I've heard this 20 times (Don't Build a Startup, Build a Business), I agree, but this article is like nodding your head at what you should do, but doesn't give you any indication to how to actually do it. I agree, lets build businesses, but how? Exactly how?

These articles should start like this to be of value:

"If you have a startup and you want to turn your business profitable this year than this is the most important article you will ever read."

"I am going to show you a "special measure of success system" that you can implement right now to start turning profits this month."

Then you go on to show them - how to setup kissmetrics to make cohorts and funnels. - A formula to calculate your cost per user. - How to make a projections spreadsheet. - Give them a madlib script to use and cold call until they get 10 people who they think would pay for them service to to prepay before building anything.

Then you have a summary sheet with a rubic where you ask them questions where they fill simple answers based on cohorts, cost per user, projections and the success of the cold calling. That score of the rubic should make it night and day whether or not there startup will be profitable or not this year.

Thats of use. Make that the article.