of a backup plan? What if an investor backs out or a client doesn’t pay? What if a vital element for the business costs too much? Is there money to handle such scenarios?

Without proper management and use of its finances, a new business may never set sail. Be sure that someone good with numbers can help out with this.

Related: Do Pivots Matter? Yes, in Almost Every Case.

4. Not being able to pivot. Every entrepreneur will say that nothing ever goes as planned. Butbeing able to pivot is part of the game. At one time Nokia had a paper mill and made rubber boots. Today, it's a telecommunications company.

Odeo once existed as a podcasting platform. But when Apple launched its podcasting platform, Odeo had to pivot. Today Odeo is that social media outlet known as Twitter.

To become a successful business owner, keep a backup plan for every worse-case scenario but also be flexible and able to pivot if the original proposal isn’t going to work.

5. Thinking too small. If an entrepreneur thinks too much outside the box (meaning targeting a very tiny niche market), success may be elusive. Investor Paul Graham, the founder of startup incubator Y Combinator, explained in “The 18 Mistakes That Kill Startups” that many entrepreneurs believe it’s safer to target a smaller crowd so the competition isn’t as fierce. But “if you make anything good, you're going to have competitors, so you may as well face that," Graham said. "You can only avoid competition by avoiding good ideas.”

6. Choosing the wrong location. Siting a business has always been important. Setting up shop in the right location is key, considering the cost and the geoposition of potential customers and the industry as a whole.

For example, Rowland H. Macy originally started a store in Massachusetts, but it didn’t pan out. So, he learned from the mistakes and relocated his business to Sixth Avenue in New York City. The enterprise was successful and resulted in the retail giant known as Macy's.

And consider the fact that many successful tech companies tend to emerge from tech hubs like Silicon Valley, Seattle, Portland, Ore., and Boston.

But there’s another reason why location matters: venture capitalists. Graham observed how most venture capitalists fund startups that are located about an hour's drive away. This may be because investors learn of  startups through someone else in their network. So to receive funds, site the startup close to where the money is.

7. Ignoring a hunch. There’s nothing quite like the instincts of an entrepreneur. It's probably the reason many get far with their startups. So don't ignore that hunch. Use it to advantage.

But make sure that that entertaining a hunch is balanced with engaging in number crunching, viewing key performance indicators and developing business strategies based on research.

8. Launching at an inopportune time. When launching a startup, timing is everything. While certain circumstances lie outside of control (like the economy or natural disasters), launching at the right time can be arranged. Never mind the exhaustive scientific approach. Just make sure the company doesn't launch too early or wait too long.

Launching too soon might put the entire enterprise at risk. Consider the following: Is this a product or service that people really want? Is it ready to be marketed? After all, there's nothing worse than rushing a startup to market out of a desire to beat the competition or start making revenue. Be sure that the startup is ready to go before making it public.

On the flip side, don’t wait too long. Otherwise there's the chance all the money will be exhausted or that a competitor will be first to market a product. Make sure that everything is ready to roll but don't procrastinate. Establish deadlines and meet them.

9. Getting the hiring process wrong. Be sure that hiring doesn't start too quickly. That will drain the entreprise financially. But the part o the hiring process that's constantly tweaked is the attempt to recruit the right people.

So many startups have folded because the people hired were just not right for the company, perhaps a friend who lacked skilled for the work role. Or someone didn’t fit in with the team because of a personality mismatch. Be sure to have qualified people working at the startup.

And ensure that everything is documented. No one wants an ex-employee to sue because a huge chunk of the company was promised in exchange for services, an agreement that was only sealed with a handshake.

10. Too much outside influence. Whether it’s advice or criticism, feedback from an outside source sometimes is a great assist. Would Facebook have taken off if Sean Parker had not suggested to Mark Zuckerberg that he move to California and change his project's name from Thefacebook to just Facebook?

Of course too much feedback can be detrimental. Along a company's journey, many will say what’s best for it. If everyone's advice is followed, the business would no longer bear a resemblance to the original idea. Being pulled in too many different directions just isn’t good for a business.

Even though Zuckerberg took Parker's advice, he still kept a vision of what he wanted Facebook to be. He didn’t take every piece of advice offered. He just used the suggestions that he knew would work for his company. 

via entreepreneur

Don’t Say I Have a Big Problem—Say I Have a Big God: Al-Kabeer

I was in high school reviewing for exams when I received a text message from my aunt. The text message read, “When you have a problem, don’t ever say ‘O God, I have a big problem.’ Rather say, ‘HEY problem! I have a big God!’ and everything will be ok.”

