Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Moving a dream into reality requires balancing on a tight-rope of passion supported by unending efforts to move heaven and earth to make it happen.

Startup 118

Startup Satisfaction Customer Custom 118

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2023

For your own happiness and satisfaction, I recommend you start instead working from that higher purpose and passion. All too often, business owners find the financial returns alone do not provide the long-term satisfaction and success they assumed would come with all the hard work and challenges that come with every business, large or small.

Satisfaction 114

Satisfaction Customer Custom Social Media 114

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020

As an entrepreneur, I understand your passion when pitching your solution to investors and customers, but passion alone won’t make one more technology pitch stand out above all the rest. I can tell you from my own experience as an advisor and an investor, what everyone remembers is a good personal story.

Startup 145

Startup Competition Customer Custom 145

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2022

The entrepreneur’s challenge is to effectively communicate their value proposition, not only to customers, but also to vendors, partners, investors, and their own team. Stories often work better, because humans don’t always make rational decisions. The most successful story tellers are also attentive story listeners.

Training 123

Training News Entrepreneur Customer 123

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2023

The discipline of writing down your plan is the best way to make sure you understand how to transform your idea into a business, and how to communicate it. Offer free solutions to bring in more customers. Don’t get caught in the myth that you shouldn’t worry about monetization until after you have a large customer base.

Startup 124

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Ideas 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Moving a dream into reality requires balancing on a tight-rope of passion supported by unending efforts to move heaven and earth to make it happen.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2021

In the last few years I have seen a popular business model emerging which embodies a greater focus on social and environmental responsibility, and a new requirement for trust and sharing, as well as customer and community collaboration. Customers and team members must be inspired, rather than pushed.

Customer 140

Customer Custom Slides Commerce 140

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

As an investor in startups, I most often see entrepreneurs who are technologists, or at least have a real passion for a specific product. While these investors, and early customers, will always argue that they found you, I’m convinced that there is no substitute for aggressive networking on your part.

Startup 113

Startup Customer Custom Technical Review 113

Berkonomics

APRIL 5, 2018

I expect that you have a story about how insurance saved you lots of money in your past. As usual, I have a story to make your hair stand on end. My story about an event that changed business insurance. But first: here’s a fact. Business package policies. Here’s how to be truly scared. But watch out.

Sites 266

Sites Outsource Development Customer Custom 266

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 9, 2013

You know exactly when you want to sell to this customer and presumably it’s this quarter! And when I say this I’m assuming that you’re already identified the customer pain and talked about how you’re uniquely qualified to solve their business problems. Which customers to target: Elephants, Deer or Rabbits ? Compelling Event.

Customer 324

Customer Custom Marketing Newsletter 324

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 15, 2021

Just because someone else tells you that you can make money with this idea, doesn’t mean you can sell it. Put yourself in a story that makes your case memorable. People listen and remember a personal story and impact more than a large chart of facts. Show momentum that makes your vision inevitable.

Entrepreneur 174

Entrepreneur Examples Google Funding 174

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

So Khan set out to change the selling experience for these new companies that want to have a better way to communicate with their potential customers… a way to really tell their story online. They have to get through an approval process and verify that you’re a real direct to consumer brand you can sell on the platform.”

Commerce 173

Commerce Startup Platform Los Angeles 173

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

He tells the story of how he was out of cash, stressed out, nobody in LA or Silicon Valley would give him money, he had finally found an investor in Minneapolis but his venture bank was going to shut him down for breaking a “covenant&# in their agreement by not having enough cash in the bank. The answer? Something so simple.

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Startup Customer Custom 304

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

The discipline of writing down your plan is the best way to make sure you understand how to transform your idea into a business, and how to communicate it. Offer free solutions to bring in more customers. Don’t get caught in the myth that you shouldn’t worry about monetization until after you have a large customer base.

Startup 174

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Ideas 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2023

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. I still hear too many excuses for not working early on the elevator pitch, like wanting to fly under the radar, don’t have the team together yet, or can’t afford an agency. Make your business cards stand out in the crowd.

Ideas 126

Ideas Startup Social Media Blogging 126

Berkonomics

JULY 26, 2018

It would pay you to work over this set of questions in a special session with sales, marketing and senior management in the room at once. Is your product or service one that responds to a customer need, real or perceived? It is that important. Why buy IT? . Why buy it?”. Why buy MINE? .

Sales 226

Sales Customer Custom Pricing 226

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

In reality, that’s only half the story. You need to work just as hard to convince investors that you are the best person to take your idea from a dream to a successful business, and provide an impressive return on their investment at the same time. Develop a personal story as a visionary and learner. The other half is you.

Ideas 140

Ideas Entrepreneur Equity Resource 140

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2021

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat.

Startup 160

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 160

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2021

Yet we have all heard stories about the high turnover, unstructured work environment, lower base pay, and unpredictable expectations from the top. Very few people are willing and able to take on any challenge, and make it work. You can’t outsource that one. And then does it. Stick out and shine.

