Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

While these investors, and early customers, will always argue that they found you, I’m convinced that there is no substitute for aggressive networking on your part. Ability to relate aspirations to customer needs. You need to show insights to real customers and their needs, that get beyond your passions and projections.

Startup 113

Startup Customer Custom Technical Review 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2023

Customers have come to expect disruptive change, so yet another social network is not the way to get traction. That’s why the classic book, “ The Leader’s Mindset: How to Win In The Age Of Disruption ,” resonated strongly with me. Take a hard look at SpaceX or HyperLoop. Develop a learn-fast mindset to seek the latest and the future.

Entrepreneur 118

Entrepreneur Startup Social Network SpaceX 118

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2022

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. So for those of you that love checklists, I saw some real value in the classic book by James M. I wish it was that easy. Cloud Computing. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

Technology 133

Technology Cloud Computing Social Media Networking 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2014

In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business. There is more and more evidence that a more human-centered or heart-centered leadership yields the best results with your team and with customers in the long run.

Demand 92

Demand Entrepreneur Startup Training 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2023

In my experience as a mentor, I find that keeping creative thinking in the balance is a challenge for every startup, due to the natural employee tendency to resist change. Sales people tend to remember the latest product when selling to clients, not the one best for that customer. Not always to good effect. Failure to learn.

Marketing 119

Marketing Metrics Demand Statistics 119

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

Almost every entrepreneur and new business owner I mentor is certain that his/her idea has a very high probability of success, and all find it hard to believe that ninety percent of startups ultimately fail. Look for validation from your mainstream customers. Even non-profits need income to run a business.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

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. Direct customer-facing non-technical roles should be the last ones outsourced.

Outsource 123

Outsource Startup Technical Review Training 123

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2023

I’ve also struggled trying to define the characteristics that set these bosses apart, so I was impressed with the classic book, “ Superbosses ,” by Dartmouth professor and consultant Sydney Finkelstein. They mentor protégés on talent spotting, creativity, and motivation as well as strategy.

Oracle 94

Oracle Organization Examples Coach 94

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2023

Yet I find in my mentoring practice that more and more team members prefer the human-centered approach and respond with more engagement and commitment. Start by getting people comfortable with what they don’t know, showing them you are open to new ideas, and don’t demand perfection in all deliverables.

Case Study 112

Case Study Study Startup Examples 112

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2021

As a business mentor, I sometimes feel besieged by people begging for my view and support of their latest idea. There are lots of resources available for that question, including the Internet and mentors like me. Ask some potential customers to see if there is real interest, and start thinking about price versus cost.

Ideas 136

Ideas Entrepreneur Mentor Resource 136

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

Customers have come to expect disruptive change, so yet another social network is not the way to get traction. That’s why the classic book, “ The Leader’s Mindset: How to Win In The Age Of Disruption ,” resonated strongly with me. Take a hard look at SpaceX or HyperLoop. Develop a learn-fast mindset to seek the latest and the future.

Entrepreneur 143

Entrepreneur Social Network SpaceX Ideas 143

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2022

You won’t often find that recommended by consultants, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the key points highlighted in a new book, “ Self-Made Boss ,” by Jackie Reses and Lauren Weinberg. But the more you get involved with mentoring and training, the less time you have to enjoy the creative process.

Satisfaction 92

Satisfaction Training Customer Custom 92

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2020

In my experience as a mentor, I find that keeping creative thinking in the balance is a challenge for every startup, due to the natural employee tendency to resist change. Sales people tend to remember the latest product when selling to clients, not the one best for that customer. Not always to good effect. Failure to learn.

Metrics 157

Metrics Demand Statistics Sales 157

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

He had an idea for a startup that would help consumers better book service jobs and would take on Service Magic, which he believed had a business model that could be disrupted. I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan. When Ethan was considering leaving Google we talked about it. The company was called Red Beacon.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 30, 2022

Thus I was pleased to see the same conclusion in a new book, “ CEO Excellence ,” by Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra, each a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. My own conclusion, after years of experience and consulting, is that leadership is largely about mindset. Keep the teams strong.

Template 109

Template Demand Social Media Summary 109

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2019

In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business. There is more and more evidence that a more human-centered or heart-centered leadership yields the best results with your team and with customers in the long run.

Training 123

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2022

I recently found a wealth of practical guidance on how to build a perseverance mindset and use it to overcome adversity, break through barriers, and keep moving forward to success, in a new book, “ Win When They Say You Won’t ,” by Daphne Jones. The business world today is very competitive, and customers are more and more demanding.

Startup 122

Startup Satisfaction Summary Coach 122

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2019

Steve Blank via Flickr by jdlasica I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. Great businesses begin with a customer problem that has a big and monetizable pain point.

Startup 98

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 98

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

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. My simple answer is that they keep their focus on customers, rather than technology. Jeff Bezos has kept his focus on customers.