Allah’s Name al-Kabeer (the Most Great) is a Name that we all need to get acquainted with. Not only do we refer to this attribute every day, but, when truly understood, it is a Name that brings tranquility and confidence to every person who is overwhelmed. It is a Name that reminds us of our priorities, of where true greatness lies and who is ultimately in control.

Another Name from the same root is al-Akbar (the One who is Greater). Al-Akbar simply calls us to understand that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is greater than whatever we can imagine. It is no coincidence that the words used to call us to prayer are “Allahu akbar“—telling us to drop whatever it is we are doing because Allah is greater. We are told to come to what really gives us success (hayya ala al-falaah). The Prophet salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam tells us that one of the most beloved deeds to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is to prayer on time. Because we are prioritizing: Allah is greater.

We also start the prayer with those very words: leaving the dunya behind. Pour your heart out to Him. Let Him know your worries. Allah is indeed greater. Every time you get distracted, then know that Allah is Greater than what you are thinking about. The reason we say Allahu akbar between every change in prayer is because we need to contemplate on the greatness of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. We need to remember: He is greater than what we imagine.

Al-Kabeer, al-Akbar and al-Mutakabbir (all from the same root) teach us where to look. We sometimes see things as huge, and impossible to surmount. We feel broken by our worries. We might be oppressed, and viewing our oppressor as great and strong. But we remind ourselves: Anything that seems big or great, Allah is greater. This should fill us with strength and calm. It should remove any fear we have.

The companion ‘Abdullah bin Hathafa truly internalized this. He was captured by the Romans and enticed by the emperor with wealth and power to leave Islam. But he knew that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala was greater than the emperor, and what Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has is greater than anything anyone could offer him. So he refused. Then the emperor threatened to kill him. With the utmost calm, he responded that the king could do what he wanted. This is the confidence in the face of pressure that comes with an understanding of al-Kabeer.

Living by Allah’s Name: al-Kabeer

1—Humble yourself
Allah is al-Mutakabbir. He is the only One who possesses rights and attributes that are above anyone else’s. That’s why this Name is exclusive to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, and if used for a human, it has the negative connotation of arrogance. An arrogant person is one who sees that they have rights or attributes above other people, and so they disdain others because of that. If ever you find yourself looking down on others because of your achievements, luck or even things you were born with, remember the ultimate source of those things. And remember that the only One who is above us all is Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab radhiAllahu ‘anhu was carrying a heavy water container on his back when he was the caliph. One of the companions saw him and exclaimed that he shouldn’t be carrying that because he was the Caliph. But ‘Umar replied that a delegation had visited Madina and of course, dealt with him with the respect and subservience that is given to leaders. Because of that, he felt some pride enter his heart, and he wanted to destroy it.

2—Be strong
I always feel a sense of calm when I hear or say “Allahu akbar”. That’s because nothing is too great for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Nothing is too difficult. He is greater than our circumstances. Work hard, because Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is greater than the obstacles. Be strong, because with al-Kabeer with you, you can do many, many things.

3—Prioritize
Knowing that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is al-Kabeer and that He is Greater should teach us to prioritize. If I have two things to choose from, I remember that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is greater. So I choose that with which He would pleased. If I am messing around on the laptop and I hear the athan, reminding me that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is greater, then I get up and pray.

4—Be devoted in your prayers
Praying five times a day, every day, makes us treat it as a chore. The moment you get on your prayer rug and say “Allahu akbar”, remember that what you are doing now is greater. Be more focused.

via SuhaibWebb

7 Office Politics Lessons You Should Learn In Your 20s

The hardest lessons I learned in my corporate career were related to office politics. I entered corporate America with confidence in my talent. I believed wholeheartedly that my education prepared me to do a great job. In fact, I did a great job!

But I learned very quickly that in order to make it in today's workplace, good performance is only part of the equation.

In order to get ahead and stay ahead, it's critical that you learn how to navigate workplace dynamics, and that has everything to do with mastering the politics. 

