Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2022

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. The next thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work.

Social Media

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2020

In my view, starting a new business has never been easier, and according to reports from the Kauffman Foundation , the numbers are here to show it. Who would not want to join the unicorns (recent startups with a current valuation of over $1 billion)? Establishing your brand with interactive social media.

Tips

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

Our interview today is with Amos Schwartzfarb , the author of Sell More Faster: The Ultimate Sales Playbook for Start-Ups , which comes out tomorrow, Wednesday. We caught up with Amos to learn about his new book, and to gain some tips for startup entrepreneurs on how to figure out when you're actually ready to scale your sales team.

Sales

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2016

It is a hugely compelling show because Zakaria covers world issues that will affect all of us in ways that are accessible and with frameworks for processing disparate information. He brings knowledgable experts from varying points of view but never books anybody that engages in yelling matches.

Coach

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2020

If you are seriously looking to start the next billion-dollar startup, you need to get beyond the realm of enhancing a current solution. But we all know that these are not solutions by themselves, but require integration into an innovative framework to solve real customer problems. Be forever curious and optimistic.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

I see entrepreneurs every day who are trying to change the world with a new idea, and startups that are trying to survive their hyper-growth phase by changing processes to meet demand. Phil Buckley, in his book “ Change With Confidence ,” provides practical answers to fifty of the biggest questions that keep change leaders up at night.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

Even young people who start out wanting to be different are called “freaks,” and most are slowly bent back into the norm by the time they “grow up.” I suspect that there are really a lot of “grown-up closet freaks” out there who could be great entrepreneurs. Start working on your weaknesses.

Framework

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2022

In this context, it’s time for every business, not only startups, to take a fresh look at the basics of business success. Once you have a proven business model, you need to scale the business up quickly to stay ahead of competitors. Every startup needs a sustainable competitive advantage. If you want to be feared.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2015

Starting a new business is a serious undertaking. As an entrepreneur, you need to start early to implement the discipline and business practices that will lead to success. Even though everyone has an opinion on good early stage practices, I was impressed with the actionable blueprint in a recent book by Scott Duffy, “ Launch!

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2013

I see entrepreneurs every day who are trying to change the world with a new idea, and startups that are trying to survive their hyper-growth phase by changing processes to meet demand. Phil Buckley, in his new book “ Change With Confidence ,” provides practical answer to fifty of the biggest questions that keep change leaders up at night.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2013

In 2012, total entrepreneurial activity in the United States hit its highest level since their survey started in 1999, according to Babson College. In this context, it’s time for every business, not only startups, to take a fresh look at the basics of business success. Every startup needs a sustainable competitive advantage.

Startup

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 29, 2012

We spent a bunch of time in the video talking about “disruption” as described by Clay Christensen in his seminal book, “The Innovator’s Dilemman” which I profiled here. 22:00 Mark’s book recommendation: American Pastoral by Philip Roth. I agree with him.

Rustic Canyon

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 24, 2019

Even young people who start out wanting to be different are called “freaks,” and most are slowly bent back into the norm by the time they “grow up.” I suspect that there are really a lot of “grown-up closet freaks” out there who could be great entrepreneurs. Start working on your weaknesses.

Framework

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

There is no substitute for diving into the key details of a new startup. These executives won’t survive long in a startup environment. A diligent entrepreneur should certainly work the important details for his or her startup, especially when it comes to assessing any negative fluctuations in the business.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2014

Even young people who start out wanting to be different are called “freaks,” and most are slowly bent back into the norm by the time they “grow up.” I suspect that there are really a lot of “grown-up closet freaks” out there who could be great entrepreneurs. Start working on your weaknesses.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2019

Starting a new business is a serious undertaking. As an entrepreneur, you need to start early to implement the discipline and business practices that will lead to success. Even though everyone has an opinion on good early stage practices, I was impressed with the actionable blueprint in the classic book by Scott Duffy, “ Launch!

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 23, 2020

I remember the classic book, “ The Three-Box Solution: A Strategy for Leading Innovation ,” by Vijay Govindarajan, one of the world’s leading experts on strategy and innovation. Govindarajan recommends a simple and practical “three box” framework for allocating time, energy, and behaviors in the proper balance to foster continuous innovation.

Tips

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2015

Even young people who start out wanting to be different are called “freaks,” and most are slowly bent back into the norm by the time they “grow up.” I suspect that there are really a lot of “grown-up closet freaks” out there who could be great entrepreneurs. Start working on your weaknesses.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2021

My perspective on this role is outlined in the classic book “ Rapid Realignment ,” by the experts in this space, George Labovitz and Victor Rosansky. The basic alignment framework of strategy, customers, people, and processes hasn’t changed, but the pace of technological, competitive, and social change has increased at an amazing rate.

