article thumbnail

7 Strategies For Making A Mentoring Relationship Work

Startup Professionals Musings

I’m a big fan of mentoring in business, and have been at different times on both the contributing and receiving end of the process. These days, I seem to often hear from entrepreneurs who are struggling to find a mentor, or complaining about their lack of effectiveness. When you meet with a mentor, you should lead the discussion.

Mentor 151
article thumbnail

6 Success Stages Every Entrepreneur Idea Has To Pass

Startup Professionals Musings

As a business mentor, I sometimes feel besieged by people begging for my view and support of their latest idea. In reality, I like most ideas, but I have to tell them that the real challenge is taking the inspiration from a dream to a business reality. It seems like everyone wants to be an entrepreneur and get rich these days.

Ideas 136
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Upfront Ventures Adds Hamet Watt as New Investment Partner

Both Sides of the Table

But as sweet as that success has been (we invested pre-revenue in a small team) today my even more important news was the further expansion of our partner ranks. The idea immediately resonated. At every entrepreneur event I through between 2008-2012 I invite Hamet because he was a great mentor for entrepreneurs. I stayed close.

Invest 340
article thumbnail

8 Entrepreneur Attributes Proven To Attract Investors

Startup Professionals Musings

In other words, the entrepreneur quality is more important than the idea -- in investor jargon, people invest in the jockey, and not the horse. High leaders continually challenged their own ideas and were quicker to adapt them to encompass new information, experiences, and meaning. Marty Zwilling.

article thumbnail

5 Reasons Every Smart Business Owner Seeks A Mentor

Startup Professionals Musings

As a long-time mentor and business advisor, I find it ironic that many look only to friends for advice. They forget that friends tell you what you want to hear, while good mentors tell you what you need to hear. When the message is the same from both, you probably don’t need the mentor anymore, but you always need the friend.

Mentor 72
article thumbnail

Some Reflections on VC Investment Decisions

Both Sides of the Table

I started in 2007 with a thesis that my primary investment decision would be about the team (70%) and only afterward about the market opportunity (30%). But they are also a tax on your time with portfolio companies, looking for new investments, running your shop and honestly they are a tax on your family life.

article thumbnail

Don’t Ask a Best Friend to be Your Startup Mentor

Startup Professionals Musings

Mentors tell you what you need to hear. When the message is the same from both, you don’t need the mentor anymore. In that sense, you should think of a mentor more like your advisor who has done all he can. Also don’t confuse a business mentor with a business coach. You need someone who: Applies pragmatics to your ideas.

Mentor 101