Here are the seven lessons about office politics you must learn before age 30 to be successful:

1. It takes more than talent and hard work to get ahead.

This is the most important lesson of all. It is expected that you will do a good, even great, job. That being said, you need to differentiate yourself in the workplace and let others know how you are contributing to the success of the business. The consequences of just focusing on your work are that you will remain invisible, be passed over for promotions, and others will readily take the credit for your work. 

2. It's important that others see you as reliable, consistent, and resourceful.

Figure out what you're good at and how you contribute to business outcomes. Look for opportunities to help others based on your value. How do you want to be perceived? Make sure that your behavior and communication align with how you want others to think of you. This includes being savvy on social media. 

3. Understand workplace dynamics.

This is critical for your success. What are the hidden rules in the workplace? What type of behavior is rewarded? Who gets promoted and why? What type of communication is acceptable? Who has the power and influence? Identify potential allies and champions who have the power and influence. 

4. Build your internal network.

Who do you know and who do you need to know to help you avoid political landmines and to help you advance your career? There are basically three categories of networks in the workplace. First, the operational network consists of people who you work with every day. Second, the developmental contacts are people who are potential mentors and sponsors. They are often decision makers.

The third network is a strategic one comprised of those who can connect you with decision makers, influencers, and operational people to help you do your job better. You need to build a network of contacts in each category across the organization. 

5. Build and nurture your external network.

Let's face it. You probably will not stay with your current company forever. On average, people are moving from job to job about every three years. It's critical, therefore, to stay in touch with former colleagues, classmates, and friends.

Pay it forward and respond to their requests for help or connections. When you need those introductions or references for yourself, your network will step up and help you. Also join industry related groups in your community and on LinkedIn. 

6. Learn how to effectively communicate with others.

You may prefer texting to emailing or phone calls, but it's important to identify what type of communication others prefer, especially if you are trying to build rapport. Ask them directly how they like to communicate. How often do they want to hear from you? What format?

Observe these people in meetings. What gets their attention? What turns them off? Prepare your agenda for meetings with your boss and senior management with this information in mind. Figure out what's important to your stakeholders and then position yourself as someone who can add value. 

7. Establish good working relationships across generations.

The workforce today is represented by three to four generations, and for the first time it is critical to master the skill of working well with people your age and younger perhaps, but also the age of your grandparents. You may be the youngest and you may also be extremely bright, but in order to be successful, you must be respectful of the history and experience of others. You must be patient and open to learning from everyone. What can you learn from those more experienced? What can you share with them to help them be more successful? 

You may indeed be a rock star with enormous potential, but if no one knows about your contributions, it won't do you any good. If you stand out for the wrong reasons, it won't do you any good either. Figure out how to position yourself by understanding the culture and politics, and never take your attention away from the workplace dynamics, as they change every day.

via businessinsider

7 Ways to Get People to Take You Seriously

If you're going to get anything done in business, you need people to respect you. 

But when you're young for your position, new to an industry, or a woman in a male-dominated field, for example, getting others to listen to your ideas can be difficult. 

After looking at the research on social perception and relationship building, we identified the following strategies for instantly getting respect. 

1. Let people talk about themselves. 

It feels good: Harvard researchers have found that talking about yourself activates the same brain regions as sex, cocaine, and a good meal. People spend 60% of their conversations talking about themselves. 

"Activation of this system when discussing the self suggests that self-disclosure like other more traditionally recognized stimuli, may be inherently pleasurable," Scientific American reports, "and that people may be motivated to talk about themselves more than other topics." 

Research shows that when people disclose information about themselves, they like each other more. It's also the primary way to form social bonds, or another way of saying it helps earn their respect.  

2. Win people over with the first introduction. 

Esquire's Tom Chiarella perfectly captures how to make a great first impression. He writes: 

On the street, in the lobby, square your shoulders to people you meet. Make a handshake matter — eye contact, good grip, elbow erring toward a right angle. Do not pump the hand, unless the other person is insistent on just that. Then pump the hell out of their hand. Smile. If you can't smile, you can't be gracious. You aren't some dopey English butler. You are you.

Why is this important? Because paying full attention to someone is a way of showing respect, and social science confirms that we get respect when we give respect. Add that to the list of reasons that conscientiousness predicts success. 

3. Keep your posture open and upright. 

Posture can influence the way others see you and the way you feel. Researchers have found that keeping your shoulders open and arms wide — a classic power pose — activates your hormone system in a way that makes you feel and look more confident and capable. 

