Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2019

Every entrepreneur and business person I know wishes he had more time for coaching all the members of his team. I often hear the excuse that coaching takes more time than simply diving in and doing the job for the other person, but is that really true? Exceptional communication is a prerequisite to coaching.

Coach 91

Coach Course Mentor Examples 91

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2019

Image via Pixabay I’ve always been a bit confused about the difference in a business context between a coach and a mentor. According to many pundits , a mentor shows you the right way based on experience, while a coach brings out the best in you, then let’s you find your own way. Build an envelope of mutual trust.

Coach 87

Coach Mentor Examples Satisfaction 87

socalTECH

JANUARY 29, 2020

This week, Los Angeles-based Crosscut Ventures announced a brand new effort to provide health and wellness to the founders of companies it invests in, helping those founders with well being, mental health, stress management, coaching, and leadership development. Tell us about this new program? It's a comprehensive bucket.

Invest 113

Invest Framework Coach Startup 113

socalTECH

MARCH 28, 2019

Earlier this month, the annual Montgomery Summit conference was held in Santa Monica, including a special portion of the conference dedicated to the Rise of the Female Entrepreneur. For myself, I'm largely focused on investments in enterprise software, primarily in the areas of application software and intelligence.

Capital 162

Capital Entrepreneur Invest Artificial Inteligence 162

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2022

Great entrepreneurs are not just idea people and then managers, they are extraordinary leaders. Most investors admit that they invest primarily in people, not ideas, and they inherently believe that they can sense this leadership ability needed to get the rapid growth and 10x return we all strive for.

Coach 114

Coach Framework Entrepreneur Tool 114

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2021

If you are not starting one yourself, the next best thing is joining one as a partner, or as an early employee. It takes much the same preparation to make you the best entrepreneur, or the best job candidate. Of course experience is the best teacher, but you need to get the job to get the experience. According to Ford R.

Tips 168

Tips Startup Coach Networking 168

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2021

By definition, all of you entrepreneurs are leaders, by taking the initiative to start a new company. Most investors will readily admit that they invest in entrepreneur leadership, more so than innovative ideas, but they often find it difficult to separate aspiring leaders from those that are clearly extraordinary.

Coach 162

Coach Startup Resource Competition 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2023

Most entrepreneurs relish being their own boss, but find the transition to “ownership thinking” to be more difficult than anticipated. Incidentally, if you never thought of yourself as being an A-Player employee, you probably will struggle even more in the competitive entrepreneur world.

Entrepreneur 85

Entrepreneur Customer Custom Competition 85

Berkonomics

MAY 13, 2021

important point of that book, which was written to prompt discussion between entrepreneurs, professional managers, and their boards of directors about issues that could unite them or strain the relationships between them. Money is what entrepreneurs expect from us. Relationships are often as valuable as an investment.

Resource 156

Resource Coach Activity Invest 156

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 20, 2021

But what if you are an introvert, or new to this game, and don’t know where or how to start? Business groups like TiE-The Indus Entrepreneurs and EO-Entrepreneurs Organization are places to meet people you can help, as well as people who can help you. Attend an investment conference.

Entrepreneur 143

Entrepreneur Social Network Activity Networking 143

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2021

These days, I seem to often hear from entrepreneurs who are struggling to find a mentor, or complaining about their lack of effectiveness. Most entrepreneurs view a mentor as someone older and more experienced who takes the time to personally give guidance, advice, and takes an emotional investment in your success.

Mentor 151

Mentor Coach Entrepreneur Press 151

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2020

Most entrepreneurs relish being their own boss, but find the transition to “ownership thinking” to be more difficult than anticipated. Incidentally, if you never thought of yourself as being an A-Player employee, you probably will struggle even more in the competitive entrepreneur world.

Entrepreneur 159

Entrepreneur Customer Custom Competition 159

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

For you who fit that description, nice work. It might be useful to list some of the ways in which you can raise money for growth with and without outside investors. You will realize much more from the ultimate sale of your business even if at a considerably lower price than if splitting the proceeds with investors.

Venture Capital 266

Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 8, 2018

If your firm is willing to commit to this or any similar “inclusion rule” we hope that you will consider linking to it from your firm’s home URL as a sign of industry solidarity in the hope that others will follow suit. We strive to invest in companies that are consciously working to create a diverse leadership team?—?one

Venture Capital 284

Venture Capital Coach Ideas Startup 284

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

Most entrepreneurs assume that success is dependent on their product expertise, coupled with some knowledge of how to run a business. Successful entrepreneurs today must practice human-centered leadership to compete and win. Successful entrepreneurs today must practice human-centered leadership to compete and win.

Training 142

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 142

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 17, 2020

Here is a class of investor we’ve covered before, one usually focused upon you and less upon your business case. We’ve worried together about the moral obligation implicit in taking such investments from people so close, even with their promise never to expect a return. Angel investment groups or funds.

Equity 156

Equity Technical Review Class Organization 156

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 15, 2018

Looking back over an entrepreneur’s journey. As I look back over more than fifty years as an entrepreneur, I can think of the financial focus of my three entrepreneurial businesses as a prime driver in my life during the early stage of each. The rewards of angel investing. Have you ever spent enough time with your family?

Coach 120

Coach Startup Organization Invest 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2022

Most entrepreneurs believe they are “different,” but they can’t quite understand how. The classic book, “ Hunting in a Farmer's World: Celebrating the Mind of an Entrepreneur ,” by serial entrepreneur and business coach John F. All this made more sense to me as Dini defined the types of entrepreneurs into four categories.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Marketing News Slides 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2022

Early-stage entrepreneurs rightly keep their focus on creating an innovative product or service. That’s where I see too much entrepreneur burnout, growth plateaus, and founders being replaced, to their chagrin. Of course, not every entrepreneur wants to tackle this challenge. There is no free lunch.

