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6 Benefits of Outsourcing and Freelancing In Startups

Startup Professionals Musings

Many entrepreneurs I have mentored make big mistakes in this area, by hiring low-cost friends and family, with minimal skills or training, and expecting them to have the same work ethic , passion, and business knowledge as the founder. Direct customer-facing non-technical roles should be the last ones outsourced.

Outsource 123
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8 Aspects Of Team Well-Being Drive Business Results

Startup Professionals Musings

Yet I find, as a mentor and outside consultant, that many of you focus only on working conditions and compensation as the key factors determining team engagement , health, and productivity. I will summarize these here, with my insights, for your review and implementation: Physical health. Occupational satisfaction.

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10 Strategies For Success Long-Term As Well As Today

Startup Professionals Musings

In my experience, even in startups, longer-term strategy often gets pushed off the agenda due to current challenges. Attract, train, and reward only the best leaders. Get outside the company regularly to get feedback on future customer needs, emerging technologies, and the views of influencers and experts in the field.

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Kara Nortman Was Just Promoted to Co-Managing Partner at Upfront Ventures. Here’s What it All Means

Both Sides of the Table

The core of the investing job of course is investing dollars into startup companies and helping as a mentor, advisor and board member on the companies in which you’ve invested. Just as Yves mentored me when I became his co-managing partner in 2011, he didn’t seek to ride off into the sunset either. So What Does All This Mean?

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5 Barriers To Wise Delegation In Business Leadership

Startup Professionals Musings

In my role as mentor and advisor to many founders, I consistently fail in convincing them of the power in wise delegation. Even if you can learn and do everything, time is a killer in this rapidly evolving world of business and technology. You need to divide and conquer. Not trusting key team members to get required results.

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5 Phases of Leadership Growth Lead To Company Success

Startup Professionals Musings

Here I often find that you need to seek and work with a co-founder who can complement your technical skills with financial and marketing to start the business. You probably delegated a few things to keep these people earning their paychecks, but you are still reviewing and approving everything that comes in and out of your company.

Company 99
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Praying to the God of Valuation

Both Sides of the Table

There was no money train. SEEING THINGS FROM THE VC SIDE OF THE TABLE While I was a VC in 2007 & 2008 those were dead years because the market again evaporated due the the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). I was in it for the love of working with entrepreneurs on business problems and marveling at technology they had built.