Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2021

A winning linked focus example is to choose a higher purpose common to all cultures, such as protecting the environment, or helping the underprivileged. Old-fashioned surveys need help from new algorithms, data science, and digital bots. Use metrics to assess needs and growth economics. Make every customer experience memorable.

Customer 114

Customer Custom Satisfaction Metrics 114

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

If an innovative solution is involved, prepare a minimum viable product or a video to demonstrate functionality and usability. It’s much easier to pivot before full production and much money has been spent. Define key metrics to measure progress and success. Use comparable metrics for managing team member results.

Social Media 98

Social Media Metrics Media Tool 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2020

Many of the entrepreneurs like you that I have met in my role as a business advisor are really product creators versus business creators, convinced that a great product will generate a great business. In most businesses, this means selling something, and proving that your product or service has value.

Metrics 140

Metrics Entrepreneur Coach Satisfaction 140

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2022

How does any entrepreneur define the right balance, and then measure their performance against real metrics? Lots of people are trying to help, with new twists on the age-old model of free-market capitalism that has driven businesses for the last 500 years. Making a profit does not imply greed.

Startup 110

Startup Entrepreneur Capital Examples 110

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2023

Measure progress through metrics on sales, revenue, and penetration. Seek customer feedback on ways to improve value and satisfaction. Some market leaders have found that adding a focus on a higher cause, like helping the needy or saving the environment, can magnify your value in the eyes of customers.

Customer 91

Customer Custom Marketing Startup 91

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

I recommend a trial run with an experiment or MVP (minimum viable product), at full price and cost, before the big bang launch, risking your investment money and a major time commitment. The focus of key leaders has to change from driving innovative initiatives to replicating repeatable processes and tuning the overall product cycle.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 1, 2021

Your challenge as a leader is to encourage and reward healthy conflicts, while managing them to productive and innovative results. The longer a conflict is active, the more likely that positions will harden, and emotions will make resolution more painful than productive. Don’t let it be just a conflict over graphic design.

Activity 145

Activity Organization Examples Satisfaction 145

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2023

To compensate, every visionary entrepreneur needs to find a partner who gets great satisfaction from results, and loves the discipline of making things happen on a day-to-day basis. The organization can’t keep up the pace of change, and soon loses motivation, productivity, and all sense of where they are headed.

Startup 82

Startup Ideas Organization Entrepreneur 82

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2019

How does any entrepreneur define the right balance, and then measure their performance against real metrics? Lots of people are trying to help, with new twists on the age-old model of free-market capitalism that has driven businesses for the last 500 years. Making a profit does not imply greed.

Startup 93

Startup Entrepreneur Capital Examples 93

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 10, 2013

Rather, these were the words given in response to the opening question to a panel of product managers to “describe their occupation” in 3 words or less, + an additional word on what their biggest challenge was. Jay Stakelon , VP Product Design, Fullscreen. Jen Robinson , Head of Product Manager, Bigframe.

Product 87

Product Fandango Design Startup 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2020

To compensate, every visionary entrepreneur needs to find a partner who gets great satisfaction from results, and loves the discipline of making things happen on a day-to-day basis. The organization can’t keep up the pace of change, and soon loses motivation, productivity, and all sense of where they are headed.

Startup 131

Startup Ideas Organization Entrepreneur 131

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2019

Many employees stay self-centered or focused on internal politics as they fight for change, new systems, or bigger budgets, rather than communicate how their interests are really aligned with helping customers and growing the business. Highlight your productivity and efficiency rather than workload. Accept and capitalize on change.

Technical Advisors 75

Technical Advisors Startup Satisfaction Customer 75

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 16, 2018

Jim Semick: I’ve been launching and managing software products for 15 years now, going back to when you and I worked together at Expertcity before it was acquired by Citrix. I have always worked on early stage products. Some of the products I’ve helped validate and launch include GoToMyPC, GoToMeeting and AppFolio.

Venture Capital 115

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Santa Barbara SaaS 115

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2015

Creating an innovative new business is guaranteed to test your skills, patience and determination, and you need to derive satisfaction from the journey, as well as the destination. Don’t hesitate to call in an experienced advisor or mentor to help. Make sure there are metrics for problem counts, resolution time and revenue impact.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction Metrics 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2019

It definitely pays to get some help with your first step into social media, since first impressions often become lasting ones. Jumping in haphazardly with poorly a focused message is definitely non-productive, and may harm your business. Use business metrics and tools to tune your efforts. Do your homework before you begin.

Social Media 99

Social Media Media Tool Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2015

Five major elements of every business include your people, product, opportunity, money and marketing. Innovative products and services always take longer to develop than anticipated, and quality problems pop up where least expected. Written product specifications and business plans pay big dividends.

