Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2021

While I do agree that many attributes of a good entrepreneur, such as curiosity, confidence and determination, are largely determined by early-life experiences, a good education is critical in understanding the elements of creating a business and wooing customers. Don’t forget business writing and communication.

Entrepreneur 149

Entrepreneur Tips Writing Coach 149

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

I’m over-paying for every check I write into the VC ecosystem and valuations are being pushed up to absurd levels and many of these valuations and companies won’t hold in the long term. We can’t wait for customers to use the product for 12–18 months and do customer interviews or look at purchase cohorts. Are we in a bubble?”

Venture Capital 471

Venture Capital Writing Invest Pricing 471

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2020

Obviously, it’s not that simple, but making the right first impression is critical for an entrepreneur, not just with investors, but also with partners, customers, and even yourself. Able to balance right-brain and left-brain activities. Investors and strategic partners look for entrepreneurs who can execute.

Startup 171

Startup Entrepreneur Activity Ideas 171

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2023

Yet from my own years of experience in the startup community, here are ten common steps that have worked for other entrepreneurs: Write a "job description" for that ideal partner. Take a hard look at your own business strengths and weaknesses, and write down what partner skills and experiences would best complement yours.

Startup 99

Startup High Tech Entrepreneur Writing 99

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2022

Most business advisors I know will say that writing a business plan is the first step to starting your own business, but I believe that a better first step is to do a self-analysis of your real drivers, strengths, and assumptions before committing to this lifestyle. Check your tolerance for risk, uncertainty, and change.

Social Media 105

Social Media Writing Ideas Resource 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2023

I was most impressed with the steps he outlined for turning ideas into goals into results, which I paraphrase here for aspiring entrepreneurs: Write down your goals or your dreams. Writing something down is the first step toward moving forward and making it real. List items to achieve the goal, and network now.

Writing 92

Writing Ideas Startup Entrepreneur 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2023

Obviously, it’s not that simple, but making the right first impression is critical for an entrepreneur, not just with investors, but also with partners, customers, and even yourself. Able to balance right-brain and left-brain activities. Investors and strategic partners look for entrepreneurs who can execute.

Entrepreneur 70

Entrepreneur Startup Activity Ideas 70

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

The challenge is to adequately define leadership in terms of everyday activities. Thus I’m always looking for more practical guidance on the right activities to be perceived as a business leader. These authors bring a wealth of experience in this domain from their workshops, writing, and lecturing on business leadership worldwide.

Startup 133

Startup Activity Mentor Writing 133

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 29, 2023

It’s hard to convert an idea into a business, and it’s also hard to get back into the groove with all the distractions of other activities and your “real job.” Frequent discussions with peers and customers on open questions will keep you from being led astray by your own biases. Getting started is always a challenge.

Startup 109

Startup Writing Blogging Ideas 109

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

I was most impressed with the steps he outlined for turning ideas into goals into results, which I paraphrase here for aspiring entrepreneurs: Write down your goals or your dreams. Writing something down is the first step toward moving forward and making it real. List items to achieve the goal, and network now.

Ideas 121

Ideas Writing Startup Entrepreneur 121

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2021

Yet from my own years of experience in the startup community, here are ten common steps that have worked for other entrepreneurs: Write a "job description" for that ideal partner. Take a hard look at your own business strengths and weaknesses, and write down what partner skills and experiences would best complement yours.

Startup 126

Startup High Tech Entrepreneur Writing 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2020

It’s hard to convert an idea into a business, and it’s also hard to get back into the groove with all the distractions of other activities and your “real job.” Frequent discussions with peers and customers on open questions will keep you from being led astray by your own biases. Getting started is always a challenge.

Startup 173

Startup Writing Blogging Ideas 173

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2013

The point of PUCCKA was to develop a common methodology to make sure our whole team approaches sales with the same mindset and to give us a language to talk with each other about our prospects, as in, “have you identified your customers pain point yet?”. The goal is to get the customer speaking about their organization.

Sales 367

Sales Slides Startup Customer 367

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

In fact, customers today also seem more attracted to companies with a higher purpose than profit. For most people, a truly fulfilled life means active pursuit and high engagement in pursuing your own goals. Before you start your business, think hard about your vision for fulfillment, and write it down.

Satisfaction 173

Satisfaction Mentor Coach Entrepreneur 173

InfoChachkie

MARCH 20, 2012

Be An Active Listener. He encourages entrepreneurs to be active listeners by, "Listening to hear, versus listening to get your damn opinion in. On the playing field is talking to customers. "I hear so many people say, ‘I’m going to write this plan and its going to go as planned.’ Seth agrees.

Tool 272

Tool Startup Writing Santa Barbara 272

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2023

Successful entrepreneurs often start with a “random” idea, but they quickly focus their efforts and follow a “system” to organize their startup and maximize the clout of their activities. If you can’t write it down, you probably don’t understand it. Today you need to talk with, not at, your customers and constituents to get ideas.

Social Media 94

Social Media Media Ideas Writing 94

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 5, 2019

With the sudden death of its founder, Gerald Cotton, customers are owed an estimated $190 million due to a missing password only he knew. A huge amount of cryptocurrency is believed to be stored on a device that is now inaccessible, leaving customers in the dark as to what has happened to their funds. Earlier Troubles for QuadrigaCX.

News 159

News Customer Custom Commerce 159

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2014

Yesterday I wrote a post about The Silent Benefits of PR in which I pointed out that most young companies I encounter don’t fully grasp the benefits of PR because they are less measurable than product milestones or customer acquisition analyses (like CAC/LTV). I have no money? There is a lot you can do without spending money.

