Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I challenge them to think beyond what I call linear extensions to a current trend, such as another “easier-to-use” app for smartphones, a new dating site for pets, or another niche social network. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 11/15/2019.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2019

Most people agree that leadership is primarily a set of behaviors that capitalize on relationships and a current market and customer understanding in a complex world. You need their commitment, feedback, and continued support as the market changes. Marty Zwilling First published on CayenneConsulting on 05/09/2019.

Tips

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2019

Yet in today’s competitive and rapidly changing world, top notch sales and marketing skills are critical to the success of every business. Thus, in my view, it’s never too early to brush up on your selling and marketing skills. Even the most successful business executives have mentoring relationships with helpful peers.

Mentor

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2019

Unfortunately, many aspiring leaders I mentor are not aware of the signals people are looking for, or are not attuned to the subtleties of their own actions. For example, measuring marketing team members on sales leads may not get you the revenue growth or trust you expected. Show humility while acting as a mentor and coach.

Mentor

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Previously we had to bring companies from all around the world to our 8 week accelerator program in Santa Monica and we were restricted by having to use local investors, trainers and mentors to keep our startups occupied. This is my 4th market upset and in the first three I was defensive. In 2018 & 2019 Expert DOJO made 42 investments.

Southern California

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2019

If I suggest your technology needs validation in the market before scaling, it’s fair to ask how long and how expensive that test could be. Even industry titans like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have mentors and advisors, and they use them often to search for blind spots in their own thinking.

Technical Review

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2019

Both good coaches and good businesses are strong enough to change course quickly as the needs change and the market changes. People often ask me about the difference between coaching and mentoring. Marty Zwilling First published on CayenneConsulting on 07/11/2019. A coaching culture thrives on agility and resilience.

Coach

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2019

Image via Pixabay Everyone has heard about the big potential for using artificial intelligence (AI) to expand your business, but many of the small businesses I mentor are still wary of embracing it, because they don’t understand how it works, and fear losing control and unintended consequences.

Artificial Inteligence

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 7, 2019

In my role as a mentor to many business professionals, I still see some who have no idea how to adapt to the new realities. Market your business expertise. In today’s gig economy, your professional reputation, references, and your ability to market yourself are the keys to success.

Artificial Inteligence

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 28, 2019

Thus a key skill and focus for every aspiring entrepreneur is the ability to collaborate with others who have the complementary skills in delivering the many decisions required in business, including marketing, financial, operations, and support. It has to be easily used, personalized, marketed, and supported.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

There are lots of resources available for the challenge of that activity, including the Internet and mentors like me. Prepare your marketing story for customers and investors. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 10/21/2019. Just because you think it’s a great idea doesn’t mean there is a business opportunity.

Ideas

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2019

Image via Pixabay As a mentor to many small business owners, I always caution them that you can never relax completely, just because your initial solution or product set appears to be getting traction, and the market buzz is positive. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 04/15/2019.

Metrics

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2019

These are win-win arrangements leading to continuous innovation, early access to new markets, and a higher return. Bill Gates , for example, shared a common curiosity and mentoring relationship with Warren Buffet, although their business domains were quite different. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 09/27/2019.

IBM

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2019

Steve Jobs had many faults, but he was perhaps best known for his marketing slogan “ Think Different ” and his commitment to a vision of new and better products, inspiring consumers to demand products and services they never even knew they needed. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 10/16/2019.

Course

Tech.Co

MARCH 1, 2018

The event is open to tech enthusiasts who want to join an event filled with some of the top leaders, investors and mentors from tech industry to network, find mentors and build their companies. The Mentor Method (Washington, D.C.). AdWallet (Albuquerque, NM). What if you could earn money to watch ads instead of avoiding them?

Startup

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

How might our next phase of the journey seem brighter, even with more uncertain days for startups and capital markets? And then in the late 90’s money crept in, swept in to town by public markets, instant wealth and an absurd sky-rocketing of valuations based on no reasonable metrics. What happened? People were building.

Venture Capital

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

Every new business dreams of growing from a startup to a global market leader in a few years, like Amazon.com, but that goal is elusive. As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often get asked for the magic that has made Amazon the world's most valuable brand , from a total unknown only twenty years ago.

Marketing

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2019

Owners realize that customers and the market change rapidly these days, and innovative change is necessary to keep ahead of competition and survive. They see top performers as employees who are the glue that makes this happen, by mentoring new employees, recommending improvements, and jumping in where help is needed.

Technical Advisors