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. Master-mind alliance. Going the extra mile.

Technical Review 119

Technical Review Ideas Entrepreneur Customer 119

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2023

According to most definitions, an entrepreneur is one who envisions a new and different business, meaning one that is not a copy of an existing business model. A business is an entity which exchanges goods and services with people outside the business (customers) for money, social good, or something of equal value.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Satisfaction 108

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. Message delivery must be customized for each investor. Finally I realized that venture capital and angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 111

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2019

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Mentor 85

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Summary 85

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2023

I’m definitely a proponent of this latter approach. When you are starting a new venture, raising capital, and landing those initial customers, the obstacles keep coming, so you need all the flexibility and resilience you can muster. In my view, entrepreneurship is an endurance sport, rather than a quick dash to success.

Startup 102

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur News 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2022

In my years of mentoring entrepreneurs, a problem I have seen too often is low self-esteem, and over-compensating through arrogance and ego. These entrepreneurs find it hard to respect customers or team members, and their ventures usually fail. Fortunately, both can be fixed.

Startup 101

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Competition 101

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2021

Offer to help a couple of customers free, just to get your act together and your presence known. It will definitely show off your energy and vision, and will make you a more competitive candidate for any role. Do them on your home computer for a few dollars. Have startup efforts to highlight in job interviews.

Startup 156

Startup Social Network Activity Ideas 156

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

In my role as a mentor to business professionals and entrepreneurs over the years, I have found that it’s important to take a hard look at the relationships around you on a regular basis. But, like most other skills, you can learn from these priorities: Everyone benefits from active mentoring.

Tips 95

Tips Mentor Coach Activity 95

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

Even though I’m a big proponent of becoming an entrepreneur, it is definitely not for everyone. By following the crowdfunding campaigns of others, you can learn much about what types of ideas and solutions are attractive to customers, and also understand some new ways to raise money in todays competitive world.

Sample 126

Sample Entrepreneur Ideas Startup 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

A few are still trying to make a profitable business out of nurturing startups, but it’s a challenge to make money when your customer startups don’t have many resources to give. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

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. Master-mind alliance. Going the extra mile.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Ideas Entrepreneur Customer 126

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2020

According to most definitions, an entrepreneur is one who envisions a new and different business, meaning one that is not a copy of an existing business model. A business is an entity which exchanges goods and services with people outside the business (customers) for money, social good, or something of equal value.

Ideas 127

Ideas Entrepreneur Satisfaction Summary 127

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.

Entrepreneur 90

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Coach Mentor 90

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. Message delivery must be customized for each investor. Finally I realized that venture capital and angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 126

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

A few are still trying to make a profitable business out of nurturing startups, but it’s a challenge to make money when your customer startups don’t have many resources to give. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors.

Resource 159

Resource Startup Incubator Seed Funding 159

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2015

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Mentor 105

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

I’m definitely a proponent of this latter approach. When you are starting a new venture, raising capital, and landing those initial customers, the obstacles keep coming, so you need all the flexibility and resilience you can muster. In my view, entrepreneurship is an endurance sport, rather than a quick dash to success.

Startup 128

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction News 128

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

Today, customers and future managers put a higher value on relationships, and expect to know you from industry conferences, social media, or recommendations from peers. Use blogging, outside publication, and speaking or mentoring opportunities to establish credibility and stand out above peers. Walk away from a bad role or customer.

Startup 98

Startup Outsource Development Competition Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2014

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Mentor Technical Review Satisfaction 102

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. These entrepreneurs find it hard to respect customers or team members, and their ventures usually fail. Fortunately, both can be fixed.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Startup Satisfaction Competition 98

InfoChachkie

APRIL 28, 2016

As noted in You're Never Too Old (Or Too Successful) For A Mentor , Bob is my mentor and friend. Demand Customer Centricity. Bob successfully managed his constituents by never forgetting that his ultimate “customers” were the students he was serving. I created a wake (for my team to ride.)” Borrow Best Practices.

