Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2020

It’s easy for an entrepreneur or a CEO to feel like a leader when things are going well, but the challenge is to keep that confidence and drive in the face of economic downturns, business turnarounds, and stressful personnel situations. Successful CEOs and entrepreneurs instead listen, learn, empathize and include everyone in the challenge.

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Tips Organization Ideas Course 168

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.

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Tips Satisfaction Coach Mentor 159

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2014

You can have the best technology, but if customers don’t know you exist, or they don’t know how your technology solves a real problem for them, your startup will fail. Yet I see many technology entrepreneurs that focus on the basics of marketing too little and too late. How many customers will have any idea what this means to them?

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Technical Review Tips Marketing Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2019

Image via Flickr by jardenberg Your marketing launch is the most important element of startup success these days, to get customer attention in this world of information overload. Yet it is the one element that too many entrepreneurs focus on only as an afterthought. The eye is just as important as the mind when it comes to customers.

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Customer Custom Marketing Tips 93

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2019

Traditionally, the majority of entrepreneurs have been logical thinkers, problem solvers, with full attention to details. Of course, the best solution would be a new wave of so-called whole-brain thinkers, but this term is usually reserved for Einstein and Picasso, and no entrepreneurs that I can name. Creativity is the key word here.

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Entrepreneur Tips Guide Social Media 96

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2023

Thus I was impressed with the practical rules suggested to facilitate anticipatory changes to survive in business today, in a new book “ Secrets of Next Level Entrepreneurs ,” by Alex Brueckmann, an experienced executive consultant: Create change by inspiring people to follow. It’s no longer a top-down or command-and-control world.

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Tips FAQ Startup Social Media 116

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

One of the biggest myths I have found in the entrepreneur community is that every startup needs one or more outside investors for credibility and success, and perhaps is even entitled to at least one. Searching LinkedIn, for example, is a must for contemporary entrepreneurs. Identify customer executives who need your solution.

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Funding Tips Startup Statistics 173

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2023

Entrepreneurs looking for investor funding often fail to realize that all money comes with strings. For example, if you have watched the Shark Tank TV series, you probably noticed that the Sharks always ask the entrepreneurs for their intended “use of funds.” Make your focus and priorities clear.

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Tips Funding Startup Invest 91

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 25, 2014

During the intervening 20-years, Jeff has offered business executives numerous valuable tips, including the following: If you haven''t already subscribed yet, subscribe now for free weekly JohnGreathouse.com articles! Obsess On Your Customers'' Experiences, Not Your Colleagues'' Politics. Image: Wikipedia. Share and Enjoy.

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Tips Startup Customer Custom 239

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 5, 2011

Article first published as Eleven Startup Tips From Mark Cuban on Technorati. Mark Cuban is a lifelong serial entrepreneur, launching his startup career with a variety of teenage schemes, including buying and selling collectable stamps to pay for college. Mark’s Startup Tips. Entrepreneurs are constantly selling.

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Tips Startup Entrepreneur Ideas 274

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

My article 5 Time-Tested Success Tips From Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos was so well received, I am sharing five more pearls of wisdom from Mr. Bezos. We know this is a feature that’s good for customers. This encouraged them to deploy logical, common sense solutions that were in the best interest of its customers. Let’s do it.’”

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Tips Framework Metrics Cloud Computing 223

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Most entrepreneurs I meet are reluctant to disclose anything about their idea to investors before getting a signed confidential disclosure agreement (CDA). Yet I can assure you that people who are paranoid, or want to avoid all risks, won’t be happy as entrepreneurs, so it’s all about balancing the risk-reward scale. Marty Zwilling.

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Ideas Tips Technical Review Patents 159

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 26, 2022

Most entrepreneurs I know admit to a poor first media interaction, and many are still waiting for the instant replay. It could be a product quality problem, or a major customer complaint on Twitter. Why do many entrepreneurs think they can “wing it” and get the same results? Prepare, prepare, prepare for every media event.

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Media Tips Social Media Startup 118

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Commit to a major customer. It’s what separates the true entrepreneurs from the wannabes.

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Tips Startup Technical Review Equity 104

InfoChachkie

MARCH 1, 2012

Article first published as Five Business Tips From The Beatles on Technorati. Despite the book’s shortcomings, it contains a number of insightful lessons for budding entrepreneurs. Of the 100 business “lessons” articulated in the book, I highlight a few below that I feel are the most relevant and impactful for entrepreneurs.

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Tips Startup Entrepreneur Product 259

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2020

For some reason, too many aspiring entrepreneurs I know seem to focus on “actions” rather than “results.” These are not the entrepreneurs that I want to support, since I’m well aware that running a startup is far more complex, albeit more satisfying, than most conventional roles in established enterprises.

Product 123

Product Startup Tips Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2016

Some people even believe that entrepreneurs must be born with the right genes, and no element of education is relevant. In my view, the most effective entrepreneurs are those with a background of an array of real-life experiences, both positive and negative, as well as good academic and coaching activities.

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Entrepreneur Tips Writing Coach 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 8, 2020

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. Before the product is set in stone, you can test your message and continue to refine it until it connects well with investors, as well as customers. Visibly be a bit controversial to test the limits. Marty Zwilling.

Ideas 124

Ideas Tips Marketing Social Media 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2022

During my many years of mentoring professionals and entrepreneurs in business, I more often see people focusing on how to get their ideas heard , than how to promote themselves. Businesses today include an increasing diversity of team members, as well as customers, due to remote work and a global market.

