Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I often get asked for next sure-fire idea. They will also amplify your inspiration to your customers, and keep it growing in your own mind. These people need to cover the gamut from partners, marketers, suppliers, to customers. Create a great customer experience, not just a product.

Ideas 54

Ideas Study Entrepreneur Customer 54

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2017

In my role as a mentor to entrepreneurs and an angel investor, I find that too many are stuck in this myth that a good pitch, and good marketing content, should consist of more product features, and more hype on customer benefits. Just remember that business is about people, more than products and solutions.

Marketing 69

Marketing Startup Social Media Guide 69

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2017

It has a huge impact on productivity, as well as morale and loyalty to the company. In this age of interactive social media, your culture image quickly spreads to customers, and determines their loyalty. Trust causes the brain to release oxytocin, which stimulates productivity and raises motivation. So, how do you build trust?

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Develop Development Claremont Mentor 58

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Based on my experience as an angel investor and a mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs, having no business plan is the quickest way to define yourself as just a dreamer, or at best a hobbyist. Providing your product or service free to customers may sound attractive in marketing materials, but you need revenue sources to survive.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Even after many years mentoring entrepreneurs and advising businesses, I continue to be surprised by the primary focus on products and processes, and the often incidental attention to hiring and nurturing the right people. It’s the same for customers and products, where analytics have long proven their value.

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Tool Entrepreneur Statistics Metrics 53

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2017

Team members seem to be spending more and more time venting to anyone who will listen about the motives and actions of others, and less time introspectively focused on their own productivity and accountability. Countering drama with more emotion or violently shaking them up is not productive. hours per day distracted by drama.

Satisfaction 55

Satisfaction Coach Mentor Training 55

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2017

Focus on products and customers, and trust your accountant. The accountant may accurately record every transaction, but only you can make the strategic tradeoffs on marketing costs versus customer revenue, product quality versus support, and so forth. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 07/14/2017.

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Entrepreneur Competition Customer Custom 72

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 28, 2017

We all face pressure in our lives, but there’s nothing like that of an entrepreneur facing customer crises and the competitive challenges of a new business. Humor has been proven to provide numerous business benefits, including customer loyalty, productivity, and reduced absenteeism. Reframe from anxiety to taking control.

Entrepreneur 56

Entrepreneur Competition Press Mentor 56

Tech.Co

APRIL 24, 2018

Being one small company amongst the sea of thousands of startups vying for customers, capital, and talent, the way to get noticed above the crowd, connect with that next big partner, and raise some capital is to throw your hat in the ring to compete at Startup of the Year.

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Startup Competition Google Capital 70

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2017

In my years of mentoring and advising business leaders, I find that real planning for the future always gets the short shrift. The command and control leadership of the past is proving to be too inflexible, devoid of values, and not empathic to people issues – customers, employees, and partners.

Company 55

Company Companies Artificial Inteligence Technical Review 55

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2017

Thus most investors I know claim to invest in the person, rather than the product. In the same way, you may think that people assessment is all about skills and experience, but as a mentor to business owners, I have learned to look more for the right attitude, persistence, and determination, as success factors.

Software Review 57

Software Review Technical Review Startup Press 57

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2017

Based on my years of experience mentoring and advising entrepreneurs, you need to attack problems and challenges with a mindset of success, or it is unlikely that you or your business will survive. Don’t try to be the lone hero – it pays to listen to other members of your team, who may be closer to the customer, and have better insights.

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Guide Entrepreneur Help Mentor 60

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

Business productivity is all about having the right people, even though I’m bombarded daily with online tools and mobile apps that promise to solve every problem with automation and data. Look for natural-born leaders with drive, vision, purpose, and a focus on the customer. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 09/07/2017.

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Coach Training Summary Tool 57

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 26, 2017

Affirming all shared values is the way to building productive and working relationships. Trust is the key to productive relationships, and relationships with peers, constituents and customers are key to great businesses. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 05/24/2017. Without trust, you can’t lead.

Activity 55

Activity Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 55

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2017

People who are the most productive, and also make good coaches, are keenly self-aware, understand how to manage their emotions, and are able to create sustainable relationships with others. Businesses can only succeed if they can make customers see a win-win situation by working together.

Coach 54

Coach Satisfaction Organization Guide 54

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2017

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?” You have to enjoy working with people -- partners, customers, investors and more -- as well as products to start a business. Others love technology and products, to be replicated and sold while you sleep.

Mentor 90

Mentor Entrepreneur Ideas Writing 90

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2017

Business is more about people than product. As an angel investor in startups, I often find myself looking harder at the quality of the team and the leadership, than at the details of the product and business model. These will provide the competitive edge you need with customers and less-focused team members. Never makes excuses.

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Funding Satisfaction Customer Custom 55

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2017

The bad news is we have to think like a business, with all the implications of branding, finding customers, and competitors. 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

APRIL 3, 2017

As a long-time mentor and advisor to new business owners, I can attest to both the need for mentoring, and the satisfaction that comes from watching an aspiring but tentative entrepreneur grow into someone capable of changing the world. Building relationships, and finding ways for a win-win, is what mentoring is about.

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Mentor Entrepreneur Satisfaction Summary 73

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2017

After the hire comes mentoring and continuous training as the key to engagement. Your company’s success is dependent on your customer’s happiness, which is set primarily by engaged employees. Today, every company needs a value-driven culture that is shared by employees, customers, and shareholders.

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Mentor Startup Training Resource 57