• Use redundant words
• Sound shady
• Be lurid
• Use triple words
• Sound desperate

Do:

• Go medieval
• Name it like a Spanish restaurant
• Like it like something Captain Kirk would wrestle

Curious? Read the full article.

[via c|net News]

• Don’t get burned by user-contributed content. It’s tempting to create viral, open-source information, but there are issues around liability and the truth of the data.
• Focus matters — don’t lose sight of your core capabilities.
• Don’t believe that you understand the whole business model from the beginning. Plan to fail inexpensively and early.
• Don’t have a bunch of promotion and marketing fluff on your page.
• Don’t chase other customer segments before you’ve won your primary.
• Avoid anything that doesn’t focus on the unique thing that your company does well.
• Don’t let potential investors throw you off what your gut is telling you to do.
• Don’t do something that’s already well covered or already exploited in the marketplace.
• Don’t assume your customer shops like you do.
• Evidence-based decision making is critical to successful ecommerce; avoid rash decisions based on gut feeling alone.
• Don’t forget your economic engine. Figure out where your margin is coming from, in volume and unit margin.
• It’s important to never lose sight of your original goal.
• Don’t do what users don’t ask you to do.

[via BusinessWeek]

I’ve just landed at La Guardia Airport in NY, and in the taxi on my way in, my favorite hotel, which recently put in a system to track flight arrivals of its preferred customers, sends me an email on my Windows Mobile device “Mr. Straumann, we see your flight has arrived and you are most probably in the taxi on the way to the hotel. You are checked into Room 1625 on our preferred floor, a single, non-smoking room with a king-sized bed, and we also assumed you would like the Tempur-pedic pillow you requested on your last visit here, so we took the liberty of putting one in your room. Please enter key code 1066 on the keypad near the door handle to enter the room, that code corresponds to your month and year of birth and should be easy for you to remember. We also note that the last time you visited us, you ordered a late dinner of a club sandwich. Would you like one sent to your room after you arrive? If so, please reply to this note and when you enter the code in the room lock we will be notified of your arrival and have your meal brought up right away. Thank you for visiting us again.”

[Via Johnz Space]

The Churchill Club Startup Success 2006 Video

[via Guy Kawasaki's Blog]