Startup 125

Startup Journal Outsource Tips 125

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

Others will work hard on a business plan, and then mail it indiscriminately to every potential investor they can find on the Internet. If you haven’t yet finalized the business model, cost projections, and customer segments, you aren’t ready for investors. Both of these approaches are a waste of your time and theirs.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Startup Statistics Social Media 109

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 21, 2021

Kaplan is a leading expert in building innovation cultures, and speaks from his real-world experience with many companies, as well as academic study. Kaplan is a leading expert in building innovation cultures, and speaks from his real-world experience with many companies, as well as academic study. You only get what you measure.

Develop 135

Develop Development Startup Metrics 135

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2013

The point of PUCCKA was to develop a common methodology to make sure our whole team approaches sales with the same mindset and to give us a language to talk with each other about our prospects, as in, “have you identified your customers pain point yet?”. The goal is to get the customer speaking about their organization.

Sales 367

Sales Slides Startup Customer 367

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 18, 2021

To make the right big choice, everyone needs to know who to focus on, and how to offer unique value to customers in the chosen segment. Talk directly to every key constituency often, and make your messages as sticky as possible. Draw a finish line so key people know the real objective.

Startup 174

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Demand 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2023

Many aspiring entrepreneurs I mentor can talk at length about their innovative ideas and passions, and ask lots of good questions, but never make much progress in building a real business. Once you learn how to make things happen in your own life, starting a business is easy. Establish a clear visual picture of each goal.

Writing 92

Writing Ideas Startup Entrepreneur 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2020

Obviously, it’s not that simple, but making the right first impression is critical for an entrepreneur, not just with investors, but also with partners, customers, and even yourself. Most success stories in business are not about envisioning the next big thing, but about making that change happen.

Startup 171

Startup Entrepreneur Activity Ideas 171

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 14, 2020

The story behind Frame, the startup aiming to be the nation’s gateway into the world of therapy and mental wellness, seems like a tailor-made story of American entrepreneurial success. The goal is to give a millennial audience a window into how therapy works in an effort to popularize and de-stigmatize the process.

Los Angeles 203

Los Angeles Pacific Palisades Angel Startup 203

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2023

In the process, you may save yourself considerable re-work and money, or even decide that your dream needs more time to mature, before you commit your limited resources, or sign up with investors to a painful and unsatisfying plan. Carry out reality checks and make appropriate plans. The only reliable test is a real one.

Startup 142

Startup Capital Resource Research 142

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2021

During all my years in business, I’ve noticed that some people seem to make their job look effortless , while others are always in a struggle, no matter how simple you thought the task should be. Start with your own story, the mission of your business, and how to make everyone in your domain, including customers, into advocates and teachers.

Technical Review 123

Technical Review Coach Satisfaction Mentor 123

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2014

Yesterday I wrote a post about The Silent Benefits of PR in which I pointed out that most young companies I encounter don’t fully grasp the benefits of PR because they are less measurable than product milestones or customer acquisition analyses (like CAC/LTV). When to start PR?

Press 319

Press Startup Writing Training 319

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2022

The next thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work. Due to the information overload felt by consumers today, marketing at the generic segment level no longer works.

Social Media 135

Social Media Framework Media Metrics 135

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 1, 2009

As organizations we have become more open and I believe this is great for businesses and their customers. We spent time out in the marketplace talking with customers, looking at their solutions, comparing ourselves with our competition and then squirreling ourselves away in our offices designing our next set of features.

Organization 280

Organization Customer Custom Tips 280

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2022

Many experts have tried to clearly lay out the criteria for survival in a way that allows you to judge your own situation and your own temperament, and make a rational decision before starting down this path. titled “ The Intelligent Entrepreneur ,” outlining the keys to successful entrepreneurship, as follows: Make the commitment.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2023

Obviously, it’s not that simple, but making the right first impression is critical for an entrepreneur, not just with investors, but also with partners, customers, and even yourself. Most success stories in business are not about envisioning the next big thing, but about making that change happen.

Entrepreneur 70

Entrepreneur Startup Activity Ideas 70

Berkonomics

MARCH 13, 2014

In a movie, the inciting incident is the event at the beginning of the story which causes the hero’s life to be completely transformed and irrevocably changed, and which makes the whole story unfold. Every good story has an inciting incident. Every good story has an inciting incident. By David Steakley.

Invest 237

Invest Examples Networking Writing 237

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 9, 2021

So the real challenge is looking inward to check your alignment with these clues: Running a business is a passion you crave. You know what needs to be done, and not afraid to make the decisions. You have never had a problem putting together a plan and making it happen. The opportunity to make real money excites you.

Startup 168

Startup Ideas Satisfaction Entrepreneur 168

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Mark Zuckerberg, while still in school, tested the viability of his “ FaceMash ” technology as a business by rolling it out to other students at Harvard as customers. He learned quickly that several pivots were required for business, legal, and customer acceptance reasons. Take advantage of free startup programs and mentors.

Entrepreneur 157

Entrepreneur Mentor Class Resource 157

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Innovate In the early years of a startup there is a lot of kinetic energy of enthusiastic innovators looking to launch a product that changes how an industry works. Innovate In the early years of a startup there is a lot of kinetic energy of enthusiastic innovators looking to launch a product that changes how an industry works.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286