The same logic carries over to the way you sit. If you're scrunched over your laptop, you won't feel very bold, but if you're sitting at a large desk, you'll feel more assertive. 

"If you take an expansive pose, it can actually lead to power," MIT professor Andy Yap tells Business Insider. 

4. Be way more prepared than you think you need to be. 

"Ignorance is one of the professional world's least respectable traits — if not the worst," Roberto Rocha writes at AskMen. "If you want your ideas to count, be better informed than everyone else."

So if you have a big pitch or meeting coming up, know exactly what message you want to communicate. Anticipate the objections your boss could have to whatever it is you're pitching. Not only will your ideas be stronger but you'll feel more confident presenting them. 

5. Know what's going on in the world. 

"Be up to speed on changes in your industry so you can speak about them intelligently," says Roberta Matuson. The "Suddenly in Charge" author recommends reading business news daily "so you can speak intelligently on business matters." 

Further, strategic-marketing consultant Noah Fleming encourages a wider information diet by keeping up with tech, sports, and pop culture. (To hack your reading habits, read this.) The idea is to have a broad foundation of knowledge to draw from.

"You should be able to discuss, debate, and offer opinion across a number of different areas," Fleming says. "Serious people have strong opinions! You're taken seriously when you have and offer your opinions." 

6. You need to be both humble and confident.

Venture capitalist Anthony K. Tjan says that respect requires a balance of humility and confidence.

"You need enough self-confidence to command the respect of others, but that needs to be counter-balanced with knowing that there is much you simply don't know," he writes. "Humility is the path towards earning respect, while self-confidence is the path towards commanding it." 

With that balance comes not only respect, he says, but also intellectual curiosity and optimism. 

7. Don't let verbal tics undermine your authority.

If you say a statement with the intonation of a question, that's called "upspeak." It happens when you end your sentences with a higher pitch than they began with and makes you sound as if you're unsure of what you're saying. 

In a recent survey, 85% of 700 professionals said upspeak is a sign of insecurity, while 57% think that upspeak makes people sound less credible.  

"The numbers speak for themselves," says strategy consultant Bernard Marr. "Upspeak has no place at work. If you would like a thriving career, then simply don't do it!" 

via entrepreneur

The Deen (Religion) is Ease (Notes from Bukhari: Part II)

How many times have you heard someone say practising Islam or being a ‘religious’ Muslim is difficult? Reflect on the following: Imam al-Bukhari in his Sahih relates the following hadith (prophetic narration) in the chapter of On The Deen Being Ease.

It is related from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (peace be upon him), said,“The deen [religion] is ease. Whoever makes the deen too hard for himself will be overpowered, so direct yourselves to what is right, follow a middle course, accept the good news of the reward for right action, and seek help [to reach your goal by being constant in worshipping] in the morning, evening and some of the night.” (Hadith no. 39)

Explanation

“Whoever makes the deen too hard for himself will be overpowered [...]”

Ibn Hajar says that it means that whoever overburdens himself by excess in performing religious deeds without being gentle (on himself) will be incapacitated (to continue), cut off and therefore overpowered.

Ibn Hajar cites Ibn Munir as saying: “[...] This hadith contains knowledge from the emblems of Prophethood. Indeed we have seen and people before us have seen that everyone who goes to extremes in the deen is cut off [from continuity]. The intended meaning in the hadith is not to stop a person trying to perfect their acts of worship, for that is something praiseworthy, rather it is warning against the type of excess that leads to boredom, or against excess in supererogatory acts that leads to forsaking that which is more recommended, or that which leads to the performance of an obligation outside of its designated time. The example of the aforementioned is if someone prayed the whole night fighting off sleep until sleep overtook him in the last part of the night whereby he slept past the Fajr prayer in jama`ah [congregation] or past the best time for Fajr prayer or past sunrise after the designated time for Fajr prayer.”

Imam Ahmed narrates a hadith: “You will not attain this (deen) by excessiveness and the best of your deen is ease.”

“[…] so direct yourselves to what is right, follow a middle course, […]”

Ibn Hajar says fasaddidu (which is translated here as direct yourselves to what is right) means sticking to al-sadad meaning that which is correct without excess or deficiency. The lexicographers say al-sadad means balance/moderation (tawasut) in actions.

