Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2021

After working many years in business, both in large companies as well as startups, I’ve realized that you can learn more from peers and mentors than from any formal education program. Mentoring supplements but doesn’t replace the need to continue education through industry conferences and networking.

Mentor 159

Mentor Satisfaction Education Organization 159

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2010

You hear a lot of talk these days about the importance of customer satisfaction, but customer loyalty is the real win. A satisfied customer is necessary, but not sufficient, to be a loyal customer who will come back repeatedly, refer their friends and family to you, and be faithful even when your price is not the lowest.

Satisfaction 49

Satisfaction Customer Custom Startup 49

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 4, 2023

Most entrepreneur that fail are quick to offer a litany of constraints that caused their demise – not enough money, time, customers, or support from the right players. Every startup needs to think hard daily about what problem or challenge is holding back progress, what really matters today, and what entirely new possibilities exist.

Resource 112

Resource Ideas Competition Entrepreneur 112

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

One of the biggest myths in the business world is that startups are no place for Baby Boomers, that aging generation born between 1945 and 1964. Today people over 55 are almost twice as likely to create successful startups as Gen-Y, age 20 to 34. Manage customer service. Supportive co-founder and executive positions.

Startup 124

Startup Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2022

One of the biggest myths in the business world is that startups are no place for Baby Boomers, that aging generation born between 1945 and 1964. Today people over 55 are almost twice as likely to create successful startups as Gen-Y, age 20 to 34. Manage customer service. Supportive co-founder and executive positions.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur Report 147

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 15, 2014

I’ve always wondered who started the urban myth that the best way to start a company is to come up with a great idea, and then find some professional investors to give you a pot of money to build a company. Don’t give up a chunk of your company and control before you start.

Startup 110

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction Legalzoom 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2020

The Internet is the problem, by facilitating constant change, and it’s the solution, by providing an absolutely current view of customers, trends, and best practices. It requires an attitude of self-education, versus an assumption that someone else will provide the education. Building a new business is not rocket science.

Social Media 127

Social Media Startup Education Entrepreneur 127

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2022

It’s been happening for some time, but business changes, accelerated by the recent pandemic, have highlighted the need for all of us to review our positions, image, and satisfaction at work. Now may be the time to build new credentials is this digital age by taking time for education courses and attending digital conferences.

Social Media 125

Social Media Summary Startup Mentor 125

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2022

It’s always been tough to start a new business, even when the bottom line was just making a profit to stay alive. The real challenge with the triple bottom line is that these three separate accounts cannot be easily added up. Starting and running any business is hard work, so the last thing you need is “success” with no satisfaction.

Startup 110

Startup Entrepreneur Capital Examples 110

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2015

Social media is so pervasive in today’s world that every entrepreneur believes instinctively that they know how to use it for their startup. Many soon find that what you do in a personal context doesn’t necessarily translate to your business, and measuring business value is quite different from measuring personal satisfaction.

Social Media 108

Social Media Media Startup Tips 108

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 6, 2020

It seems that most of you entrepreneurs I meet in my role as business advisor are convinced that starting a new business requires equity investors, exponential growth, and a plan to go public via IPO. If your passion is customers, you definitely will be happier as a lifestyle entrepreneur. Use flexibility to match your lifestyle.

Statistics 124

Statistics Equity Satisfaction Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2013

I’ve always wondered who started the urban myth that the best way to start a company is to come up with a great idea, and then find some professional investors to give you a pot of money to build a company. Don’t give up a chunk of your company and control before you start.

Startup 105

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Legalzoom 105

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2014

The E-Myth (“Entrepreneurial Myth”) is the mistaken belief that most businesses are started by people with tangible business skills, when in fact most are started by “technicians” who know nothing about running a business. Perhaps an innate business savvy is no longer a requirement for starting a successful business.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Technical Review 107

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2022

Too many customers have long felt distanced from many successful brands, seeing them as closed and mysterious environments, focused only on profits and killing competitors. In the idea stage, get customers involved with an engaging contest. Ramp up transparency by making people the boss of what they do. Shared goodwill (trust).

Organization 126

Organization Social Media Examples Customer 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2019

Everyone knows that that startups are risky, but they also expect that the job will be exciting and potentially very lucrative (think early employees at Facebook and Google). The truly indispensable person in a startup is a problem solver, because every startup has plenty of problems. Educate yourself one notch up.

Tips 100

Tips Startup Journal Outsource 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2013

Your values as you create a startup are the key to creating an enviable culture that attracts more customers, according to Ann Rhoades, in her book “ Built on Values.” I believe in a startup culture that strongly transmits the values of integrity, customer focus, and results. High performance makes new leaders.

Startup 100

Startup Customer Custom Social Network 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

Everyone knows that that startups are risky, but they also expect that the job will be exciting and potentially very lucrative (think early employees at Facebook and Google). The truly indispensible person in a startup is a problem solver, because every startup has plenty of problems. Educate yourself one notch up.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Journal Outsource 103

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2013

The E-Myth (“Entrepreneurial Myth”) is the mistaken belief that most businesses are started by people with tangible business skills, when in fact most are started by “technicians” who know nothing about running a business. Perhaps an innate business savvy is no longer a requirement for starting a successful business.

Startup 94

Startup Technical Review Social Media Satisfaction 94

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2022

As a business consultant with experience in large companies as well as startups, I often hear about dysfunctional management hierarchies, as well as the value provided by exceptional ones. Here are a few of their key points, with my own insights added: Workers today are more educated and aware of options.

