Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2022

As a mentor to many business professionals and owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs, I find a wealth of innovative ideas, but often less insight on what it really takes to transform ideas into an income stream that can excite new customers into long-term business success. A great innovation starts with at least three ideas.

Ideas 145

Ideas Startup Case Study Writing 145

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2016

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Most of these are non-profits, set up by a university to commercialize new technologies, or a municipality to foster business development for the local economy.

Incubator 106

Incubator Startup Help Resource 106

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2015

If you are one of the many professionals still trapped between jobs by circumstances outside your control, or are about to dump the loser job you have now, you should be actively defining and starting your own business, in parallel with looking for that ideal job. Have startup efforts to highlight in job interviews.

Startup 101

Startup Social Network Activity Ideas 101

SoCal CTO

JULY 23, 2012

I received a great question via LinkedIn: I'm the founding engineer and working hard to launch my startup. What can I do to best equip myself to step up when the need to officially fill this role arises? I've previously addressed the role of a CTO in early-stages in my post Startup CTO or Developer. How can we address this risk?

CTO Coach 231

CTO Coach CTO Hire Outsource Development Develop 231

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

In my years of mentoring entrepreneurs, a problem I have seen too often is low self-esteem, and over-compensating through arrogance and ego. As you look at your entrepreneur goals, make sure you are following your own definition of success that gives you pride and passion in its pursuit. Fortunately, both can be fixed.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Startup Satisfaction Competition 98

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 12, 2022

As an angel investor and a mentor to entrepreneurs I still see this every day. Since language and implication have changed a bit since then, I’ll restate Carnegie and Hill’s original principles here, with my own current-day commentary and recommendations added: Definiteness of purpose. Applied faith. Enthusiasm. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 119

Technical Review Ideas Entrepreneur Custom 119

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Most of these are non-profits, set up by a university to commercialize new technologies, or a municipality to foster business development for the local economy.

Incubator 98

Incubator Startup Help Resource 98

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. From an investor perspective, understanding and acting early to establish a sustainable competitive advantage, and barrier to entry, is the best assurance of a financial return.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 111

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

Even though I’m a big proponent of becoming an entrepreneur, it is definitely not for everyone. Here are a few of my favorites sampling techniques that I have seen work out well over the years: Take a job for a while with an early-stage startup. Founders stock and stock options are worth nothing for the first few years.

Sample 126

Sample Entrepreneur Ideas Startup 126

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Most of these are non-profits, set up by a university to commercialize new technologies, or a municipality to foster business development for the local economy.

Incubator 87

Incubator Startup Resource Seed Funding 87

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

According to a recent poll , contractors and freelancers could make up half of the American workforce within a decade. Here are some key strategies that I recommend to every worker today: Develop and highlight your competitive differentiation. Start today thinking at least one job ahead.

Startup 98

Startup Outsource Development Competition Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2010

If you are one of the many people who lost your job during these tough economic times, you should be working on starting your own business, in parallel with looking for that ideal replacement job. You have probably secretly always wanted to run your own show, but with a full-time job, never had the time to consider a startup.

Startup 98

Startup Social Network Ideas Commerce 98

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2017

If you are one of the many professionals still trapped between jobs by circumstances outside your control, or are about to dump the loser job you have now, you should be actively defining and starting your own business, in parallel with looking for that ideal job. Have startup efforts to highlight in job interviews.

Help 56

Help Startup Social Network Activity 56

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2014

If you are one of the many people still searching for that job lost during or after the recent depression, or about to dump the loser of a job you have now, you should be working on starting your own business, in parallel with looking for that ideal job. Also, for most of us, not having done it before, we have no idea where or how to start.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Startup Social Network Ideas 102

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2020

As an angel investor and a mentor to entrepreneurs I still see this every day. Since language and implication have changed a bit since then, I’ll restate Carnegie and Hill’s original principles here, with my own current-day commentary and recommendations added: Definiteness of purpose. Applied faith. Enthusiasm. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Ideas Entrepreneur Custom 126

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2021

In my role as mentor to business professionals, I often get the question about your potential of going out on your own as an entrepreneur, versus your current role of working for a boss at an established company. There are no startup expert roles. Start with a purpose and a long-term plan.

Entrepreneur 158

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Ideas Social Media 158

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

In big business, as well as startups, I have found that your effectiveness can be highly correlated to your ability to build and maintain people relationships, often more so than hard work, or how many hours you give. But, like most other skills, you can learn from these priorities: Everyone benefits from active mentoring.

Tips 95

Tips Mentor Coach Activity 95

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

So do you think the environment still tough for startups? Investors are very focused on diligence, on business models that make sense, and those companies that have a definite competitive advantage and defensibility to what they're doing. Mike Napoli: It's quality versus quantity. Interestnig.