Social Media

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

So I was happy to see Julia Tang Peters, in her classic book “ Pivot Points ,” tackle this issue. The world is full of high-achievers and high expectations, but without the proper framework for turning entrepreneurial determination into real leadership accomplishment, you risk going nowhere.

Startup

socalTECH

APRIL 24, 2015

We caught up with serial entrepreneur Derrick Oien , who is CEO of the company, to learn more. Tell us a little bit about this new startup? Derrick Oien: We started ScoreStream three years ago. It's actually nice that there is a shortage of capital for sports startups. I was at MP3.com, com, and then Intercasting.

Media

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2013

My perspective on this role is outlined in the book “ Rapid Realignment ,” by the experts in this space, George Labovitz and Victor Rosansky. The basic alignment framework of strategy, customers, people, and processes hasn’t changed, but the pace of technological, competitive, and social change has increased at an amazing rate.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 13, 2012

Most entrepreneurs I know are individually very innovative, but a successful startup can’t be a one-man show (for long). In fact, some very innovative individuals, known as ‘idea people’ or inventors, often end up creating the most dysfunctional teams. Innovation is not all about coming up with new ideas.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2014

Starting a new business is a serious undertaking. As an entrepreneur, you need to start early to implement the discipline and business practices that will lead to success. Even though everyone has an opinion on good early stage practices, I was impressed with the actionable blueprint in a new book by Scott Duffy, “ Launch!

Entrepreneur

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

The startup, which launched this week, is hoping to find both travelers and hosts who don't want to deal with long term plans, and who can respond immediately to finding and offering up a place to stay for the night. Asher Hunt: Overnight is a mobile app for travelers to book same day, last minute stays, with local hosts.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 21, 2020

Finding your sweet spot as an entrepreneur needs to start with a meaningful personal purpose that is also a business opportunity. I remember a classic book, “ The Purpose Effect ,” by renowned author Dan Pontefract, that provides a good framework and background or doing just that.

Tips

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2014

In this context, it’s time for every business, not only startups, to take a fresh look at the basics of business success. Once you have a proven business model, you need to scale the business up quickly to stay ahead of competitors. Every startup needs a sustainable competitive advantage. If you want to be feared.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2014

I see entrepreneurs every day who are trying to change the world with a new idea, and startups that are trying to survive their hyper-growth phase by changing processes to meet demand. Phil Buckley, in “ Change With Confidence ,” provides practical answer to fifty of the biggest questions that keep change leaders up at night.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2011

It seems to be an accepted fact these days that big companies normally innovate by buying a startup with innovative products, rather than focusing on in-house innovations. I see many startups who seem satisfied with a “me too” approach, building yet another social network or e-commerce site, rather than being truly innovative.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 17, 2021

For insight, I recommend the details provided in the classic book “ The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity, ” by Kory Kogon, Adam Merrill, and Leena Rinne. Although the authors focus has been on large organizations, I believe concepts are even more relevant to entrepreneurs and startups.

Framework

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023

In my view, starting a new business has never been easier, and according to reports from the Kauffman Foundation , the numbers are here to show it. Who would not want to join the unicorns (recent startups with a current valuation of over $1 billion)? Establishing your brand with interactive social media.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2020

As detailed in the classic book, “ Smart Decisions ,” by Dr. Thomas N. I support his assertion that good ethical decisions are best made by applying the following ten steps to the analysis and decision process: Start with creativity to expand decision alternatives. Decisions made without innovation lead to a stale business.

Framework

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2021

A few years ago, I first saw an interesting step in that direction via the classic book “ Entrepreneurial DNA ,” by Joe Abraham , with his assessment web site. His framework seems to be picking up some traction, and is already in use informally by several entrepreneurship platforms, universities, and even high school programs.

Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2010

Charlene Li, in her latest book “ Open Leadership ,” attempts to show leaders how to tap into the power of the social technology revolution and use social media to be “open” while still maintaining control. This process works well in today’s extremely flat and non-hierarchical startup organizations. Centralized. Democratic.

Social Media

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2012

A while back, I wrote about the value of Michael Porter’s Five Forces framework for analyzing the competitive environment, and using every opportunity to highlight and emphasize your relative advantages, whether they be price, features, or bargaining power. As a startup, you have the opportunity to lead. Walk the talk.

Customer

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2019

In this context, it’s time for every business, not only startups, to take a fresh look at the basics of business success. Once you have a proven business model, you need to scale the business up quickly to stay ahead of competitors. Every startup needs a sustainable competitive advantage. If you want to be feared.

Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2022

I see a good discussion of the relevant strengths and issues in a new book, “ The Unfair Advantage ,” by Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba. These authors speak from their own wealth of experience in creating and growing technology startups, marketing, and fundraising. Intelligence and insight: book and street smarts.

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