Press 319

Press Startup Writing Training 319

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2019

As with many startup activities, you only have one chance for a great first impression. You can jump into social media with a poor brand definition, poorly focused content, unrealistic expectations of customer service, or be killed by malware or viruses. Communication and writing skills are required.

Social Media 79

Social Media Media Invest Platform 79

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2021

Your brain has leveled all events and activities into a desert of sand dunes, where just getting from one to another is a struggle, and there is nothing new to see over the next hill. Let me assure you, every startup faces more challenges than any other business – unproven product, new processes, new management, and unpredictable customers.

Startup 129

Startup Mentor Satisfaction Writing 129

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 28, 2018

While I do agree that many attributes of a good entrepreneur, such as curiosity, confidence and determination, are largely determined by early-life experiences, a good education is critical in understanding the elements of creating a business and wooing customers. Don’t forget business writing and communication.

Startup 97

Startup Writing Coach Incubator 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2021

You need to have business relationships with team members, investors, customers, and a myriad of other support people. If you are active in helping others with what you know, they will be much more open to help you when you need it. They never call, they never write, and wait for you to make the first move.

Entrepreneur 140

Entrepreneur Startup Social Network Mentor 140

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2018

Obviously, it’s not that simple, but making the right first impression is critical for an entrepreneur, not just with investors, but also with partners, customers, and even yourself. Able to balance right-brain and left-brain activities. Investors and strategic partners look for entrepreneurs who can execute.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Startup Activity Ideas 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 14, 2018

Whenever you write your deck and send it out I think you should actually think to yourself, “my competitors are probably going to read this one day and this will be forwarded widely” and if your response isn’t “so what!” What should not be in your deck? Competition isn’t won or lost by your marketing decks?—?it’s

Funding 239

Funding Venture Capital IP Email 239

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 18, 2011

Having paying “Customers” is what makes the cash register roar. An entrepreneur having low self worth is the number one deterrent for a potential customer not buying into what you are selling. Using your service or owning your product isn’t why a person buys, it’s the experience your customer will have. Second, how to get leads.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Marketing SEO 85

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2023

Here is my edited summary of their ten principles, which I like and may convince you that you don’t need a business plan at all, or at the very least will help you write a better one later: A new venture is a means, not an end. You will never remove all uncertainties, so accept them, and plan your activities in an incremental fashion.

Startup 142

Startup Capital Resource Research 142

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2019

Based on my own experience in business over the years, and current coaching efforts, I recommend a focus on the following strategies and attributes: Make your customer the center of everything you do. Customers need to believe that you have their interests at heart. Take an active role in a higher cause or social reform.

Customer 93

Customer Custom IBM IBM 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2022

He writes from first-hand experience, and is now a recognized business leader, motivational speaker, and mentor to many entrepreneurs. My recommendation is to actively seek success alternatives from peers and mentors, and following their lead. You avoid making plans too far in advance.

Mentor 134

Mentor Slides .Net Writing 134

socalTECH

JUNE 8, 2011

But, with the economy turning south in 2008, lots of those customers went out of business. In the meantime, Groupon came along, and our media customers started to lose advertising. We realized that no one had built a Groupon-like platform, so we built one because our customer asked for it. That's where Deal Current was born.

Platform 263

Platform Training Software Review Advertising 263

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2013

Talking about how to inspire moms to get their children engaged with iPads and physical activity sets customized for their kids and based in part on their digital lives. She helps write press releases. When you think about physical stickers and activity books every parent can understand. Showing me designs.

Startup 398

Startup Design Downey Activity 398

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2021

Unfortunately the comments you don’t hear from customers, business partners, and peer leaders are the ones that do you the most damage. Don’t assume that team members and customers have the same familiarity with technical abbreviations that you do. Too much dependence on lingo and jargon. People do not agree, and ignore the message.

Social Media 101

Social Media Examples Satisfaction Media 101

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2020

Successful entrepreneurs often start with a “random” idea, but they quickly focus their efforts and follow a “system” to organize their startup and maximize the clout of their activities. If you can’t write it down, you probably don’t understand it. Today you need to talk with, not at, your customers and constituents to get ideas.

Social Media 126

Social Media Media Ideas Writing 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2021

In a two-minute video clip, you can introduce yourself, show your passion and the engaging personality you need to win over customers, partners, and employees. Disciplining yourself to write down the plan is actually the best way to make sure you actually understand it yourself. Executive summary glossy. Written business plan.

Entrepreneur 156

Entrepreneur Tips Funding Startup 156

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2016

While I do agree that many attributes of a good entrepreneur, such as curiosity, confidence and determination, are largely determined by early-life experiences, a good education is critical in understanding the elements of creating a business and wooing customers. Don’t forget business writing and communication.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Tips Writing Coach 98

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2014

If you’re an early investor like I am that often means writing the first $2-3 million check into a business that previously had either survived on fumes or on a $500,000 angel round. But you do need to find a way to do activities that are more scalable. You can do them all yourself, of course. But at what cost?

Startup 381

Startup Resource Venture Capital Activity 381

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2019

It’s no secret that the rate of failure of new business startups may be a high as ninety percent , so we all need all the help we can get, validating the opportunity, clearly positioning against competitors, projecting financials, and planning all the necessary marketing and operating activities. Make it light, but factual.

Ideas 126

Ideas Slides Sample Examples 126

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 26, 2021

Write down your top 5 core values and review them often. Since business is generally not rocket science, relationships with peers, partners, and customers are often more important than skills. Define a clear break between work and private activities.

Coach 137

Coach Training Satisfaction Mentor 137