Marketing 123

Marketing Technical Review Customer Custom 123

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2022

This is a tough challenge for every coach and mentor. I’ve never had a definitive list of recommendations to overcome these qualms, so I was pleased to see the insights in a new book, “ Arrive and Thrive ,” by Susan MacKenty Brady, Janet Foutty, and Lynn Perry Wooten.

Entrepreneur 90

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Coach Mentor 90

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 4, 2020

I’ve also struggled trying to define the characteristics that set these bosses apart, so I was impressed with the classic book, “ Superbosses ,” by Dartmouth professor and consultant Sydney Finkelstein. They mentor protégés on talent spotting, creativity, and motivation as well as strategy.

Oracle 124

Oracle Organization Examples Coach 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In the short term you need customers to find you at any price, and in the longer term you need revenue, profit, and return loyalty. Based on my own experience in both large and small companies, I agree it can be done, with the essential principles outlined in a new book, “ Winning Now, Winning Later ,” by David M.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2019

In addition, today’s customers judge a company by perceived people relationships through social media, phone conversations, and sales experiences. That’s why I was pleased to see the balance on people versus process in a classic book on how to fix your organization, “ The Diamond Process ,” by Mike J Diamond and Christopher R Harding.

Coach 94

Coach Organization Mentor Startup 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

In his recent book “ Invent, Reinvent, Thrive ,” Lloyd E. Here are the key recommendations from both of us, based on my own business mentoring insights: Re-launch using your enhanced core competency. Seek out customer trends before they become an avalanche. Find mentors who have the skills you lack.

Technical Review 99

Technical Review Marketing Mentor Entrepreneur 99

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2015

I’ve often wondered if anyone has quantified the implied assumption that leadership character is indeed a critical element of the success equation for startups, so I was pleased to see a new book “ Return On Character ,” by Fred Kiel, a renowned leadership consultant. Find and enjoy the company of one or more mentors.

Mentor 104

Mentor Ideas Entrepreneur Study 104

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2018

Sometimes entrepreneurs are so focused on making change happen for customers that they forget that continually changing themselves and their company is equally important. In his classic book “ Invent, Reinvent, Thrive ,” Lloyd E. Seek out customer trends before they become an avalanche. Find mentors who have the skills you lack.

Technical Review 59

Technical Review Mentor Entrepreneur Customer 59

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2014

I just finished a new book “ Invent, Reinvent, Thrive ,” by Lloyd E. Here is a summary of recommendations from both of us, based on my own business mentoring insights: Re-launch using your enhanced core competency. Seek out customer trends before they become an avalanche. Find mentors who have the skills you lack.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor Summary 105

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2019

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. So for those of you that love checklists, I saw some real value in the classic book by James M. I wish it was that easy. Cloud Computing. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

Technology 86

Technology Cloud Computing Social Media Networking 86

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. I just completed a new book, “ The Self-Evolved Leader ,” by Dave McKeown.

Develop 124

Develop Development Technical Advisors Satisfaction 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2013

As a guide, I enjoyed the analysis of Eric Chester, in his book “ Reviving Work Ethic ,” which provides a leader’s guide to ending entitlement and restoring pride in the emerging workforce. It extends directly to your customers through dependable products and services. It isn’t a value that only benefits the employer and customers.

Startup 106

Startup Guide Organization Mentor 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2014

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. I found their five phases of the process to be compelling, based on my own years of experience mentoring startups: Nail the pain.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Customer 113

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2018

Customers have come to expect disruptive change, so yet another social network is not the way to get traction. That’s why the book, “ The Leader’s Mindset: How to Win In The Age Of Disruption ,” resonated strongly with me. Take a hard look at SpaceX or HyperLoop. Develop a learn-fast mindset to seek the latest and the future.

Entrepreneur 86

Entrepreneur Social Network SpaceX Ideas 86

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2017

In addition, today’s customers judge a company by perceived people relationships through social media, phone conversations, and sales experiences. That’s why I was pleased to see the balance on people versus process in a new book on how to fix your organization, “ The Diamond Process ,” by Mike J Diamond and Christopher R Harding.

Entrepreneur 78

Entrepreneur Coach Organization Mentor 78

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2017

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. I found their five phases of the process to be compelling, based on my own years of experience mentoring startups: Nail the pain.

Startup 64

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 64

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2016

I’ve often wondered if anyone has quantified the implied assumption that leadership character is indeed a critical element of the success equation for startups, so I was pleased to see a recent book “ Return On Character ,” by Fred Kiel, a renowned leadership consultant. Find and enjoy the company of one or more mentors.

Mentor 55

Mentor Ideas Entrepreneur Study 55

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2018

The facts, as well as what motivates your peers, customers, and business leaders are changing daily. The question is how we develop our future role and potential, while satisfying all the business and personal demands on our time today. You need a plan on how to train yourself, or be mentored, for each step along the way.

Examples 85

Examples Social Media Competition Guide 85

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2012

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. I found their five phases of the process to be compelling, based on my own years of experience mentoring startups: Nail the pain.

Startup 118

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 118