Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2022

Thus, over the years of my mentoring and consulting efforts with entrepreneurs, I have a key list of practices that I recommend to everyone starting and growing a business. You may think it’s great that demand exceeds your supply chain, but customers only remember it as a loss of your credibility, and will tell others.

Startup 134

Startup Training Tool Demand 134

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2023

Every entrepreneur and business executive I know wants to emulate that boss, but most can’t even describe the attributes required. In my opinion, great examples in today’s entrepreneur world include Elon Musk (Tesla), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), and Richard Branson (Virgin Group). Measure by relationships as well as competitiveness.

Oracle 94

Oracle Organization Examples Coach 94

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

In my role as business advisor, I’m hearing more and more about workers who seem to be doing less and demanding more. 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.

Demand 123

Demand Mentor Startup Coach 123

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2015

Most entrepreneurs I know want to do the right thing for their businesses, as well as themselves, but they are not always sure what that means. This starts with hiring the right people, and giving them the training and support they need on a regular basis. Don’t let day-to-day demands take the reins and drag you off course.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Training Demand Customer 102

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2022

As the entrepreneur, business owner, or leader, your message must never be “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” If you find yourself being surprised by new competitor offerings and customer demands, then perhaps you are not paying attention. Every good entrepreneur I know has a “ proactive mindset.”

Competition 148

Competition Metrics Demand Customer 148

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2019

Most entrepreneurs assume that success is dependent on their product expertise, coupled with some knowledge of how to run a business. In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business. Team conflicts become personal fights.

Training 123

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2022

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. His checklists cover everything from building a vision, to consistently delivering results, for entrepreneurs up to mature business executives. I wish it was that easy.

Technology 133

Technology Cloud Computing Social Media Networking 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2022

Thus I believe that business leaders and entrepreneurs need to focus first on people leadership, rather than process leadership. Thus I find that the best entrepreneurs and business leaders today are people-centric, but they never forget that efficient repeatable processes are required as the business scales up.

Coach 128

Coach Organization Mentor Startup 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2021

Every one of you business leaders I know struggles with the competing demands of finding and keeping employees motivated and satisfied, versus building and enforcing a set of repeatable processes that work. Obviously, both are required for a company to stay healthy and growing. Dysfunctional teams will cause even the best processes to fail.

Satisfaction 154

Satisfaction Demand Resource Competition 154

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2017

Thus I believe that business leaders and entrepreneurs need to focus first on people leadership, rather than process leadership. Thus I find that the best entrepreneurs and business leaders today are people-centric, but they never forget that efficient repeatable processes are required as the business scales up.

Entrepreneur 78

Entrepreneur Coach Organization Mentor 78

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 4, 2020

Every entrepreneur and business executive I know wants to emulate that boss, but most can’t even describe the attributes required. In my opinion, great examples in today’s entrepreneur world include Elon Musk (Tesla), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), and Richard Branson (Virgin Group). Measure by relationships as well as competitiveness.

Oracle 124

Oracle Organization Examples Coach 124

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2022

I hear too often from business owners and entrepreneurs that they are bombarded by so many requests and problems, that they have trouble sorting out the daily crises from opportunities with a major payback for the business. You can’t find the time for coaching and mentoring. You see evidence of ethical compromises in the team.

Coach 120

Coach Satisfaction Customer Custom 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2022

It seems like every entrepreneur and business owner I meet is highly focused on fast growth to a large business, and becoming the next unicorn. Most of you entrepreneurs have a passion for your solution, and some only see the business as a necessary burden. No one else can do the solution delivery like you can.

Satisfaction 92

Satisfaction Training Customer Custom 92

socalTECH

OCTOBER 26, 2015

Los Angeles is the capital of on-demand apps, for just about anything you want. One of those areas that combines LA's passion for on-demand apps, and its active lifestyle, is Fitspot (www.fitspotapp.com), which brings athletic trainers to you or your local fitness center. What is Fitspot? How did you start the company?

Training 100

Training Startup Orange County Malibu 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2012

A diligent entrepreneur should certainly work the important details for his or her startup, especially when it comes to assessing any negative fluctuations in the business. I’ve taken the liberty of extending these for entrepreneurs, based on my own experience: Showcase your creativity on the front lines. Check your ego at the door.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Template Mentor 94

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2021

For the teams with NSF funding who perform well, there's also regional and national I-Corp training, including a pretty selective training program which goes over 7 weeks, where teams end up interviewing 100 customers to really identify who their customers are. but the key thing is customer discovery.

Marina Del Rey 150

Marina Del Rey Startup USC Incubator 150

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2015

As an Angel investor in early-stage startups, I’ve long noticed my peers’ apparent bias toward the strength and character of the founding entrepreneurs, often overriding a strong solution to a painful problem with a big opportunity. Find and enjoy the company of one or more mentors. That means all of us have a chance.

Mentor 104

Mentor Ideas Entrepreneur Study 104

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2015

Most entrepreneurs assume that success is dependent on their product expertise, coupled with some knowledge of how to run a business. In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business. Team conflicts become personal fights.

