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). Of course, mentoring is not new – it’s been the favored way to learn arts and crafts since way back in the middle ages. But I assert that mentoring in business is making a comeback.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2021

Here is a short list of the areas where you should be able to find help, whether you are a student or an independent entrepreneur: Exploring hot ideas. Every university has entrepreneurial courses or evening classes that can provide assistance on creating your initial plan. Connections to a mentor. Business plan assistance.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 16, 2012

I believe you can be much more productive, as well as a more effective leader, if you approach most meetings as mentoring opportunities, and limit them to five minutes. It works, but in all cases, to be a successful mentor, there are some key things you have to do: Be available always. The mentor assumes a role of a facilitator.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2012

The dictionary definition of a mentor is “an experienced and trusted advisor,” or “leader, tutor or coach.” The big difference, of course, is that a mentor looks ahead to help you, while a critic looks backward to tell you what you did wrong. One of the key characteristics of a successful mentor relationship is trust.

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Jason Nazar

JANUARY 1, 2016

But I did spent those four years starting businesses and courting many mentors to help me along the way. At the end of every meeting, I’d ask, “Would you consider being my mentor?” — and every time, I got the same response. Ignorance is Blasphemy: Why You Need a Mentor in the First Place.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2023

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. Of course, if you don’t yet understand all the elements, it’s time to learn.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2010

I believe you can be much more productive, as well as a more effective leader, if you approach most meetings as mentoring opportunities, and limit them to five minutes. With the mentoring approach, the mentee asks for your support in their decision, or asks for your insight on the considerations for them making a future decision.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2010

The dictionary definition of a mentor is “an experienced and trusted advisor,” or “leader, tutor or coach.” The big difference, of course, is that a mentor looks ahead to help you, while a critic looks backward to tell you what you did wrong. One of the key characteristics of a successful mentor relationship is trust.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2022

During my many years of mentoring professionals and entrepreneurs in business, I more often see people focusing on how to get their ideas heard , than how to promote themselves. Of course, how you do this effectively is critical. Your career or startup future is in your hands, not those of your boss, your mentor, or investors.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2019

Despite the rush in every academic institution to offer more courses on entrepreneurship, I still haven’t found it to be something you can learn in school. Of course, you can pick up the basic principles this way, but the problem is that the practical rules for success are changing so fast that no academic can keep up.

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socalTECH

JANUARY 19, 2017

To help fix that, the startup has created a mobile app to guide people through their strengths, interests, key skills, and more to guide them along the way to a career they'll love. Since then, I have worked extensively with mentoring youth, and helping them figure out what's possible in terms of careers. How did this start?

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2023

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). It’s helpful to think of startups as proceeding through several stages, which I have defined a long time ago from a funding perspective. Don’t waste your resources on the wrong ones.

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socalTECH

APRIL 10, 2018

What is Startup Boost , and how is it looking to help early stage startups in Los Angeles? It's a term to help people understand that we're here to help companies get ready to scale. We do that by galvanizing the community to help out. They're willing to give their time, a few hours a week, to help out startups.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2017

As an advisor to startups, and a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m still surprised at the number who are determined to go it alone. Even worse, when they figure out that they really need help, the first place they look is for an intern or untrained helpers.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2010

Here is a short list of the areas where you should be able to find help, whether you are a student or an independent entrepreneur: Finding an idea. Every university has educational courses and can provide assistance on creating your initial plan. < Business plan creation.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2023

Yet I find in my mentoring practice that more and more team members prefer the human-centered approach and respond with more engagement and commitment. Wisdom helps everyone tackle the challenges in business and in life, helping us to understand our limitations, strengths, and weaknesses and make better choices.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2021

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. Of course, if you don’t yet understand all the elements, it’s time to learn.