Tech Coast Angels 231

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. From an investor perspective, understanding and acting early to establish a sustainable competitive advantage, and barrier to entry, is the best assurance of a financial return.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 126

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2015

In my years of mentoring entrepreneurs, a problem I have seen too often is low self-esteem, and over-compensating through arrogance and ego. As you look at your entrepreneur goals, make sure you are following your own definition of success that gives you pride and passion in its pursuit. Fortunately, both can be fixed.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Startup Satisfaction Competition 102

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Don’t believe that Silicon Valley myth that all you have to do is sketch your idea on the back of a napkin, and investors will line up to give you money. Based on my experience as an angel investor and a mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs, having no business plan is the quickest way to define yourself as just a dreamer, or at best a hobbyist.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2017

In my years of mentoring entrepreneurs, a problem I have seen too often is low self-esteem, and over-compensating through arrogance and ego. As you look at your entrepreneur goals, make sure you are following your own definition of success that gives you pride and passion in its pursuit. Fortunately, both can be fixed.

Startup 57

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Competition 57

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 19, 2012

If you are one of the many people still searching for that job lost during the recent depression, or about to dump the loser of a job you have now, you should be working on starting your own business, in parallel with looking for that ideal job. Also, for most of us, not having done it before, we have no idea where or how to start.

Startup 93

Startup Social Network Ideas Commerce 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 24, 2014

In my years of mentoring entrepreneurs, a problem I have seen too often is low self-esteem, and over-compensating through arrogance and ego. As you look at your entrepreneur goals, make sure you are following your own definition of success that gives you pride and passion in its pursuit. Fortunately, both can be fixed.

Startup 91

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Competition 91

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 30, 2013

As a member of NextSpace I have witnessed Amplify in operation and it is a shop that definitely believes in good rewards stemming from hard work. Amplify Mentor Panel in full swing. Amplify’s close mentoring is by design. And they do all this in the span of four intense months.

Web Design 103

Web Design Social Media Seed Funding Design 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2011

If you are one of the many people who lost your job during the recent depression, you should be working on starting your own business, in parallel with looking for that ideal replacement job. You have probably secretly always wanted to run your own show, but with a full-time job, never had the time to consider a startup.

Help 92

Help Startup Social Network Ideas 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2022

This is a tough challenge for every coach and mentor. I’ve never had a definitive list of recommendations to overcome these qualms, so I was pleased to see the insights in a new book, “ Arrive and Thrive ,” by Susan MacKenty Brady, Janet Foutty, and Lynn Perry Wooten. Embrace the real you as your competitive advantage.

Entrepreneur 90

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Coach Mentor 90

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2014

As an Angel investor and a mentor to entrepreneurs I still see this every day. Since language and implication have changed a bit since then, I’ll restate Carnegie and Hill’s original rules here, with my own current-day commentary and recommendations added: Definiteness of purpose. Applied faith. Enthusiasm. Concentration of effort.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Ideas Startup Custom 104

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 6, 2013

TechZulu: Tell me about yourself and how Engage:BDR started? Ted Dhanik: I started my career in Silicon Valley in the 90s. I started a business with two others and we started buying and reselling ad inventory from wholesale prices to retail. To progress and be LA tech-focused, we started incubating ideas.

Marketing 96

Marketing Startup Incubator Advertising 96

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2015

As an angel investor and a mentor to entrepreneurs I still see this every day. Since language and implication have changed a bit since then, I’ll restate Carnegie and Hill’s original rules here, with my own current-day commentary and recommendations added: Definiteness of purpose. Applied faith. Enthusiasm. Concentration of effort.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Ideas Custom Customer 108

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2014

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. From an investor perspective, understanding and acting early to establish a sustainable competitive advantage, and barrier to entry, is the best assurance of a financial return.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Angel Social Media Patents 107

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2018

I believe these insights can and must be extended to you and your career, in line with the following guiding principles: Make your interest in learning your competitive advantage. Smart employers look for these as they contemplate your competitiveness for new roles. Define personalized learning goals with a timetable.

Examples 85

Examples Social Media Competition Guide 85

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

They become obsessed with why the problem exists and they start chipping away at ideas for solving the problem. In preparation for her reentry into VC she spoke with many mentors of hers for advice on venture capital. Startup Lessons' .” And that’s the simplest way I view my job. How can we know better?

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Course Guide Entrepreneur 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

As an angel investor and a mentor to entrepreneurs I still see this every day. Since language and implication have changed a bit since then, I’ll restate Carnegie and Hill’s original rules here, with my own current-day commentary and recommendations added: Definiteness of purpose. Applied faith. Enthusiasm. Concentration of effort.

Technical Review 53

Technical Review Ideas Entrepreneur Custom 53

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2013

In business and startups, a “sense of urgency” is a good thing. As a result, they are always too busy to proactively get to the urgent and strategic tasks, or provide the leadership and mentoring needed to motivate the team for the long haul. A sense of urgency definitely includes impatience. Marty Zwilling.

Activity 105

Activity Entrepreneur Mentor Startup 105

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 30, 2013

As a member of NextSpace I have witnessed Amplify in operation and it is a shop that definitely believes in good rewards stemming from hard work. Amplify Mentor Panel in full swing. Amplify’s close mentoring is by design. And they do all this in the span of four intense months.

Web Design 40

Web Design Social Media Seed Funding Design 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2012

In business and startups, a “sense of urgency” is a good thing. As a result, they are always too busy to proactively get to the urgent and strategic tasks, or provide the leadership and mentoring needed to motivate the team for the long haul. A sense of urgency definitely includes impatience. Marty Zwilling.

Activity 95

Activity Entrepreneur Mentor Competition 95