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10 Practices To Avoid When Running Your First Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

As an advisor to many startups, I’m convinced it’s an expensive and painful approach, but I do see it used all too often. In the rush of a startup, it’s tempting to start spending the money you expect any day from a rich uncle or a major new customer. But things do go wrong, and you will be left holding the bag.

Startup 100
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5 Keys To Reducing Startup Risk By Building On Trends

Startup Professionals Musings

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business which builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. Many of the major business successes started this way. Many of the major business successes started this way.

Startup 157
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7 Ways Your People Skills Are The Key To Your Success

Startup Professionals Musings

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Start with a service you know and love. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Startup 111
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10 Startup Practices With A Proven Record Of Failure

Startup Professionals Musings

As an advisor to many startups, I’m convinced it’s an expensive and painful approach, but I do see it used all too often. In the rush of a startup, it’s tempting to start spending the money you expect any day from a rich uncle or a major new customer. But things do go wrong, and you will be left holding the bag.

Startup 125
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5 Keys to Moving From Entrepreneur Thinking To Action

Startup Professionals Musings

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always surprised by the fact that some never seem to be able to that first startup going, while many others never seem to stop, starting their second or third initiative before the first one is fully hatched. You can’t win a race that you never start.

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8 Tips For Success In Turning A Dream Into A Business

Startup Professionals Musings

Over time, I have collected a list of new business attributes that go beyond the initial idea or solution, which often are more critical to long-term success and satisfaction. Here are some key ones that I find often overlooked in the passion of the moment or the rush to get started: Aim your innovations at real customer problems.

Tips 80
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7 Success Factors When Your People Are The Solution

Startup Professionals Musings

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Start with a service you know and love. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Startup 174