Sales 147

Sales Metrics Guide Startup 147

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2021

Based on my experience as a business advisor, I recommend that every business owner and entrepreneur focus on the following tips to provide a better work culture: Invest in integrating new technology, not just forcing it. Spend more time mentoring and coaching your team. Giving orders and assignments is not coaching.

Tips 159

Tips Satisfaction Coach Mentor 159

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

Why you should never have a data room?—?the the most counter-intuitive fund-raising advice you’ll ever get I’m about to offer you some fund-raising advice that flies directly in the face of what most conventional wisdom will tell you. If you stick through to the end I’m guessing I can persuade most of you.

Funding 336

Funding Venture Capital Startup Email 336

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 20, 2018

Every entrepreneur wants to hear “yes” during the fund-raising process but I would argue that being too risk averse and not pushing hard enough and be willing to hear a “no” is what holds back many people from “yes.” When somebody has to tell you no, the potential investor must: Feel discomfort of letting you down.

Funding 189

Funding Software Review Entrepreneur Venture Capital 189

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

Most entrepreneurs, and members of any small team, naively assume that the key to their success is hard work, dedication, and long hours in the business. It behooves all entrepreneurs and team members to recognize the positives and negatives of each type of relationship. Workship - Advocate. Workship - Trailblazer. Friendship.

Mentor 91

Mentor Competition Summary Coach 91

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

article in a series on what it takes to be a great angel investor (and why this should matter to entrepreneurs). Imagine that you funded Larry & Sergey, Chad Hurley & Steve Chen, Mark Zuckerberg, Mark Pincus or Evan Williams. Or imagine that you were colleagues with any of these individuals before becoming an investor.

Invest 280

Invest Angel Venture Capital Yahoo 280

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2022

You need to be one of those leaders. Although I don’t have any magic formula for you to get there, I do espouse a set of actions for every aspiring leader that were summarized well in a new book, “ The Power of One More , ” by Ed Mylett. He speaks from his own many years as an entrepreneur, executive coach, and keynote speaker.

Resource 114

Resource Coach Startup Training 114

Berkonomics

JUNE 26, 2014

Angel investors, particularly those in organized angel groups, are typically former entrepreneurs who have had successful liquidity events in their pasts, or executives of companies who’ve retired with the funds from their stock options. Do you know any people in common? Order all 3 Berkonomics books for $49.95,a a 33% discount.

Angel 191

Angel Technical Review Coach Entrepreneur 191

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

By now you will likely have read Andy Dunn’s scathing post about Venture Capitalists in which he decries the industry’s masses. After all, I am no stranger to the publicly expressing the frustrations of dealing with the downside of this industry as I wrote about in 2006 when I was an entrepreneur. But VC is like congress.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2020

You will be able to get to all of these posts on our 2020 reflections here. Are you a founder, CEO, or investor who would like to participate? What was the biggest news for you/your company this year?  It's been a tough year for many due to the pandemic; how have you or your company adapted to the business environment?

Southern California 113

Southern California Technical Review Santa Monica Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2019

Great entrepreneurs are not just idea people and then managers, they are extraordinary leaders. Most investors admit that they invest primarily in people, not ideas, and they inherently believe that they can sense this leadership ability needed to get the rapid growth and 10x return we all strive for.

Coach 96

Coach Framework Entrepreneur Tool 96

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2023

If you feel trapped in an unsatisfying and limiting role as a business professional, I urge you to assess your own interest and level of ownership thinking as a means of enhancing your career or growing your own business. Smart business owners realize that no returns occur without some investment and risk.

Startup 111

Startup Satisfaction Metrics Customer 111

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. The next step is to focus on practical ways to improve your success odds from every networking experience you do partake of.

Networking 104

Networking Mentor Conference Summary 104

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2022

The key elements of leadership in a company, both individual and organizational, are less tangible, but very critical in setting a market value for investment, acquisition, or going public. In the investment community, these leadership elements are often called “goodwill.” Strategic proficiency. Execution leadership.

Technical Review 129

Technical Review Funding Organization Coach 129

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 23, 2022

Many of you business leaders I work with, and entrepreneurs I mentor, have a great strategy and an innovative solution , but struggle with building and motivating the team necessary to run your business. You assume everyone has your passion, and simply needs your command and control to make it work.

Mentor 108

Mentor Social Media Coach Customer 108

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2020

Most entrepreneurs, and members of any small team, naively assume that the key to their success is hard work, dedication, and long hours in the business. It behooves all entrepreneurs and team members to recognize the positives and negatives of each type of relationship. Workship - Advocate. Workship - Trailblazer. Friendship.

Mentor 135

Mentor Competition Summary Coach 135

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2019

Most entrepreneurs assume that success is dependent on their product expertise, coupled with some knowledge of how to run a business. Successful entrepreneurs today must practice human-centered leadership to compete and win. Successful entrepreneurs today must practice human-centered leadership to compete and win.

Training 123

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2022

One of the attributes that I often recommend to the business professionals and entrepreneurs I mentor is to always be totally accountable for your actions and ideas. Make sure you set the expectations and responsibilities, and measure your results. Be available for mentoring and coaching to others.

Activity 109

Activity Organization Mentor Training 109

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 12, 2011

As I look back over more than fifty years as an entrepreneur, I can think of the financial focus of my three entrepreneurial businesses as a prime driver in my life during the early stage of each. If you are in such a good place in your life, find a local angel investing group by Googling “angel investing”.

Coach 216

Coach Organization Invest Sales 216