Ibn Rajab says balance (al-tawasut) in religious deeds is to not fall short of whatever one has been commanded to do and to not burden oneself with that which is beyond one’s capacity.

Ibn Rajab also says about the word qaribu (translated here as follow a middle course) that it carries the same or similar meaning to al-sadad. Ibn Hajar says it means if you cannot achieve the ideal then do your best to attain that which is as close to the ideal.

“[…] accept the good news of the reward for right action [...]”

Ibn Hajar says it means to accept glad tidings of the reward for continuous action even if it is small. Meaning the glad tidings is for someone who cannot perform deeds to the ideal and that he will not lose any reward if it was not due to his intentional shortcomings. The object of the glad tidings is the reward, however the actual word itself (reward) is omitted in the hadith to induce a sense of veneration and magnificence towards the reward.

Ibn Rajab says it means to convey glad tidings to the one who traverses the path of obedience to Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) through moderation, consistency and balance for he is the one who reaches the destination. Indeed the path of moderation and balance is more virtuous than other paths, so the one who travels this path is given glad tidings. For indeed moderation in adhering to the path of sunnah (prophetic tradition) is better than exerting great effort in other paths. The best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad ﷺ so whoever follows his path is closer to Allah (swt) than anyone else.

Ibn Rajab continues to explain that virtue is not due to the abundance of deeds that one performs; rather it is due to it being sincerely for Allah (swt), it being correct in accordance to the sunnah, and by the abundance of knowledge and actions of the heart. So the one who is more knowledgeable about Allah (swt), His deen, His laws and His shari`ah (religious law), and more fearful of Him, more loving of Him, and has more hope in Him is more virtuous than the one who is not in this state even if the latter performs more physical deeds than the former. That is why some of the predecessors used to say that Abu Bakr radi allahu `anhu (may God be please with him) did not excel others by much fasting or salah (prayer) but rather it was due to something deeply embedded in his heart. Some of them said the thing that was in his heart by which he excelled others was deep love for Allah (swt) and His messenger ﷺ and sincere counsel for Allah (swt)’s slaves.

via suhaibwebb

The Deen (Religion) is Ease (Notes from Bukhari: Part I)

How many times have you heard someone say practising Islam or being a ‘religious’ Muslim is difficult? Reflect on the following. Imam al-Bukhari in his Sahih relates the following hadith(record of the words of the Prophet ﷺ, peace be upon him) in the chapter On The Deen Being Ease.

It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The deen is ease. Whoever makes the deen too hard for himself will be overpowered, so direct yourselves to what is right, follow a middle course, accept the good news of the reward for right action, and seek help [to reach your goal by being constant in worshipping] in the morning, evening and some of the night.” (Hadith no. 39)

“The deen is ease.”

Word Analysis:

deen = Obedience, a state of abasement and submissiveness.

In the hadith, al-deen is referring to Islam as the means or the vehicle by which one is obedient and in a state of humble submission to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala (exalted is He). It is synonymous with shari`ah (law) and includes both Islam (i.e. practice) and Iman (faith).

yusr (ease / easy) = ease, facilitation without constriction.

Commentary:

Ibn Abi Jamrah in his commentary of the abridged Sahih of al-Bukhari, Bahjat al-Nufus, highlights a number of ways the statement ‘The deen is ease’ can be understood and demonstrated. Some of them are as follows.

