Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2017

I advocate his nine deliberate steps for bringing balance between purpose and execution to every organization, including new startups and mature businesses: Define a pragmatic organizational purpose first. The only way to do this is to assume that change is necessary to keep up with the market and competitors, and make it part of the process.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2017

If your dream has long been to start and manage your own business, there is no time like the present to get started. Statistics show that the failure rate for new businesses within the first four years is fifty percent or greater, even with companies that have a large startup budget. Customer service is not just fixing problems.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

Usually this stage only really starts after an investor has expressed serious interest, or already informally agreed to invest. My best advice is to put some structure and discipline into your due diligence preparation, including the following steps: Schedule a team meeting to bring everyone up to date.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2017

Most often, these people are the ones who keep detailed task checklists, and get great satisfaction from crossing off each item as it is completed. These are the business professionals who have a natural default mode of starting immediately on every task, with the goal of finishing early for extra credit and extra satisfaction.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 11, 2017

If so, maybe it’s time to rethink your perspective, and perhaps start enjoying work for a change. If we reinforce a behavior through repetition, our brain will start to naturally select that behavior over another. Simple – start with some simple quick wins. Your happiness and productivity will both go up.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2017

Hopefully, between the two of us, more of you with big business dreams will follow the leads and generate more successful business results: Start by getting your hands dirty. Never give up in the face of adversity. One of the biggest causes of startup failure is simply giving up too early. The time to get started is now.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2018

We have all heard how messages change, when passed up or down the line, even without any politics or personal agendas. Market changes happen rapidly and regularly these days, requiring a realignment of skills, processes, and approaches to keep up. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 12/26/2017.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2017

They point out that establishing good habits and getting rid of bad ones involves the same basic skills; goal setting and motivation, getting started, and staying on track. That’s where starting small comes in. The little satisfactions can sometimes mean a lot. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 02/22/2017.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

When starting his first company, he routinely stayed up until two in the morning reading about new software, and went seven years without a vacation. They only blame themselves when things go wrong, but are quick to try again, and never give up. Gets satisfaction from solving business challenges.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2017

Start looking for what is right in a person or business situation, instead of looking for what is wrong. When people feel good about themselves, the business looks positive, productivity goes up, and relationships are a lot better. Takers can never get satisfaction, and they antagonize those around them.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2017

In my experience working with startups, the best approach these days is to find and use a good mentor (been there, done that). They detail the key action steps required, including the following: Agree on the objectives and vision up front (Mission). It starts with always telling the truth, staying connected, and being dependable.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2017

We are living in a new generation of business, where customers drive the experience, and highly engaged employees are required to keep up with customer expectations. True leaders are tenacious, determined, and self-starting. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 10/06/2017.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2017

In either case, you need to understand the dynamics to maximize team performance, and for your own sanity and satisfaction. Share the timetable at the start of a discussion and stick to it. The art of productive relationships and leadership are tied to your ability to size up a situation and apply the right tactic consistently.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2017

It only ramps up negativity, and is ego’s way to avoid self-reflection. We all have a human tendency, developed in our childhood, to make up stories which paint us as a victim rather than the problem. The personal preferences and ego of anyone in the company has little to do long-term business success and satisfaction.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2017

In some cases it may be fear of retribution by the boss, but more often they just hate to disappoint others, and end up instead with high stress and low credibility in the crisis to deliver. Be sure to follow-up as promised, to maintain your credibility. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 07/20/2017.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2017

Actively participating in social media is the place to start, including blogging and positively responding to customer feedback, to build a growing crowd of followers. As an example, early businesses that were willing to publish their commitment to “customer satisfaction or your money back” became influencers.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2017

Leadership in business starts with making good personal choices. If necessary, use a strengths coach, and always start a business which highlights your signature strengths. This momentum is what you need for enjoyment and satisfaction, as well as for others to see you as a business leader.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2017

One of the biggest challenges in changing your lifestyle from an employee to starting your own business, is focusing on the right ownership elements, versus having a boss who sets the business goals, and provides performance feedback. In startups, I see technical entrepreneurs who build things just because they can.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

In reality, business success and satisfaction is about doing the right things at the right time, which requires leadership and coaching. If their ears perk up, and they express interest, maybe there’s hope. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 09/07/2017. But coaching doesn’t always work the way you expect.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2017

