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? There was no money train.

Venture Capital 466

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

Young entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, often remain naively unfocused, despite their passion, of what it takes to provide the high-quality service expected. It’s a tough job, and inexperienced entrepreneurs just don’t know where to start, and how to do it. Train and coach continuously.

Competition 99

Competition Services Startup Training 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2021

The last thing they can afford is to waste any of these, but in my mentoring and coaching activities, I see it happening all too often. Waste in a startup is any activity that burns resources, but creates no value or competitive advantage in the eyes of customers. In the startup world, this is often seen as a lack of focus.

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Startup Resource Training Entrepreneur 161

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

Great leaders learn to listen actively to conversations, so people don’t hold up progress just to be understood. Disruptive office politics start to show. Startups with weak directives, poor communication, and ineffective cultures are breeding grounds for negative interpersonal dynamics.

Training 142

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 142

socalTECH

DECEMBER 5, 2012

In an effort to bolster startups and entrepreneurs in the San Fernando, East Ventura and Santa Clarita Valleys, a group has just started a new Center for Entrepreneurship and Growth , which will provide training, coaching, consulting, and other resources for local entrepreneurs.

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Santa Clarita San Fernando Startup Ventura 164

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

In reality, business success and satisfaction is about doing the right things at the right time, which requires leadership and coaching. But coaching doesn’t always work the way you expect. Trevor is a veteran coach who has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, organizations, and business families across the country.

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Coach Training Summary Tool 57

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2022

In my consulting work, when I ask team members in startups and small businesses how they know whether they are doing a good job, the typical response I get is “Nobody has yelled at me today,” or “No news is good news.” One mistake to avoid in all cases is to dress up praise as a comparison to others , such as “You were the best speaker today.”

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Startup Mentor News Coach 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2021

Young entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, often remain naively unfocused, despite their passion, of what it takes to provide the high-quality service expected. It’s a tough job, and inexperienced entrepreneurs just don’t know where to start, and how to do it. Train and coach continuously.

Startup 154

Startup Training Customer Custom 154

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2020

Entrepreneurs inherently understand that they have to be the initial leader of their startup, but often they don’t have the experience or the training to know where their leadership competencies lie, or how to build a leadership team. They are excellent mentors and coaches, but have a strong need to be admired and respected in return.

Startup 173

Startup Entertainment Entrepreneur Coach 173

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2021

By definition, all of you entrepreneurs are leaders, by taking the initiative to start a new company. Yet I have learned over the years as a startup advisor that all business leaders are not the same. You generally don’t fix things by throwing them away and starting over. The time to get started is now.

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Coach Startup Resource Competition 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2023

I realized a while back that creating a new company for the first time is a lot like whipping up a great dinner entree for the first time – you need a recipe, even though it may look simple. Yet you may not be so sure where to start, and how to put it all together. In all cases, don’t skip the basic training. Don’t stand still.

Startup 112

Startup Coach Metrics Marketing 112

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 3, 2014

Most technology startups seem to be funded by product people or business people. My first startup was no different. I had never had any sales training so everything we did for the first couple of years was instinctual. I had never had any sales training so everything we did for the first couple of years was instinctual.

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Sales Help Startup Pricing 382

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

He closed stores for a day to update employee racial-bias training. Always use multiple methods, including verbal and written, for defining an assignment, including accountability, with checkpoints and follow-up from you along the way. Make sure that metrics and goals are set up front, and not modified as the project progresses.

Startup 132

Startup Training Metrics Examples 132

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2023

As a startup advisor in this age of the entrepreneur, I see many more startups, but innovation is still hard to find. Startups which display real innovation, such as alternative energy sources and new medical treatments, are still rare. Training and coaching. Followers and linear thinkers need not apply.

Coach 137

Coach Metrics Competition Ideas 137

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 29, 2019

When ProGuides pulled the covers off of its service earlier this year, the young Los Angeles-based startup intended to give gamers a way to train with professional and semi-pro esports players from around the world. “After we launched the beta, we found some interesting user behavior,” says Sam Wang.

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Coach Seed Funding Training Platform 180

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2020

Most of you will start your business with plenty of passion and purpose, but all too often I see both disappearing after months of facing unanticipated setbacks and challenges. They feel the same passion that you and your team need to be reminded of on a regular basis to keep up the necessary level of energy, positivity, and commitment.

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Startup Coach Satisfaction Training 127

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 13, 2017

VentureWell, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that supports science and technology entrepreneurs, has selected a medical simulation startup founded by University of Maine students to receive funding and training. Read about more emerging startups in the Maine ecosystem on TechCo .

Startup 70

Startup Funding Training Ideas 70

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2017

We all know some peers in business who could use some coaching to unleash their potential and optimize performance, but would you know how to do the job if they asked you for help? In an effort to help myself, I read a new book on this topic, “ The Master Coach ,” by Gregg Thompson. Self-centered members need coaching.

Coach 54

Coach Satisfaction Organization Guide 54

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2021

Over my years as an advisor to new businesses and startups, I have learned that the only certainty that I can offer entrepreneurs is the fact they will face many uncertainties. So my first advice is that if you can’t handle uncertainty, don’t even start down that road. Don’t be afraid to deliver fair, tough coaching.

