Introduction
In 1995, Lynda Weinman, a graphic design teacher and aspiring entrepreneur, created a simple website called Lynda.com. Originally, it was just a place to showcase her students’ design work and experiment with new digital tools like Photoshop and Illustrator. However, that modest beginning soon evolved into something far greater.
By 2002, Lynda had transformed her site into a full online learning platform—long before online education became mainstream. Her decision to move all her teaching online turned out to be revolutionary. Years later, the platform was sold to LinkedIn for 1.5 billion US dollars, becoming what we now know as LinkedIn Learning.
Lynda’s story perfectly captures what author and speaker John Mullins calls the counterconventional mindsets of entrepreneurs—ways of thinking that go against traditional business-school teachings. Below are the six powerful entrepreneurial mindsets that challenge conventional corporate logic and drive innovation.
1. Yes, We Can
In traditional business strategy, companies are advised to “stick to their knitting”—to focus only on their core strengths and competencies. However, successful entrepreneurs often take the opposite approach.
Example: Arnold Correia, a Brazilian entrepreneur and founder of Atmo Digital, built his business by saying yes to challenges outside his expertise. When a client asked for satellite broadcast capabilities—something Arnold had never done—he accepted the challenge and figured it out. Later, when Walmart requested in-store advertising screens, he said yes again. Over the years, his willingness to explore new areas transformed his business multiple times.
Lesson: Growth often begins when you say “yes” to new opportunities, even those outside your comfort zone.
2. Problem-First, Not Product-First Logic
Large corporations tend to focus on products—constantly updating them with small changes and calling them “new and improved.” Entrepreneurs, however, focus on problems first, and products come second.
Example: Jonathan Thorne, an inventor, noticed that surgical forceps often stuck to human tissue during operations. He solved this problem using a special silver-nickel alloy. When growth slowed in the cosmetic surgery field, he shifted to solving similar issues in neurosurgery—where precision is even more vital. His innovation succeeded because it directly addressed a real and costly problem.
Lesson: Successful businesses are built around solving meaningful problems, not merely improving existing products.
3. Think Narrow, Not Broad
Big companies often chase massive markets to “move the needle.” Entrepreneurs, however, thrive by thinking narrowly—targeting small but specific groups with unmet needs.
Example: Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman, the founders of Nike, didn’t set out to make shoes for everyone. They focused specifically on distance runners, who needed footwear with better cushioning and stability. Once they mastered this niche, they expanded to other sports like tennis and basketball.
Lesson: Focusing on a small, well-defined market helps build expertise, credibility, and loyal customers before scaling up.
4. Ask for the Cash and Ride the Float
For startups, cash flow is survival. Unlike large corporations that sit on excess cash, entrepreneurs must creatively generate funding to build their ventures.
Example: Elon Musk and his team at Tesla didn’t wait for full production before collecting money. They sold 100 Roadsters at $100,000 each before the first one was even built, raising $10 million in advance. Later, half a million people placed $1,000 deposits for the Model 3, giving Tesla $500 million upfront to fund development and manufacturing.
Lesson: Secure customer commitment early—pre-orders, deposits, or subscriptions can fund growth before your product even launches.
5. Beg, Borrow, but Don’t Steal
Entrepreneurs are masters of resourcefulness. They find ways to use or share assets instead of owning everything outright.
Example: Tristram and Rebecca Mayhew, founders of Go Ape in the UK, wanted to build treetop adventure parks but didn’t own any land. They partnered with the UK Forestry Commission, which provided access to forests, facilities, and parking in exchange for shared visitor traffic. Go Ape now operates over 30 locations in the UK and several in the US—all built on borrowed assets.
Lesson: Use partnerships and collaborations to access resources without heavy investment. Smart borrowing beats unnecessary ownership.
6. Don’t Ask for Permission
In corporate environments, innovation often requires multiple approvals and legal reviews. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, act first—especially when regulations are outdated or ambiguous.
Example: Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp, founders of Uber, didn’t wait for approval from taxi regulators in San Francisco. Had they asked permission, Uber might never have existed. Instead, they built the service and proved its value through customer demand.
Lesson: Innovation sometimes means moving ahead before systems catch up. As long as it’s ethical, it’s often better to ask forgiveness than permission.
Final Reflection
These six counterconventional mindsets—saying yes, focusing on problems, thinking narrow, securing cash early, borrowing resources, and acting without permission—show how entrepreneurs think differently from big companies.
John Mullins ends with four reflective questions for every aspiring entrepreneur:
- Which of these mindsets do you already possess?
- Which ones can you learn?
- Can you teach them to others around you?
- Can they help you overcome your current challenges?
The entrepreneurial journey isn’t about following the rules—it’s about challenging them wisely. As Lynda Weinman proved with Lynda.com, those who think differently don’t just build businesses—they change industries and, sometimes, the world itself.
