Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2023

Every business wants and needs top performers, but most entrepreneurs and executives assume that if they hire and train the smartest and most experienced people, they will get exceptional performance. I saw the key ones outlined well in the classic book, “ Creating High Performers ,” by William Dann, a leading coach to experienced CEOs.

Coach 93

Coach Satisfaction Resource Entrepreneur 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2021

Some are great product leaders and innovative technologists, others are leaders in creating new business models , a few can assemble great teams , but only the rare exception can do all three. That means accepting coaching and seeking mentoring, as well as giving it. Create innovative change from existing resources.

Coach 162

Coach Startup Resource Competition 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2021

The last thing they can afford is to waste any of these, but in my mentoring and coaching activities, I see it happening all too often. Much has been written about this subject in the world of manufacturing, stemming primarily from the 1990’s work by Taiichi Ohno, called the Toyota Production System (“Lean”).

Startup 161

Startup Resource Training Entrepreneur 161

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2022

She and I both offer the following insights on how to green your own pasture by helping employees find and use their strengths, and inspiring them to be more satisfied and productive, on your side of the fence, and even happily return if they do wander in their career advancement: Provide a structured approach to mentorship.

Mentor 147

Mentor Coach Satisfaction Training 147

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2022

Yet I find, as a mentor and outside consultant, that many of you focus only on working conditions and compensation as the key factors determining team engagement , health, and productivity. Every person requires some level of positive human interaction with co-workers and others to be satisfied and productive.

Technical Review 141

Technical Review Mentor Social Media Customer 141

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

Yet there is more and more evidence that jumping tasks on every alert for a new email, text, or phone call actually decreases overall productivity. Practicing these will ensure greater productivity, less stress, more job satisfaction, and an improved overall sense of well-being. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Email 96

Email Activity Product Social Media 96

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

There was no money train. Sure, we built SaaS products before the term even existed but at 31 it was hard to delineate reality from what all of the monied people around us were telling us what we were worth. In those years I learned to properly build product, price products, sell products and serve customers.

Venture Capital 466

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2022

She is the President and CEO of EI Experience, and has years of experience training business leaders across the continent. I enjoyed her recommendations and real-life stories as well as her self-coaching advice, which I will paraphrase here, combined with my own insights from the field: Take a hard look in the mirror to see yourself today.

Coach 140

Coach Guide Startup Mentor 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2023

With pervasive access to social media, customers no longer differentiate poor product repair and replacement from a poor shopping experience or customer usage satisfaction. Reward team members who excel in these relationships, and provide training and processes for others. Make sure non-contact experiences match face-to-face.

Competition 109

Competition Services Customer Custom 109

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2023

In this context, I was impressed with the insights provided in a new book, “ Stay Sane In An Insane World ,” by peak performance coach Greg Harden. Listen to your team, mentors, and customers to recognize real successes and failures, and surround yourself with people who can fill in the gaps. We all have strengths and weaknesses.

Mentor 104

Mentor Startup Coach Satisfaction 104

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 7, 2020

Every business wants and needs top performers, but most entrepreneurs and executives assume that if they hire and train the smartest and most experienced people, they will get exceptional performance. I saw the key ones outlined well in the classic book, “ Creating High Performers ,” by William Dann, a leading coach to experienced CEOs.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Coach Satisfaction Resource 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 26, 2021

The best of you train yourselves to show emotions sparingly and strategically, while the rest are convinced that emotions cannot be controlled , and are a function of culture and genetics. Optimistic business leaders see value in every new business challenge, rather than stress and risk. Never use emotion as a substitute for preparation.

Coach 137

Coach Training Satisfaction Mentor 137

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2019

Most entrepreneurs assume that success is dependent on their product expertise, coupled with some knowledge of how to run a business. In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business.

Training 123

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2020

By hiring contract experts, less oversight and coaching is needed. Freelancers and consultants have to demonstrate results, without training and mentoring, so they can help you more quickly and probably at a lower total cost. Today you need that budget for market fluxuations, pandemics, and product updates.

Competition 168

Competition Startup Demand Training 168

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2019

Image via Wikipedia The challenge for all of us in business is to improve competitiveness by improving employee productivity and reducing costs. According to Gartner , one of the biggest drags on productivity is employee engagement, still hovering around 30 percent, and costing our businesses over $450 billion per year.

Tips 96

Tips Satisfaction Training Mentor 96

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Yet there is more and more evidence that jumping tasks on every alert for a new email, text, or phone call actually decreases overall productivity. Practicing these will ensure greater productivity, less stress, more job satisfaction, and an improved overall sense of well-being. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Email 170

Email Activity Social Media Coach 170

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 29, 2017

Leaders who are able to optimize these find multipliers of 20 percent up to nine times the average productivity. Organizational silos, limited spans of control, and too many layers of management can dramatically reduce the productivity of even your best people. As a role model, what you practice is more important than what you preach.

Product 58

Product Startup Guide Framework 58

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2022

This alone will improve your productivity and effectiveness in your current role, as well as give you a head start towards a future role, including a management role or starting your own company as an entrepreneur. Work on habits and tools that improve your productivity and availability.

