#68: Anystream Inc.
Arrogance and stupidity--yep, they're part of these entrepreneurs' M.O. Find out why that's not as bad as you think.
By Amanda C. Kooser •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Company: Anystream Inc., aSterling, Virginia, software company
Founders: Geoff Allen, 31; AlanGardner, 55; Steve Geyer, 44; Rod McElrath, 35
Began: March 2000
2001 Sales: $3.4 million
What business philosophy do you liveby?
Geoff Allen: There's nothing ground-shaking here. Youhave to pick a plan. You have to execute and you have to measureit. You've got to be flexible. The great companies alwayssucceed.
Who is your business rolemodel?
Allen: I have a psychological role model: Ayn Rand, whowrote The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. If you want something,go make it. It's a very strong sense of personal empowerment.It's part arrogance and part stupidity, because if you look atthe odds you would never build a business.
What business books do yourecommend?
Allen:Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore andRegis McKenna for high-tech is very big. Open Book Management by John Case istremendous. We use a lot of open-book principles here. Rules for Revolutionaries by GuyKawasaki.
Do you have any secrets tosuccess?
Allen: At some point you have to decide if you're goingto do it or not, and that means you have to accept theconsequences. Be passionate about what you're doing. Ifyou're going to build a business, you should be really deeplyinterested in it because you're going to spend a lot of timewith it.