Santa Barbara 100

Santa Barbara Mentor Education Demand 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2017

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Satisfaction 53

Satisfaction Marketing Mentor Entrepreneur 53

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Julie is known as the entrepreneur’s selling mentor, for both men and women. Be passionate about what you are selling, and decide to be of service, by providing your customers with something of value in exchange for deserved payment. Make it real for you and your customers. Claim your sweet spot. Craft your irresistible pitch.

Sales 105

Sales Entrepreneur Mentor Customer 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2017

Julie is known as the entrepreneur’s selling mentor, for both men and women. Make it real for your customers with professionally finished collateral and proposals. Always treat customers with respect, honesty, and warmth to make the selling process more enjoyable, fun and delightful. Craft your irresistible pitch.

Social Media 56

Social Media Sales Mentor Customer 56

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 13, 2010

In billing we literally started thinking about all of the types of bills that would be generated for customers: full payment, partial payment, split payment, senior discount, student discount, level pay plan, etc. The wisest mentor I ever had was Ameet Shah , my partner on several projects. . - I started by doing billing systems.

Entrepreneur 372

Entrepreneur Startup Design Framework 372

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

We have about 8500 customers there, but only a small percentage have built great communities that took off, and the rest floundered. That's why we built FanMix, to solve our own problem, and help our SocialEngine customers to promote their own sites. We're definitely Los Angeles natives, but we got the opportunity to do TechStars.

Startup 242

Startup CTO Coach Blogging Social Media 242

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2012

Julie is known as the entrepreneur’s selling mentor, for both men and women. Be passionate about what you are selling, and decide to be of service, by providing your customers with something of value in exchange for deserved payment. Make it real for you and your customers. Claim your sweet spot. Craft your irresistible pitch.

Product 91

Product Mentor Customer Custom 91

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. Master-mind alliance. Going the extra mile. Enthusiasm.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Ideas Customer Custom 108

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 2012

We were also about to build a really solid mentor network in a short period of time, pulling in about 250 CEO's and CTOs, from all backgrounds and locations. I'd say the biggest lesson I learned is that entrepreneurs need to have more contact with their customers and consumers upfront to build a better assessment of needs and priorities.

Southern California 168

Southern California High Tech SaaS Social Media 168

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2017

If team members and customers can’t relate to your purpose, or don’t agree with it, your business will not thrive. It’s important to involve your team in the definition of purpose, and agree it is consistent with a viable business model, including opportunity, customer need, and a positive return.

Satisfaction 56

Satisfaction Customer Custom Startup 56

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2011

Julie is known as the entrepreneur’s selling mentor, for both men and women. Be passionate about what you are selling, and decide to be of service, by providing your customers with something of value in exchange for deserved payment. Make it real for you and your customers. Claim your sweet spot. Craft your irresistible pitch.

Sales 93

Sales Entrepreneur Mentor Customer 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 13, 2015

According to most definitions, an entrepreneur is one who envisions a new and different business, meaning one that is not a copy of an existing business model. A business is an entity which exchanges goods and services with people outside the business (customers) for money, social good, or something of equal value.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Ideas Satisfaction Summary 109

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. Master-mind alliance. Going the extra mile. Enthusiasm.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Ideas Startup Customer 104

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. Message delivery must be customized for each investor. Finally I realized that Venture Capital and Angel investors are actually humans, despite some views to the contrary.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Angel Social Media Patents 107

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

A few are still trying to make a profitable business out of nurturing startups, but it’s a challenge to make money when your customer startups don’t have many resources to give. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Direct seed funding, for a share of the equity, and introductions to investors.

Incubator 87

Incubator Startup Resource Seed Funding 87

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

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. Providing your product or service free to customers may sound attractive in marketing materials, but you need revenue sources to survive.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2015

By definition, every startup is predictably unpredictable, since new solutions have no proven track record, startups are usually building a new market, and the world around them is changing faster than ever. Bring in expert advisors and mentors to set initial goals, and build recovery plans. The market changes faster than your startup.

Startup 105

Startup Entrepreneur Marketing Satisfaction 105