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Marketing Coach Startup Product 148

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2020

Due to the pervasive Internet, the scope of most successful startup teams today has become global. According to recent reports , these come from all the way up and down the age and experience spectrum, including up to ninety percent of the current Baby Boomers, as well as Millennials.

Competition 168

Competition Startup Demand Training 168

socalTECH

AUGUST 2, 2018

According to the Dodgers, E|L1 was founded by former Seattle Mariners Prospect, Aaron Trolia, and will focus on youth sports, and providing professional instruction and resources for existing youth teams, athletes and their coaches. The venture is supported by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Nomar Garciaparra and Elysian Park Ventures.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Redondo Beach Angel Coach 113

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2014

In a VC business when you raise additional capital you need to “level up” and act the round you are. I’d say 20% of startups I see level-up early after their A round. These are important leveling-up activities but the CEO is often still up at 10pm f **g around with QuickBooks entries.

Startup 381

Startup Resource Venture Capital Activity 381

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2019

Great leaders learn to listen actively to conversations, so people don’t hold up progress just to be understood. Disruptive office politics start to show. Startups with weak directives, poor communication, and ineffective cultures are breeding grounds for negative interpersonal dynamics.

Training 123

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2021

As a startup investor, I view any evidence of a victim mentality as the kiss of death. In reality, the picture is a bit larger than this, as outlined in the classic book “ Leading with GRIT ,” by Laurie Sudbrink, a well-known business leadership coach and speaker. Accountability starts by acknowledging reality.

Startup 164

Startup Class Entrepreneur Coach 164

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2022

Phrases like “holding people accountable” imply negative consequences or punishment, rather than rewards or providing the freedom and coaching to team members to choose their own actions, and pursue what matters most to them. It’s up to you to build that relationship by listening to their needs and concerns, and offering help where you can.

Coach 145

Coach Slides Social Network Metrics 145

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2021

They are quick to claim the credit for things in their domain that work, but also quick to disclaim responsibility for problems that keep popping up. Perhaps you need to do more to be a role model for accountability , and provide more coaching on exactly what it means. Communicate effectively what needs to be done.

Training 173

Training Examples Startup Social Media 173

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2015

Great leaders learn to listen actively to conversations, so people don’t hold up progress just to be understood. Disruptive office politics start to show. Startups with weak directives, poor communication, and ineffective cultures are breeding grounds for negative interpersonal dynamics.

Startup 103

Startup Training Coach Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2023

Every business wants and needs top performers, but most entrepreneurs and executives assume that if they hire and train the smartest and most experienced people, they will get exceptional performance. I saw the key ones outlined well in the classic book, “ Creating High Performers ,” by William Dann, a leading coach to experienced CEOs.

Coach 93

Coach Satisfaction Resource Entrepreneur 93

Berkonomics

JULY 15, 2021

Entrepreneurs start businesses with a strong vision of what and how , involved in every process from buying supplies to hiring and directly supervising early employees. You may have been managing for years and need to hire that direct report to lessen your workload, setting up the same result. What is the common problem?

Entrepreneur 156

Entrepreneur Coach Metrics Startup 156

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2022

However, when aspiring leaders ask me how to ramp up their emotional intelligence, I’ve never been able to offer any real formula. She is the President and CEO of EI Experience, and has years of experience training business leaders across the continent. Barriers open up new possibilities, which themselves will likely have barriers.

Coach 140

Coach Guide Startup Mentor 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2022

As a business advisor and investor in new startups, I see how difficult it is to make any process work, no matter how well designed, if the team is dysfunctional. Priority is placed on employee mentoring and coaching. The right people make productive processes, not the other way around.

Coach 128

Coach Organization Mentor Startup 128

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2018

Editor's note: All this week, and into the start of next year, we'll be featuring reflections on 2018 from notable investors, entrepreneurs, and others from Southern California's technology community. Here in LA we continue to be excited about the growth of the startup ecosystem and the quality of the companies here.

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Startup Press Commerce Southern California 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2023

In this context, I was impressed with the insights provided in a new book, “ Stay Sane In An Insane World ,” by peak performance coach Greg Harden. Practice, train, and rehearse giving 100 percent. In my experience as a startup investor, I have become convinced that the biggest reason for business failure is giving up too early.

Mentor 104

Mentor Startup Coach Satisfaction 104

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2022

It is up to you as a leader to define and communicate the company shared values that pull a team together and allow them to disagree without fighting. This starts with instituting a hiring and training program that emphasizes collaboration, and rewards individual expression and empowerment.

Organization 105

Organization Mentor Startup Training 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2023

For example, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has implemented a practice of authorizing employees, after relevant training, to spend up to $2,000 per guest, without pre-approval, to solve a special requirement for any guest that will make their visit totally memorable. Great customer service now must be proactive, rather than reactive.

Competition 109

Competition Services Customer Custom 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2020

As a startup advisor in this age of the entrepreneur, I see many more startups, but innovation is still hard to find. Startups which display real innovation, such as alternative energy sources and new medical treatments, are still rare. Training and coaching. Followers and linear thinkers need not apply.

Coach 144

Coach Metrics Social Network Competition 144

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2010

If you’re interested in recruiting sales people, I wrote on the topic of startup sales people: who to hire & when – understanding the roles of Journeymen, Mavericks & Superstars. Evangelical sales – Understanding startup sales people and process. Here is my recommended approach. You learn by asking.

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Sales Startup Technical Review Customer 346