Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 29, 2009

This is part of my series on How to Raise VC but could equally be filed under Startup Advice more generally. I recently got a phone call from an entrepreneur whom I respect and who runs a company that I hope will do great things one day. He started the call by telling me he had exciting news. Save it for someone who cares!

Venture Capital 291

Venture Capital Press News Startup 291

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2012

Driven by the recent recession, smart entrepreneurs of all ages are jumping into the fray with new ideas, new recovery strategies, and discarding outmoded business models. I see it most in the newest generation of entrepreneurs (Gen-Y), who were shocked out of entitlement into action by the recession. Snap up top talent.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Geni Layoffs Outsource 93

InfoChachkie

APRIL 9, 2012

These entrepreneurs do not risk everything, work outrageous hours and put themselves under extreme pressure because they want to. It is not rational to put oneself into the uncertain, stress-filled environment of a startup. Entrepreneurs want to matter. “It is difficult to see the picture when you are inside the frame.”.

Startup 243

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Statistics 243

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In the short term you need customers to find you at any price, and in the longer term you need revenue, profit, and return loyalty. Although his focus is naturally on bigger companies, I contend that his recommended strategies apply equally well to entrepreneurs and startups: Demand a mindset of deep thinking for the long term.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2016

In the new business world, many entrepreneurs are so excited with large initial orders that they don’t anticipate the cash flow challenges that can quickly kill their startup. Your startup may be profitable, but broke. Fluctuating sales means more inventory is required to cover the ups and downs.

Startup 64

Startup Sales Layoffs Slides 64

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2010

Driven by the recent recession, smart entrepreneurs of all ages are jumping into the fray with new ideas, new recovery strategies, and discarding outmoded business models. I see it most in the newest generation of entrepreneurs (Gen-Y), who were shocked out of entitlement into action by the recession. Snap up top talent.

Startup 51

Startup Geni Layoffs Entrepreneur 51

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2010

Perhaps a simpler way to think about culture is to think of it in terms of how an organization makes choices, how it develops its values, its ethics, how it trains, recognizes and rewards its associates, its spirit, and not to be overlooked, how it treats its customers - both internal and external. Employee turnover is extraordinary low.

Organization 89

Organization Training Layoffs Journal 89

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2010

Some people stand up and move around to be more dominant, maybe even threatening. But most business processes, like negotiating a contract, closing a sale, customer support, or managing employees, are much more complicated than just words. Later uncrossed arms and legs may be a sign of acceptance of your position or terms.

Layoffs 94

Layoffs Email Tool Study 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

You don’t need to invent an innovative product to be a real entrepreneur. Many of these new entrepreneurs were regular employees a few years ago, focused on a skill specialty. They are not the generalists required for new product startups. This world changes rapidly and needs a highly focused specialist to keep up.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Services Search Engine Optimization Startup 106

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 6, 2020

We have been advising a lot of entrepreneurs so I thought I’d “open source” some of the advice I have been sharing. If you do massive layoffs (RIFs) you can assume that you will need to repay your loan since the intent of the loan is to protect jobs. In this instance they would need to give up the right entirely.

Venture Capital 279

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Doc 279

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

You don’t need to invent an innovative product to be a real entrepreneur. Self-employed services specialists are just as important, and are a growing part of this new “ age of the entrepreneur ” that I discussed last week. Many of these new entrepreneurs were regular employees a few years ago, focused on a skill specialty.

Entrepreneur 89

Entrepreneur Services Product Search Engine Optimization 89

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Entrepreneurs who run startups have to be generalists to survive. Yet I’m seeing another critical group of entrepreneurs, self-employed specialists, who are a growing part of this new “ entrepreneurial revolution ” that I discussed a couple of weeks ago. Many of these new entrepreneurs were regular employees a few years ago.

Entrepreneur 48

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Startup SEM 48