Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2017

Today I find that some entrepreneurs, are putting all their focus on a social or environmental cause, and perhaps naively expect that purpose alone will lead to a sustainable business. The only way to do this is to assume that change is necessary to keep up with the market and competitors, and make it part of the process.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2017

If your dream has long been to start and manage your own business, there is no time like the present to get started. Statistics show that the failure rate for new businesses within the first four years is fifty percent or greater, even with companies that have a large startup budget. Customer service is not just fixing problems.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2017

Every entrepreneur I know has a few bad habits they intended to overcome a long time ago, such as micromanaging, or failure to get enough rest and relaxation. They point out that establishing good habits and getting rid of bad ones involves the same basic skills; goal setting and motivation, getting started, and staying on track.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 11, 2017

If so, maybe it’s time to rethink your perspective, and perhaps start enjoying work for a change. As an advisor to new entrepreneurs and new ventures, I’m seeing a refreshing new focus by Millennials on work and successful new companies with a purpose, and more productivity through happy employees. Want to get to work on time?

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

When starting his first company, he routinely stayed up until two in the morning reading about new software, and went seven years without a vacation. On the other hand, I often hear from “wanna-be” entrepreneurs who dream of being their own boss, and working their own hours by running their own business. That’s commitment.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2017

One of the biggest challenges in changing your lifestyle from an employee to starting your own business, is focusing on the right ownership elements, versus having a boss who sets the business goals, and provides performance feedback. I now believe that every entrepreneur needs to think like an A-Player.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2017

We are living in a new generation of business, where customers drive the experience, and highly engaged employees are required to keep up with customer expectations. Their experience as executive coaches and entrepreneurs gives real credibility to their assessment of some new leadership approaches that are required in business today.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

Usually this stage only really starts after an investor has expressed serious interest, or already informally agreed to invest. My best advice is to put some structure and discipline into your due diligence preparation, including the following steps: Schedule a team meeting to bring everyone up to date.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2017

In my experience as an advisor and mentor to entrepreneurs in business, one of the biggest failures I see is a lack of self-leadership. Leadership in business starts with making good personal choices. For example, I often hear from aspiring entrepreneurs that “I had that idea first, and he stole it, and is now making money on my idea.”

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2017

Most often, these people are the ones who keep detailed task checklists, and get great satisfaction from crossing off each item as it is completed. These are the business professionals who have a natural default mode of starting immediately on every task, with the goal of finishing early for extra credit and extra satisfaction.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2017

They flocked to businesses like Apple, when influencer Steve Jobs was at the helm, and anxiously await the next moves from visible entrepreneurs, including Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. Entrepreneurs who are clearly willing to give as well as take in business become influencers because people feel the urge to reciprocate.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2018

We have all heard how messages change, when passed up or down the line, even without any politics or personal agendas. Market changes happen rapidly and regularly these days, requiring a realignment of skills, processes, and approaches to keep up. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 12/26/2017.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2017

Many business executives and entrepreneurs I know are convinced that business success is all about having the right solution for the right price. Start looking for what is right in a person or business situation, instead of looking for what is wrong. Takers can never get satisfaction, and they antagonize those around them.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2017

In my experience working with startups, the best approach these days is to find and use a good mentor (been there, done that). They detail the key action steps required, including the following: Agree on the objectives and vision up front (Mission). It starts with always telling the truth, staying connected, and being dependable.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2017

It only ramps up negativity, and is ego’s way to avoid self-reflection. We all have a human tendency, developed in our childhood, to make up stories which paint us as a victim rather than the problem. The personal preferences and ego of anyone in the company has little to do long-term business success and satisfaction.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2017

In some cases it may be fear of retribution by the boss, but more often they just hate to disappoint others, and end up instead with high stress and low credibility in the crisis to deliver. Be sure to follow-up as promised, to maintain your credibility. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 07/20/2017.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

In reality, business success and satisfaction is about doing the right things at the right time, which requires leadership and coaching. Trevor is a veteran coach who has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, organizations, and business families across the country. If their ears perk up, and they express interest, maybe there’s hope.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2017

You can’t get things done on time unless you get started on time. As a long-time business advisor and entrepreneur mentor, I see this problem all too often. The reality of running any business or startup is that there are always things you don’t enjoy doing, and it’s always tempting to focus more on items you have a passion for.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2019

With the current strong economy I’m seeing a continued resurgence of entrepreneurial spirit, and more startup activity than ever before. There is additional encouraging news for aspiring entrepreneurs on many fronts, just in case you are thinking about joining the existing ranks: Valuations of successful startups have hit an all-time high.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2018

With the current strong economy, and sparked by the last recession, I’m seeing a real resurgence of entrepreneurial spirit, and more startup activity than ever before. An unprecedented number of startups, almost 200 at last count, are now valued above $1 billion, according to a recent Forbes article.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2017

These have voracious appetites for new knowledge and self-development, and can inspire other team members to look outside the box for new levels of performance and satisfaction. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 04/11/2017. Life-long learners make great coaches. Inspiration is the best teacher.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 10, 2017

Let them go to find a better fit, with real job satisfaction. It is easier to move up in your career when you have members on your team who can smoothly transition into your role. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 06/19/2017. Don’t chase hearsay, rumors, or gossip. Taking no action hurts everyone.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2017

It seems like every day I hear from an aspiring entrepreneur who doesn’t know where to start, or doesn’t have the time or expertise for all the mechanics of starting a business based on their great idea. Marty: How does Gust Launch relate to your existing Gust online platform to connect investors to growing startups?

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2017

Starting and running a business is hard. I have found that the most successful entrepreneurs and business executives have an impressive work ethic, and they surround themselves with a team of comparable commitment. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 01/05/2017. Business is more about people than product.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Ironically, the most common desire I hear from entrepreneurs selling wholly online, is the need for their entry into retail, as the next step in their growth strategy. Many pundits are already talking about a “ retail apocalypse ” that has already started. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 11/10/2017.

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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. It’s a win-win situation for everyone in this new age of the entrepreneur.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2017

Every aspiring entrepreneur would love to be the next Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos, but most have no idea what really sets these guys apart from all the rest. In reality, most great entrepreneurs find these necessary, but not sufficient for the big win. Self-control beats passion for long term satisfaction.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2017

Many aspiring entrepreneurs are jealous of inventors, thinking that new inventions are the key to new ventures. In my experience advising startups, I have found that the invention is usually the easy part, and the hard part is turning the invention into a business. The best entrepreneurs wear their failures like badges of courage.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2017

In my role as an advisor to entrepreneurs and new businesses, I often get asked to critique an idea, but rarely get asked to comment on an implementation plan, or execution actions to date. In fact, most entrepreneurs tell me they learned more from people mistakes than successes. Execution trumps everything in a new business.

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