‘Iron Man’ en place

We’ve looked at Marvel and Disney (Your Product Sucks). These companies are no longer entrepreneurial ventures but continue to evolve and maintain their excellence.

It’s not easy.

What got you here won’t get you there.

To a point.

What’s required regardless of size is hard work.

Success is not like stories, with linear sequences and happy endings. It takes work.

In his podcast with Tim Ferriss, Marvel Studios architect David Maisel talked about the work that it took to start the business. It’s easy for us to focus on the story, or the headlines. But Maisel said the most important parts were financing, aligning his stakeholders (the Marvel board of directors), and getting a good deal on the film’s distribution.

That is what any entrepreneur must do: manage finances, work with partners, and get the goods to the customers.

Chefs call this mise en place (MEEZ-ahn-plays). It means chopped ingredients, cleaned pots and pans, and tidy work spaces. It allows busy kitchens to effectively and effortlessly serve their customers.

The outcome is the star but the work is essential.

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