Tips 123

Tips Tool Activity Startup 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2021

As a long-time business advisor and mentor to entrepreneurs, I consistently find that the most thriving businesses are people-centric, and those team members create the best processes, rather than the other way around. Engaged people are more productive than your best process. Only people can look ahead and prepare for the future.

Satisfaction 154

Satisfaction Demand Resource Competition 154

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2022

The classic book, “ Hunting in a Farmer's World: Celebrating the Mind of an Entrepreneur ,” by serial entrepreneur and business coach John F. Dini, tied together several threads I have often seen in my own experience of mentoring and helping aspiring entrepreneurs. They build businesses as their lifestyle, not as a job.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Marketing News Slides 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 5, 2022

Many people believe their threshold is permanently set by family genetics, or cultural influences, but I believe anyone can train themselves to stay cool. The most productive and respected business people know their limits and assertively protect them. Establish boundaries and say ‘no’ more often. Learn to delegate more as well.

Class 148

Class Activity Coach Satisfaction 148

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2019

Image via Pexels Every business needs repeatable processes to grow and thrive, but modern business processes need the right people to make them efficient and productive. The right people make productive processes, not the other way around. On the other hand, I see teams with almost no process that are tremendously productive.

Coach 94

Coach Organization Mentor Startup 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2020

Many of the entrepreneurs like you that I have met in my role as a business advisor are really product creators versus business creators, convinced that a great product will generate a great business. In most businesses, this means selling something, and proving that your product or service has value.

Metrics 140

Metrics Entrepreneur Coach Satisfaction 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2017

In fact, I just finished a new book, “ Winning from Failing ,” by business development and sales productivity expert Josh Seibert, which extends this principle as well to large corporate organizations seeking to improve their productivity and success. Establish mentoring and coaching relationships.

Coach 57

Coach Mentor Organization Entrepreneur 57

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2022

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and business owners, I find that many of you have a real fear of uncomfortable interaction situations with individuals on your team, and often delay these discussions endlessly until a crisis occurs. The fear and the stress on both sides only gets worse over time, and trust and productivity suffer.

Summary 116

Summary Coach Mentor Training 116

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2022

This is a tough challenge for every coach and mentor. The support currently provided by product service can become inadequate to satisfy new customers, as your growth and image becomes better known. Your team will quickly sense your insights and sincerity , leading to greater impact and satisfaction by everyone.

Entrepreneur 90

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Coach Mentor 90

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2015

As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often get asked what you can do to build the right culture. Mentoring and training programs need to be put in place early. Foster innovation in process as well as products. Technology can be used to facilitate customer support and sales, as well as enhance your product.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor Training 102

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2015

Most entrepreneurs assume that success is dependent on their product expertise, coupled with some knowledge of how to run a business. In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business.

Startup 103

Startup Training Coach Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2014

The last thing they can afford is to waste any of these, but in my mentoring and coaching activities, I see it happening all too often. Much has been written about this subject in the world of manufacturing, stemming primarily from the 1990’s work by Taiichi Ohno, called the Toyota Production System (“Lean”).

Entrepreneur 115

Entrepreneur Resource Training Product 115

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2017

Every business needs repeatable processes to grow and thrive, but modern business processes need the right people to make them efficient and productive. The right people make productive processes, not the other way around. On the other hand, I see teams with almost no process that are tremendously productive.

Entrepreneur 78

Entrepreneur Coach Organization Mentor 78

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2019

Real business leadership requires continuous improvement, just like your products and processes. Based on my own experience in large and small businesses, as well as mentoring entrepreneurs, here is my list of behaviors which will keep you ahead of the pack: Focus on managing relationships more than tasks.

Tips 97

Tips Mentor Coach Metrics 97

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2017

Team members seem to be spending more and more time venting to anyone who will listen about the motives and actions of others, and less time introspectively focused on their own productivity and accountability. Traditional change management techniques need to be replaced by business readiness training and focus.

Satisfaction 55

Satisfaction Coach Mentor Training 55

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2019

She and I both offer the following insights on how to green your own pasture by helping employees find and use their strengths, and inspiring them to be more satisfied and productive, on your side of the fence, and even happily return if they do wander in their career advancement: Provide a structured approach to mentorship.

Develop 86

Develop Development Mentor Coach 86

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2015

The last thing they can afford is to waste any of these, but in my mentoring and coaching activities, I see it happening all too often. Much has been written about this subject in the world of manufacturing, stemming primarily from the 1990’s work by Taiichi Ohno, called the Toyota Production System (“Lean”).

Resource 105

Resource Startup Entrepreneur Training 105

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2018

Most entrepreneurs assume that success is dependent on their product expertise, coupled with some knowledge of how to run a business. In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business.

Training 55

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 55

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2014

Most entrepreneurs assume that success is dependent on their product expertise, coupled with some knowledge of how to run a business. In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business.

Demand 92

Demand Entrepreneur Startup Training 92

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2019

The classic book, “ Hunting in a Farmer's World: Celebrating the Mind of an Entrepreneur ,” by serial entrepreneur and business coach John F. Dini, tied together several threads I have often seen in my own experience of mentoring and helping aspiring entrepreneurs. They build businesses as their lifestyle, not as a job.

Entrepreneur 95

Entrepreneur News Slides Startup 95