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SoCal CTO

MAY 13, 2014

Here’s the other aspect that both Tony and I preach: get help. But, advisors, coaches, and mentors can often fill the bill. Getting someone who’s fully employed somewhere else to work with you on a limited basis to help close the gap is hugely important for the non-technical founder.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2022

Of course, such actions are equally applicable to businesses at any stage. At least, these professional networking events allow you to get out of the office and meet people who can help. Seek mentoring from established industry leaders. In some cases, the best mentor is one of your best customers.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2017

Then there was always the risk of failure, which of course doesn’t apply once your real job is gone. Unless you are a true loner, you need someone like-minded but complementary in skills to help you with the startup plans. Almost anyone can handle this without professional help, and the cost is less than $100 in many states.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2023

That’s why I’m impressed with the classic book, “ All Dreams on Deck: Charting the Course for Your Life and Work ,” by Jeremy Cage. Ask for help from advisors and mentor your team. People don’t usually need to ask for help with their dreams, but no entrepreneur I know has built a successful business alone.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2023

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. Of course, they may be out of money as well, but that is often more of an “excuse” than a reason. So why do most startups fail?

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Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 23, 2022

Many of you business leaders I work with, and entrepreneurs I mentor, have a great strategy and an innovative solution , but struggle with building and motivating the team necessary to run your business. Of course, listening alone isn't enough. Spend time coaching and mentoring team members.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2021

Then there was always the risk of failure, which of course doesn’t apply once your real job is gone. Unless you are a true loner, you need someone like-minded but complementary in skills to help you with the startup plans. Almost anyone can handle this without professional help, and the cost is less than $100 in many states.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Top performers want to know how to stand out, and business leaders need to know how to better recognize and mentor aspiring superstars before they burn out, or move on to new opportunities. They offer to help, rather than seeking help. The result is a culture of innovation, keeping the organization relevant and responsive.

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Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Operating experience (Helped run parts of CitySearch & UrbanSpoon, tons of product management experience, Board of Hatch Labs which helped spawn Tinder). Helped merge company with Seedling – on track to do $20 million combined revenue in 2015 – will now become Chairman). She is a coach and mentor to team members.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). It’s helpful to think of startups as proceeding through several stages, which I have defined a long time ago from a funding perspective. Don’t waste your resources on the wrong ones.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2022

It may help to review the evidence that emotionally strong leaders have a consistent advantage in business. Don’t be afraid to ask for help during this process. Mentors and coaches are always willing to help you find creative ways around roadblocks, even ones you don’t even see.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2021

I’ve always wondered if there was some way that I could quickly deduce a new entrepreneur’s “sweet spot,” and optimize my mentoring to those strengths and weaknesses, maybe similar to the Myers-Briggs type indicator for business professionals. Of course, discovering your entrepreneur type is only the beginning. Some are very positive.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2021

Kevin Cope, in his classic book “ Seeing the Big Picture ”, does a great job of outlining the basics of business acumen for executives, and helped me assimilate some practical ideas on building the essential elements for entrepreneurs: Reserve time daily to research the market, as well as technology.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2022

Of course, you can always ride on someone’s coattail, and let them do the leadership, while you do the hard work in the shadows. I urge you to force yourself to be a regular new learner, by tackling new problems, listening to expert mentors, and finding time for leadership books. Count on the people around you to help.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2021

Of course, this kind of leadership has a big risk, since you have no one to blame if you get it wrong. It can help you be right when, without expert help, you might fail. This may mean attending industry conferences, taking college courses, or reading some key books. Solidify and demonstrate your personal values.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

You need to build business relationships with partners, team members, investors, and of course customers. Asking someone to be your mentor is not a sign of weakness, and most mentors love to help. Turn existing connections into productive relationships. Turn existing connections into productive relationships.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2019

Of course, that assumes that you or someone you trust knows how to do it right, has the right attitude, and has the trust of the person who needs the coaching. They need to know that helping is appreciated and beneficial to their career and performance feedback. People often ask me about the difference between coaching and mentoring.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

In my own business career, many years as a business advisor, and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I have validated the following strategies to practice and guide you. Each of these will help you in achieving success and satisfaction while tackling your toughest business issues: Stop attacking symptoms – dig first for the root cause.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2021

As a mentor, my mission is to recommend actions that can strengthen your image with investors and peers, as well as help you get the startup job done. Of course, these must always be balanced with winning business practices for maximum value. In fact, these same attributes also bound your leadership skills.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2019

It always helps to ask questions first, and keying off an element of passion in the other person’s perspective. Build real relationships with people who can help. You need all the help you can get, and people will help you if they know and trust you. Stand tall - keep your fears and doubts to yourself.

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