Startup 103

Startup Training Coach Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2019

Based on my own experience in large and small businesses, as well as mentoring entrepreneurs, here is my list of behaviors which will keep you ahead of the pack: Focus on managing relationships more than tasks. That means a priority on coaching and mentoring, as well as training and tools, before focusing on results metrics.

Tips 97

Tips Mentor Coach Metrics 97

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2019

Thus I believe that business leaders and entrepreneurs need to focus first on people leadership, rather than process leadership. Thus I find that the best entrepreneurs and business leaders today are people-centric, but they never forget that efficient repeatable processes are required as the business scales up.

Coach 94

Coach Organization Mentor Startup 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2019

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. His checklists cover everything from building a vision, to consistently delivering results, for entrepreneurs up to mature business executives. I wish it was that easy.

Technology 86

Technology Cloud Computing Social Media Networking 86

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2016

As an angel investor in early-stage startups, I’ve long noticed my peers apparent bias toward the strength and character of the founding entrepreneurs, often overriding a strong solution to a painful problem with a big opportunity. Find and enjoy the company of one or more mentors. That means all of us have a chance.

Mentor 55

Mentor Ideas Entrepreneur Study 55

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

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. Attract, train, and reward only the best leaders. Cote, former Chairman and CEO of Honeywell.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2018

Most entrepreneurs assume that success is dependent on their product expertise, coupled with some knowledge of how to run a business. In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business. Team conflicts become personal fights.

Training 55

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 55

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

In addition, like an entrepreneur with a new business, you have to factor in all the indirect costs previously covered by employers, including training, health care, and time off for vacations. In fact, thinking like an entrepreneur is a good strategy today for success, even if you are currently in a long-term employment situation.

Startup 98

Startup Outsource Development Competition Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2017

In my view, the gig economy is a key driver to the current boom in entrepreneurship – every professional and consultant is actually a solo entrepreneur. She speaks from years of experience mentoring and facilitating independent contractors and helping large companies, since well before the term “gig economy” was even coined.

Pricing 68

Pricing Entrepreneur Mentor News 68

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2017

Aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners often ask me for a secret formula for success, and they seem surprised when I tell them there isn’t one. Leaders need to reward experiments, rather than demand fixed processes. Establish mentoring and coaching relationships. Eliminate any drama and penalties from failed experiments.

Coach 57

Coach Mentor Organization Entrepreneur 57

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2020

Other companies have only seen a slight decline and may be expecting demand to return to normalcy later in the year. The reality is that when unemployment sinks in demand is likely to get worse. Not anywhere nearly as hard as being an entrepreneur. To win the best deals entrepreneurs need to trust you and want to work with you.

Venture Capital 263

Venture Capital Marketing Startup Writing 263

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2015

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. His checklists cover everything from building a vision, to consistently delivering results, for entrepreneurs up to mature business executives. I wish it was that easy.

Startup 107

Startup Cloud Computing Social Media Entrepreneur 107

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

A diligent entrepreneur should certainly work the important details for his or her startup, especially when it comes to assessing any negative fluctuations in the business. I’ve taken the liberty of extending these for entrepreneurs, based on my own experience: Showcase your creativity on the front lines. Check your ego at the door.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Template Mentor 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2016

The bar is being raised, so every entrepreneur needs new initiatives just to stay in the ballgame. Some entrepreneurs are so focused on their technology, they assume their customers think the same way. Provide coaching and mentoring as well as training. Formal training for the team is just the beginning, not the end.

Customer 55

Customer Custom Startup Coach 55

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2018

As a long-time advisor to entrepreneurs and business owners, I rarely find someone who doesn’t proclaim that the business world is changing rapidly, with new technology, new customer expectations, and new cultures. They have to be energized and able to adapt as the market and competitors demand.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Customer Custom Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2014

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. His checklists cover everything from building a vision, to consistently delivering results, for entrepreneurs up to mature business executives. I wish it was that easy.

Cloud Computing 99

Cloud Computing Social Media Entrepreneur Networking 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2017

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. His checklists cover everything from building a vision, to consistently delivering results, for entrepreneurs up to mature business executives. I wish it was that easy.

Cloud Computing 61

Cloud Computing Startup Social Media Networking 61

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2016

Every entrepreneur and business executive I know wants to emulate that boss, but most don’t can’t even describe the attributes required. In my opinion, great examples in today’s entrepreneur world include Elon Musk (Tesla), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), and Richard Branson (Virgin Group). Measure by relationships as well as competitiveness.

Oracle 53

Oracle Organization Entrepreneur Examples 53

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 2, 2017

You can find a mentor, a coach, a project, or experience, to help you prepare for the role you are looking for. Anne Fulton: I've always been a technology lover, although I'm an organizational psychologist by training. Anne Fulton: I've always been an organizational psychologist crossed with a serial entrepreneur.

Help 100

Help Southern California Startup Technical Review 100

socalTECH

MAY 14, 2015

Nothing, except Miles Beckett , a serial entrepreneur who is best known for creating lonelygirl15 and online content provider EQAL. If you recall, I was originally a doctor by training, though I haven't practiced in awhile. How exactly did you end up--after EQAL--creating a healthcare related startup? Thanks, and good luck!

Startup 100

Startup Content Technical Review Product 100