Outsource 133

Outsource Training Organization Social Media 133

InfoChachkie

MARCH 16, 2016

However, they clearly have a long term impact on the customer’s overall satisfaction and thus their propensity to purchase additional products in the future. Startups do not always have the luxury to optimize their product for both buyers and users. Follow John’s startup-oriented Twitter feed here: @johngreathouse.

SaaS 100

SaaS Startup Software Review Development Team Review 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2015

Too many customers have long felt distanced from many successful brands, seeing them as closed and mysterious environments, focused only on profits and killing competitors. In the idea stage, get customers involved with an engaging contest. Ramp up transparency by making people the boss of what they do. Shared goodwill (trust).

Startup 99

Startup Organization Social Media Customer 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2019

It’s always been tough to start a new business, even when the bottom line was just making a profit to stay alive. The real challenge with the triple bottom line is that these three separate accounts cannot be easily added up. Starting and running any business is hard work, so the last thing you need is “success” with no satisfaction.

Startup 93

Startup Entrepreneur Capital Examples 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2015

Aspiring entrepreneurs who rely only on traditional learning vehicles (teachers, classrooms, and risk-free practice) are doomed to failure in founding a startup today. Either they are never really ready to start, study an opportunity until it has passed, or fail with tools and techniques from a bygone business era.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Social Media Startup Education 102

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2012

Everyone knows that that startups are risky, but they also expect that the job will be exciting and potentially very lucrative (think early employees at Facebook and Google). The truly indispensible person in a startup is a problem solver, because every startup has plenty of problems. Educate yourself one notch up.

Startup 92

Startup Journal Outsource Tips 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2016

They don’t realize that strong team engagement leads to even stronger customer engagement, which can more than double your startup revenue and growth, according to experts. Startup founders and leaders need to get out of their office, and demonstrate engagement with the team every day. The result will be higher engagement.

Software Review 57

Software Review Satisfaction Startup Training 57

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2011

Your values as you create a startup are the key to creating an enviable culture that attracts more customers, according to Ann Rhoades, in her book “ Built on Values.” I believe in a startup culture that strongly transmits the values of integrity, customer focus, and results. High performance makes new leaders.

Startup 92

Startup Customer Custom Social Network 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2014

“Your values as you create a startup are the key to creating an enviable culture that attracts more customers,” says Ann Rhoades in her book Built on Values. I believe in a startup culture that strongly transmits the values of integrity, customer focus, and results. You are on the outside what you are on the inside.

Startup 101

Startup Tips Education Customer 101

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2021

The recent world-wide health pandemic has highlighted again how fast things can and do change in the environment today, and it’s up to you to make sure your business can survive and thrive in this new world. Customers are looking for a differentiator today. Make sure your hiring practices include diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Examples 128

Examples Social Media Summary Satisfaction 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2011

Everyone knows that that startups are risky, but they also expect that the job will be exciting and potentially very lucrative (think early employees at Microsoft and Google). The truly indispensible person in a startup is a problem solver, because every startup has plenty of problems. Educate yourself one notch up.

Startup 91

Startup Journal Outsource Tips 91

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2014

It’s always been tough to start a new business, even when the bottom line was just making a profit to stay alive. The real challenge with the triple bottom line is that these three separate accounts cannot be easily added up. Starting and running any business is hard work, so the last thing you need is “success” with no satisfaction.

Startup 104

Startup Entrepreneur Examples Satisfaction 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2011

By John Williams Fast Company magazine recently reported that PayPal founder Paul Thiel is giving away $100,000 to twenty-four young men and women to finance startup businesses. Thiel is providing his mentees with capital to make their startups a reality. You get the personal satisfaction of making something out of almost nothing.

Startup 92

Startup Capital Blogging Ideas 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2012

Your values as you create a startup are the key to creating an enviable culture that attracts more customers, according to Ann Rhoades, in her book “ Built on Values.” I believe in a startup culture that strongly transmits the values of integrity, customer focus, and results. High performance makes new leaders.

Startup 100

Startup Customer Custom Social Network 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2011

Translating that into business value, a study by Wirthlin Worldwide concluded that 80% of customers still base a good portion of their buy decision on their perception of that firm’s ethics. At the base of these are moral values, but in my view most of the rest are gleaned from experience, parents, and formal education.

Startup 91

Startup Coach Satisfaction Customer 91

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2016

The Internet is the problem, by facilitating constant change, and it’s the solution, by providing an absolutely current view of customers, trends, and best practices. It requires an attitude of self-education, versus an assumption that someone else will provide the education. Building a new business is not rocket science.

Entrepreneur 61

Entrepreneur Social Media Startup Education 61

InfoChachkie

JUNE 27, 2011

If your offspring are entrepreneurially inclined, these activities might nudge them in the direction of a lifetime of startups. In particular, Marcia Brown’s 1947 retelling of the classic French folktale Stone Soup is a veritable playbook for how to start a venture. Plot Summary. Something From Nothing. The Prototype.

Entrepreneur 270

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Resource 270

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 24, 2011

There has recently been a common theme among the entrepreneurs I have interviewed and the conferences I have attended: despite the relatively weak state of the world economy, now is a great time to create a high-tech startup. As Guy Kawasaki pointed out in our recent conversation , “…it is cheaper than ever to start a company.

Company 257

Company Companies Startup Study 257

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2017

Everyone knows that that startups are risky, but they also expect that the job will be exciting and potentially very lucrative (think early employees at Facebook and Google). The truly indispensable person in a startup is a problem solver, because every startup has plenty of problems. Educate yourself one notch up.

Startup 58

Startup Journal Outsource Tips 58