1. Deen here can be understood as both Iman and Islam together. Iman (faith) is ‘easy’ in the sense that it is straightforward without any complexities. This is demonstrated in the hadith where the Prophet ﷺ tests the slave girl to see whether or not she is a Muslim. He was satisfied by her action of simply pointing to the sky to indicate that Allah (swt) is above his creation and by her attesting to the fact that he was the Messenger of Allah. As for the ease in Islam, the practice, this is demonstrated by the famous hadith where a person asks the Prophet ﷺ about the obligations of Islam and the Prophet ﷺ  tells him about the five obligatory prayers, the obligatory fast of Ramadan and the obligatory zakat (charity). Each time the person asked if there was anything more than the obligatory prayer, fasting andzakat the Prophet ﷺ  replied that there wasn’t unless he wanted to do something extra voluntarily. While the person was leaving he said to himself, by Allah I will not increase nor decrease from that. The Prophet ﷺ said he has succeeded if he is truthful.
2. The ease here could be referring to what you have been given as a deen compared to the previous nations and the fact that you have only been obligated with that which you have the capacity to do. Allah (swt) has removed the burdens that were in the shari`ah of the previous nations from this ummah (community). For instance, the process of repentance for this ummah is made by regret, giving up the sin and seeking forgiveness whereas for some previous nations repentance was through capital punishment (for some sins). Another example is that unlawful things for us have been made lawful in times of necessity whereas this was not the case for previous nations.  Also the fact that Allah (swt) has only burdened us with obligations that we have the physical and intellectual capacity to fulfil, for if he did burden us with something beyond our capacity, it still would have been acceptable as He is all Wise and the Omnipotent whose decisions none can overturn. Therefore it is from His favour and bounty that He has forgiven us and only made us responsible according to our capacity. As He says in the Qur’an: Allah does not burden the soul beyond its capacity (2:286). Therefore the one who is made responsible for that which one had the capacity to bear then that is from ease and not from hardship.
3. The ease here could be that deen is easy for the one who has knowledge of the deen and it is difficult for the one that is ignorant of the deen.
4. The ease referred to here could be the fact that the legal texts that imply an obligation without any room for other interpretations are few in number. The vast majority of legal texts are open to different interpretations (that lead to more than one valid legal option) and therefore this is ease and flexibility from the Master to His servants.
5. The ease referred to here could be to shorten one’s hopes, because shortening one’s hopes is amongst the causes that assist one in the deen so that the deen becomes easy. This is due to the fact that when one’s hopes are shortened covetousness is reduced, zuhd (detachment from unnecessary things) becomes easy and performing good deeds becomes light. This is similar to what the Prophet ﷺ mentioned: “When one of you wakes up in the morning, do not expect (to live) till the evening and when one of you goes to sleep in the evening do not expect (to live) till the morning.”
6. The ease referred to here could be to perform good deeds in reverence to the rights due to Allah (swt) since the deenbelongs completely to Allah. When one does this the deen becomes easy due to the sweetness of obedience, performing deeds become effortless, and in fact, one is nourished by the deeds performed for the sake of Allah (swt).

via suhaibwebb

TOMS Founder: 'Focus on Your Passion. Nothing Else Matters.'

As founder and chief shoe giver at TOMS, a retail company with a mission of social entrepreneurship -- Blake Mycoskie launched his company eight years ago intent on giving back. The premise of TOMS was simple: For every purchased pair of shoes another pair would be donated to children in need in 60 countries all over the world.  

The spirit of this trademarked "One for One" philosophy has informed how TOMS has grown, as the company added eyewear to their repertoire and moved into other ventures.

Last year, TOMS Marketplace was launched -- a digital hub that calls attention to similarly socially-minded companies and gives customers an opportunity to shop with a cause in mind.

And this spring, TOMS got into the coffee business, directly trading with the farmers that grow their beans and giving a week of clean water to the communities that need it most for every bag sold.

We caught up with Mycoskie, an award-winning serial entrepreneur, former Amazing Race competitor and the bestselling author of Start Something That Matters, to talk about always putting the customer first and the importance of following your passion, wherever it takes you.

Q: Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you were first starting up?

A: I would have never decided to enter a business where only a handful of companies or customers can determine your fate.

Q: What do you think would have happened if you had had this knowledge then?
A: I wouldn't have tried to start a cable network [Reality Central in 2003]. I tried to start a reality TV cable network and ultimately failed, because we could not get necessary distribution on the big cable operator platforms.

Q: How do you think young entrepreneurs might benefit from this insight?
A: Even if you have the best idea in the world and tons of customers that want it, if there is a platform, channel, retailer that will get in between you and your customers, you could have a problem. If they love what you are doing, that's great, but if they don't, you have to figure out a way to get directly to the end user with your product and service. 

Q: Besides inventing a time machine, how would you have realized this wisdom sooner?
A: I would have read more business biographies.  The most successful entrepreneurs who write them are transparent about the mistakes they have made and what you can learn from them.

Q: What are you glad you didn’t know then that you know now? Why?
A: How hard it is to start a shoe business. How hard it is to build a business when you are committed to giving something away every time you sell something in a one-for-one manner, and lastly, how many red eye flights you would have to take to save money on hotel rooms!

Q: What is your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
A: Focus on your passion. Nothing else matters.

via entrepreneur