Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

In my own business career, many years as a business advisor, and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I have validated the following strategies to practice and guide you. A broken process or a subtle quality issue can generate a flood of customer satisfaction problems, cost overruns, and loss of market share.

Satisfaction

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 1, 2020

It goes without saying that if you find yourself in a really negative headspace PLEASE reach out to any trusted mentor, friend or family member. He asked for a few more weeks to gather market signals before enacting change. I imagine many of you are, too. I know that I shouldn’t have to say that, as it seems obvious. you should do it.

Demand

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2020

Freelancers and consultants have to demonstrate results, without training and mentoring, so they can help you more quickly and probably at a lower total cost. This lets you evolve your strategy with the market. Optimize staffing overhead and flexibility in a fluid market. Seek expert talent based on the stage of your expansion.

Competition

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2020

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I often feel the frustration of someone trying to build a startup in the wrong place and time, and wrongly attributing their struggle to personal limitations. You need partners, mentors, and investors who can complement your own resources to make it a win-win for all involved.

Resource

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. Another good online approach is a simple Internet search for articles like the “ The top 40 startup accelerators and incubators in North America in 2020 ” But don’t expect incubators to magically convert your pre-hatched idea into a successful company.

Resource

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2020

Also the same applies to dealing with the business elements, such as marketing, business operations, and finances. He invented BASIC and Windows, snagged Steve Ballmer for marketing, and Microsoft helped change the world. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 07/21/2020. You may need a partner on this one.

Ideas

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2020

In my experience as a business mentor, one of the biggest challenges I see is a failure to focus. Here are the key elements that I look for as an entrepreneur mentor, as indications of a top level of focus: Willing to share your personal story to build credibility. Demonstrate real knowledge of your market and competitors.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2020

As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I tend to see many of the same obstacles appearing in every new startup, and since I don’t want to appear to be a downer , I’m not sure how to properly warn people ahead of time to be on the alert for these challenges. Key markets come and go as social and political winds drift.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

An occasional discussion with a mentor won’t do it. Building a business requires funding – for inventory, marketing, and operations. The test – iterate and pivot, based on market feedback. Others call it pushing boundaries and rising to the challenges of the market and competitors.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2020

As a startup mentor and advisor, I often contemplate what makes the difference between winners and losers. I’m convinced that it’s a lot more than the foibles of any specific market, availability of funding, and just luck of the draw. The best business people are also the best mentors and coaches.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Avoid fuzzy goals, like making big money or being a market leader. The market changes quickly these days, so the slower you move, the more likely that changes will be required in your plan, and that competitors will pass you by. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 09/17/2020. Celebrate your successes.

Writing

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

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. In addition, you can reduce to soft costs of mentoring, relationship building, and socializing.

Outsource

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

His challenge is to focus on one market, with a specific design, cost, and price. Bill was initially the idea person and technologist, while Steve had the business and marketing experience from Proctor & Gamble to close the business equation. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 02/17/2020.

Ideas

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 16, 2020

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that many of you have your most creative ideas for your company’s first big bang , but often get bogged down with details as the company grows. Only when he had a proven solution did he market it. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 12/01/2020.

Company

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2020

These are the timeless principles that must guide all hiring, marketing, and execution decisions. These will almost always be related to sales and marketing, since they must tie back to cash flow. Increase you focus on coaching, training, and mentoring. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 06/26/2020.

Metrics

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

Strategic threats, including new competitors, market changes, and environmental issues need deeper analysis and full resolution, before they jeopardize your business survival. These days, the market is moving so fast that it is rarely adequate to rely only on internal development to keep up with change.

Technical Review

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2020

As a mentor to business owners, I still see many praying for the day when things stabilize, their processes are working, and they can relax and enjoy business growth. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 04/22/2020. As Andy Grove famously wrote, “Only the paranoid survive.”

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2020

Mentors and advocates will keep you focused and positive, and will develop your ability to speak to investors and customers with authenticity, credibility and confidence. Assimilate a team with the range of skills you need in your business, including development, operations, and marketing. Try that mindset next time!

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

Partially due to the economy, but also due to longer, healthier lives and changes in job tenure, 60% of working Boomers are now expected to stay in the labor force, with real power and influence, for at least seven more years, to 2020. percent to 23.4 percent last year. 5%), but still remains higher than the native-born rate.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2012

Partially due to the economy, but also due to longer, healthier lives and changes in job tenure, 62% of working Boomers are now expected to stay in the labor force, with real power and influence, for at least nine more years, to 2020. One new incentive is the falling transaction costs and barriers to entry for entrepreneurs of every age.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2020

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. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 06/27/2020.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

In my business of mentoring new entrepreneurs and advising small company owners, I recognize that most don’t start as experienced leaders, and most don’t realize that people leadership is a primary key to their future success. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 02/04/2020. Don’t be afraid to demonstrate your vulnerability.

Development

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2011

Partially due to the economy, but also due to longer, healthier lives and changes in job tenure, 62% of working Boomers are now expected to stay in the labor force, with real power and influence, for at least nine more years, to 2020. One new incentive is the falling transaction costs and barriers to entry for entrepreneurs of every age.

Technical Review

Xconomy

OCTOBER 12, 2016

billion , according to ArcView Market Research. By 2020, the cannabis industry is projected to hit $21.8 It’s a cash crop,” Tapman said, referring to an agricultural crop that is easily marketable, and grown more for its commercial value. billion in 2015—a number estimated to grow by 25 percent this year to $6.7

San Diego

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 23, 2015

Fred has of course been a public mentor to us all with his market-defining terminology that he popularized including “freemium” and “mobile first.” What you may not know is that Fred has been a behind-the-scenes mentor to many of the newer VCs in the industry including myself. That always stuck with me.

Venture Capital

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2020

Harry was gracious enough to invite me back so this past week we recorded an episode discussing the current market environment. Nobody will be immune because in a bull market executives are paid to “innovate” so they sign software contracts and run projects. If you’re a clear “market winner” like Stripe, Robinhood or Airbnb.

Venture Capital