Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

One of the reasons that now is the time to be an entrepreneur is the explosion of startup assistance organizations, usually called incubators or accelerators. Most of these are non-profits, set up by a university to commercialize new technologies, or a municipality to foster business development for the local economy.

Organization

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2023

Most new business owners I know feel the challenges of not enough time, money, and resources, and see these as problems rather than a competitive advantage. Many are quick to call this innovation, but I believe it is often just the resourcefulness of a highly motivated owner and team, who never give up in the face of a survival challenge.

Resource

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2023

I’m sure you can imagine how much that impacts any business or startup’s ability to react to changing customer needs and growth opportunities, no matter how insightful their leaders. Listen to everyone's input, encourage people to speak up, and repeat back what you have heard. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 3/25/2023

Coach

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 26, 2023

These disruptive technologies also have the potential for exposing your business to new competitors, including a wealth of startups that can jeopardize your core business, and redefine the marketplace. The result can be a host of new competitive and price challenges which can stall growth or require excessive resources and time.

Product

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Most experts agree that the pace of business change is increasing , and all the business owners I know are struggling to keep up, much less surpass the wealth of global competitors now entering the market. Highlight the competitive edge you bring to the market. Use test marketing to identify changes before scale-up.

Marketing

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2023

How well you handle uncertainties by climbing over your hurdles and standing back up after a fall is what will determine your ability to win in the long run. You become the winner when you outwit your competition. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 1/12/2023 Learn things from every setback, no matter how small.

Satisfaction

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2023

New and old entrepreneurs submitted over five million startup business applications in 2021 and again in 2022, making these the most popular years on record , according to data released by the U.S. For decades, companies have restricted current and former employees from working for competitors, for up to two years after employment ends.

Layoffs

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

Every business I know has teams, some working collaboratively to great advantage, while others sadly operating as collections of individuals who work alone, often in competition with each other. Then revisit these agreements as part of a regularly scheduled relationship maintenance check-up. Behave consistent with shared expectations.

Resource

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2023

I have found that the ability to make effective decisions is a key starting point, and a tough one to learn. Eliminate any potential penalty for disagreement and speaking up. People expect leaders to step up and take charge of driving a decision to closure, especially during crises.

Help

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2023

These start with your brand image, search visibility and process, and extend to the actual sales transaction. Look for more ways to demonstrate a competitive advantage, and partner with complementary organizations if you need strength in manufacturing, distribution, or customer support. Seek to dominate your market over competitors.

Custom

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

In my experience advising businesses, large and small, I have often been surprised by the level of complacency and general malaise I find in the ranks, with a resultant direct loss of productivity and competitiveness. Put away permanently your “suck it up” voice. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 1/18/2023

Satisfaction

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 9, 2023

For example, if you are an entrepreneur seeking investment or a cofounder, there is no substitute for networking at industry and startup conferences in your area. People who show fear or trepidation find it hard to get the respect and trust they need to hold up their side of any relationship. I recommend treating all people as equals.

Networking

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2023

I recommend you start with team building activities to strengthen trust and communicate the objectives to everyone on a regular basis. True cultural change starts when behavioral change begins to take root. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 2/3/2023 Use personal relationships to test buy-in.

Organization

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2023

In these most competitive times, I am discouraged to see that employee engagement at work, both remotely and in the office, is at an all-time low and dropping. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 06/11/2023 Many business leaders are now proclaiming their company support to a higher purpose to facilitate this initiative.

Custom

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 4, 2023

In the wake of recent struggles , the people you need and want are looking for a new human focus from their leaders and managers in today’s chaotic and competitive labor market. Recognition starts with a simple ‘thank you’ or ‘well done’ from you or a peer. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 05/21/2023

Help

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2023

Every business organization, large or small, has a variety of individual and team member types that factor into your ability to innovate and change the business to meet evolving customer needs and competition. As a result, these people often end up disheartened. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 04/26/2023

Coach

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2023

They are rightly thinking about a strategy to be better prepared for future challenges , recognizing that more are coming in this age of accelerating change and global competition. I’m always on the lookout for more practical insights and guidance to get started. Start by creating and sharing the big picture.

Training

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2023

Thus they are blindsided and try to react quickly when a new competitor starts stealing customers. I see this happening in smaller ways often, where there is minimal focus on competition. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 07/11/2023 The result is constant stress and losing ground.

Metrics

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2023

We all know that engaged employees are necessary but not sufficient to maximize growth and survive in this world of global competition and constant change. Start today to adapt to this change, recognizing that you are already late. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 07/06/2023

Coach

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2023

We all have our favorite metric and our passion, but keeping up with real-world changes and trends seems to be always just out of reach. Key strategic factors for every business should include profits, growth, and competition. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 08/02/2023

Metrics

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

Something happened in the past 7 years in the startup and venture capital world that I hadn’t experienced since the late 90’s — we all began praying to the God of Valuation. How might our next phase of the journey seem brighter, even with more uncertain days for startups and capital markets? What happened? There was no money train.

Venture Capital

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 31, 2022

Despite that apparent hunger, two scooter operators – Lyft and Spin – recently exited the Los Angeles area, blaming a lack of favorable regulations and too much competition, which apparently made it difficult to turn a profit. They muck up the air , driving climate change and health issues alike. In 2021, over 1.2 million car trips.

Los Angeles