Startup 105

Startup Entrepreneur Marketing Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2014

How does any entrepreneur define the right balance, and then measure their performance against real metrics? Lots of people are trying to help, with new twists on the age-old model of free-market capitalism that has driven businesses for the last 500 years. Making a profit does not imply greed.

Startup 104

Startup Entrepreneur Examples Satisfaction 104

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2017

How does any entrepreneur define the right balance, and then measure their performance against real metrics? Lots of people are trying to help, with new twists on the age-old model of free-market capitalism that has driven businesses for the last 500 years. Making a profit does not imply greed.

Tips 55

Tips Startup Entrepreneur Examples 55

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2015

Many soon find that what you do in a personal context doesn’t necessarily translate to your business, and measuring business value is quite different from measuring personal satisfaction. Don’t forget the metrics and analytics. Assess your target customer demographics. Identify your target customer and create customer profiles.

Social Media 108

Social Media Media Startup Tips 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2013

How does any entrepreneur define the right balance, and then measure their performance against real metrics? Lots of people are trying to help, with new twists on the age-old model of free-market capitalism that has driven businesses for the last 500 years. Making a profit does not imply greed.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Startup Examples Satisfaction 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2015

To compensate, every visionary entrepreneur needs to find a partner who gets great satisfaction from results, and loves the discipline of making things happen on a day-to-day basis. The organization can’t keep up the pace of change, and soon loses motivation, productivity, and all sense of where they are headed.

Startup 99

Startup Ideas Organization Entrepreneur 99

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2017

Having a website won’t help if customers can’t find it. A big influx of customer orders may feel like success, but can kill your business quickly if you don’t have the cash to manufacture product, deliver on a timely basis, and cover receivables. Make sure it has no negative implications in any foreign language or culture.

Social Media 57

Social Media Search Engine Optimization Startup Customer 57

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2014

Maybe it’s just another example of nature abhorring a vacuum, but I prefer to think it’s a natural evolution of the pervasive social networking communities where people relate to, and expect to interact with businesses and products they like. They drive the market, rather than the other way around. Input = output.

Startup 101

Startup Tips Education Customer 101

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2016

To compensate, every visionary entrepreneur needs to find a partner who gets great satisfaction from results, and loves the discipline of making things happen on a day-to-day basis. The organization can’t keep up the pace of change, and soon loses motivation, productivity, and all sense of where they are headed.

Startup 55

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Organization 55

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2022

Like any coach would ask, you need to brainstorm and write down the short list of things that are getting in the way of your joy and satisfaction at work, as well as the single biggest thing that would grow your joy in business and personal life. It helps to partner with and coach others. Change your “nots” to “not yets.”

Coach 105

Coach Help Satisfaction Metrics 105

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2022

I too often see people who are quick to make excuses, blame failures on peers or customers, or see management as the reason for their lack of productivity. Setting your own metrics, and measuring yourself , will facilitate accountability. Also, it helps to work collaboratively with your team and other teams in the organization.

Activity 109

Activity Organization Mentor Training 109

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Dart and Lewis should know, since both have over twenty-five years of experience consulting with dozens of retail and consumer product companies, old and new. Measure your agility by putting metrics on change. Some may have no product at all for carry-out, with demonstrations and iPads for ordering and delivery the next day.

Customer 52

Customer Custom Technical Review Summary 52

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2012

By first understanding market problems, then building the products people want to buy, and communicating to buyers an understanding of their problems, everything else falls into place. Tuned in leaders understand the complete picture of market problems before building products. Build from the market outside-in. Marketing with a big “M.”

Customer 89

Customer Custom Organization Summary 89

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

By first understanding market problems, then building the products people want to buy, and communicating to buyers an understanding of their problems, everything else falls into place. Tuned in leaders understand the complete picture of market problems before building products. Build from the market outside-in. Marketing with a big “M.”

Startup 93

Startup Organization Customer Custom 93

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2010

A while back I found some great product leadership guidance in “ The Secrets of Tuned In Leaders ”, by Craig Stull, Phil Myers & David Meerman Scott. By first understanding market problems, then building the products people want to buy, and communicating to buyers an understanding of their problems, everything else falls into place.

Organization 89

Organization Customer Custom Summary 89

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2017

Too many inventors I know spend their six years or more perfecting the product, and give up in desperation if the business doesn’t then take off overnight. You may be able to invent a product alone, but a business requires partnerships, multiple disciplines, and loyal customers. Good business people are pragmatists.

Ideas 67

Ideas Product Startup Satisfaction 67