You will then experience satisfaction, instead of increased pressure. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and courteously explain to bosses or colleagues why certain requests or expectations may be unreasonable. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 06/01/2017. Establish boundaries and say ‘no’ more often.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2017

You can’t get things done on time unless you get started on time. The reality of running any business or startup is that there are always things you don’t enjoy doing, and it’s always tempting to focus more on items you have a passion for. Many people find great satisfaction in just checking off completed items.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2017

These have voracious appetites for new knowledge and self-development, and can inspire other team members to look outside the box for new levels of performance and satisfaction. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 04/11/2017. Life-long learners make great coaches. Inspiration is the best teacher.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2017

Success in business, as in life, is about turning pain into satisfaction and happiness. True entrepreneurs wake up every day assuming that there are going to be problems and disappointments, and relishing the challenge of turning them into rainbows. They seek a purpose in and for their lives, and not just a gig or a job to show up to.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 30, 2017

These challenges, with recommendations for addressing them, were detailed nicely for me in a new book, “ The Boomerang Principle ,” by Lee Caraher, who has built several companies, and has helped many others manage Millennials, reduce turnover, and improve satisfaction and the return hire rate. Is your company there yet?

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 10, 2017

Let them go to find a better fit, with real job satisfaction. It is easier to move up in your career when you have members on your team who can smoothly transition into your role. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 06/19/2017. Don’t chase hearsay, rumors, or gossip. Taking no action hurts everyone.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2019

With the current strong economy I’m seeing a continued resurgence of entrepreneurial spirit, and more startup activity than ever before. There is additional encouraging news for aspiring entrepreneurs on many fronts, just in case you are thinking about joining the existing ranks: Valuations of successful startups have hit an all-time high.

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TechCrunch LA

JULY 15, 2021

Startups attempting to help address the shortage in a variety of ways abound. One such startup, Abodu , has raised $20 million in a Series A funding round led by Norwest Venture Partners. The California legislature changed laws in 2017 to make it easier to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). housing market persists.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2018

With the current strong economy, and sparked by the last recession, I’m seeing a real resurgence of entrepreneurial spirit, and more startup activity than ever before. An unprecedented number of startups, almost 200 at last count, are now valued above $1 billion, according to a recent Forbes article.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2017

It seems like every day I hear from an aspiring entrepreneur who doesn’t know where to start, or doesn’t have the time or expertise for all the mechanics of starting a business based on their great idea. Marty: How does Gust Launch relate to your existing Gust online platform to connect investors to growing startups?

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2017

Starting and running a business is hard. As an angel investor in startups, I often find myself looking harder at the quality of the team and the leadership, than at the details of the product and business model. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 01/05/2017. Business is more about people than product.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Many pundits are already talking about a “ retail apocalypse ” that has already started. Count the number of new projects, time and resources required to implement, and measure the return in revenue, customer satisfaction, or cost savings. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 11/10/2017. Look outside for benchmarks.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2017

" Every employee appreciates guidance on both – to do the right thing at the right point in time, towards attainment of the organization’s goals, as well as employee satisfaction and perceived productivity. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 11/01/2017. Demonstrates extensive and current domain knowledge.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2017

In my experience advising startups, I have found that the invention is usually the easy part, and the hard part is turning the invention into a business. Too many inventors I know spend their six years or more perfecting the product, and give up in desperation if the business doesn’t then take off overnight.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2017

As a long-time mentor and advisor to new business owners, I can attest to both the need for mentoring, and the satisfaction that comes from watching an aspiring but tentative entrepreneur grow into someone capable of changing the world. Today we need it to improve engagement, confidence, and work satisfaction for all business professionals.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2017

Most people you have to deal with in starting and running a business are just being who they are. Experts are convinced that a diverse workforce, including people with different values and different perspectives, leads to better decisions and solutions – ultimately growing business opportunities, profits, and satisfaction.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2017

Self-control beats passion for long term satisfaction. We all know of successful businesses started by entrepreneurs who dropped out of school, while MBAs get no premium with investors. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 09/27/2017. Passion often leads to a need for instant gratification.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2017

Changes in startups are so common they are called “pivots.” Great entrepreneurs find the satisfaction and the learning in making those steps, rather than merely thinking about them. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 06/15/2017. You find out definitively what works and what doesn’t.

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