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Tips Social Media Mentor Technical Review 121

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 9, 2012

As Seth Epstein makes clear in this talk , entrepreneurs constantly experience breakdowns, followed by breakthroughs. A common theme among successful entrepreneurs is that making money is not a primary motivator. You must convince dispassionate, objective customers that your value proposition is worthy of their cash.

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Tips Startup Entrepreneur Entertainment 277

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 10, 2011

He did more for Apple’s shareholders, customers and employees than any other CEO has ever done for their shareholders, customers and employees. There are numerous reasons for Jobs’ success, not the least of which was his uncompromising pursuit of a delightful customer experience. Steve’s Startup Tips.

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Tips Startup Santa Barbara Entrepreneur 279

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2019

You can have the best technology, but if customers don’t know you exist, or they don’t know how your technology solves a real problem for them, your startup will fail. Yet I see many technology entrepreneurs that focus on the basics of marketing too little and too late. How many customers will have any idea what this means to them?

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Marketing Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review 97

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

Entrepreneurs that are not listening, not engaging, and not changing are destined to be left behind even in the best of times. Today’s customers are much more proactive in going online for the latest information, rather than simply reacting to the “push” messages that businesses traditionally use to drive commerce.

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Tips Technical Review Organization Social Media 126

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

As discussed in Hiring Entrepreneurs, the impact of each new hire during your startup’s early days is tremendous. As noted in Optimistically Pessimistic , successful entrepreneurs are indifferent as to the specific tactics they must employ to accomplish their fervently held strategic objectives.

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Tips Startup Framework Customer 279

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2021

An entrepreneur has to engage with team members, partners, investors, vendors, and customers. I will talk here primarily about building the internal team of a startup, but the same principles apply outside to your “extended team” and customers. Success in a startup is not possible as a “one-man show.”

Entrepreneur 138

Entrepreneur Social Media Satisfaction Startup 138

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 7, 2019

Thus, in my consulting with entrepreneurs, I always encourage them to get more comfortable asking for help. She suspects, like me, that no self-respecting entrepreneur wants to seem weak, needy, or incompetent, and none of us like to feel indebted to someone we see as a peer or a competitor.

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Help Entrepreneur Course IBM 123

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 30, 2012

For many entrepreneurs, college has little appeal. Academia's arbitrary, bureaucratic structure, combined with its predominant focus on theoretical issues, causes many entrepreneurs to depart college early. But it's also about operations and customer relationships." " [Tweet this quote]. " [Tweet this quote].

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Tips Startup Entrepreneur Santa Barbara 247

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2013

If anyone in business ever needed mental toughness, it’s an entrepreneur. Investors tell me that startup success is all about execution, all while facing determined competitors and overcoming customers’ resistance to change. For social entrepreneurs, it’s all about making the world a better place. A startup is not a parlor game.

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Entrepreneur Tips Startup Training 121

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. I see you were involved in the Rise of the Female Entrepreneur effort at the Montgomery Summit this year, tell me a little about what that is all about?

Capital 162

Capital Entrepreneur Invest Artificial Inteligence 162

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2017

You can have the best technology, but if customers don’t know you exist, or they don’t know how your technology solves a real problem for them, your startup will fail. Yet I see many technology entrepreneurs that focus on the basics of marketing too little and too late. How many customers will have any idea what this means to them?

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Tips Marketing Technical Review Startup 75

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2013

You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. You need to have business relationships with team members, investors, customers, and a myriad of other support people. See my recent article “ Entrepreneurs Learn Best From Business Networking ” on how and where to get started. Give and you will receive. Cultivate existing allies.

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Entrepreneur Tips Startup Social Network 108

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 23, 2012

Ignorance is not bliss in business, but it does allow entrepreneurs to face the unknown with a measure of confidence. No 19-year old understands business at the level of a seasoned, serial entrepreneur. However, it is important for young entrepreneurs to be adequately self-aware to know what they do not know.

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Startup Tips CTO Coach Technical Review 268

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 27, 2012

Make no mistake, successful entertainers are entrepreneurs. They must compete with tens of thousands of other performers who are all pursuing the same customer dollars. Entrepreneurs and entertainers alike must address their fears. However, despite relative salary equality, there remain far fewer high-tech women entrepreneurs.

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Tips Startup Entertainment Entrepreneur 204

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2012

Every entrepreneur wishes that he could predict whether his idea could be the “next big thing,” before he spent his life savings and years of energy on it. Investors, on the other hand, typically don’t even look very hard at the product or service, but prefer to evaluate first the entrepreneur, and secondly the business plan.

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Entrepreneur Tips Ideas Product 97

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2015

Most importantly, it’s more about being a proactive leader who connects to customers and the team deeply, rather than a bright light that struggles to be seen amidst the glare of a million other bright lights. Entrepreneurs have personal knowledge and strengths that can get them past the social level in connection.

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Customer Custom Entrepreneur Tips 97

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 4, 2009

Many entrepreneurs who start technology companies are product people, technologists or savvy business people who worked previously for a larger company. Most start-up entrepreneurs have little or no sales experience. This is the easiest one for most entrepreneurs. But most good entrepreneurs do this naturally.

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Sales Startup Platform Tips 319

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2013

Did you ever wonder why some entrepreneurs always seem to have all the luck and success, while others never seem to catch a break? Evidence shows that effective entrepreneurs have high levels of energy, and handle stress well. Some entrepreneurs go to great lengths to avoid interpersonal friction, or engage the wrong way.

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Entrepreneur Tips Startup Technical Review 111