Planning for failure? Use the Pre-Mortem technique to test your project or business concept– Small Business Show 105

The thought of even pretending to fail is anathema to your hosts on the Small Business Show. However, Dave came across the concept of the Pre-Mortem and the guys go all-in today to see how it works. “A pre-mortem — also known as a premortem — is a managerial strategy in which a manager imagines that a project or organization has failed, and then works backward to determine what potentially could lead to the failure of the project or organization.” Can you see why this kind of freaks us out? Your Purveyor’s of Positivity, your Champions of the Charmed Life don’t like to let the concept of failure get in the way of their ideas. This has worked for both Dave and Shannon for decades, launching new businesses and letting new ideas develop before they get squashed by negativity. But, we think this Pre-Mortem idea has some real value and on this episode of the Small Business Show, we turn the tables and tear into our own show using the pre-mortem technique. So, how did we do? Listen in to find out and then jump over to our Support Group to share your thoughts on using a pre-mortem on your own business. Podcast Chapters & Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #105 February 8, 2017 00:03:40 A pre-mortem Apple’s Pre-Mortem Inc. 00:05:14 Is it a good idea? 00:06:18 Balancing optimism and pessimism 00:07:26 Pre-mortem of the Small Business Show 00:09:35 Danger: no financial gain Grow listeners to grow sponsors 00:12:27 Direct vs. Indirect revenue 00:15:17 1,000 True Fans 00:18:25 Danger: Not seeing the numbers 00:22:52 Voicing doubts without being a naysayer 00:28:07 Outtro Articles mentioned: Harvard Business Review: Performing a Project Premortem Riskology: The Pre-Mortem: A Simple Technique to Save Any Project From Failure 1000 True Fans The post Planning for failure? Use the Pre-Mortem technique to test your project or business concept– Small Business Show 105 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.