Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2021

In my role as mentor to business professionals, I often get the question about your potential of going out on your own as an entrepreneur, versus your current role of working for a boss at an established company. Most people think success depends on first having that innovative and unique idea, but I would beg to differ.

Entrepreneur 158

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Ideas Social Media 158

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2020

As a mentor to startups, I see more startups that are really an individual professional, marketing themselves as a consultant or freelancer in this new gig economy. This world changes rapidly, and needs a professional with experience in digital and conventional media to keep up. Software Development Professional. Sales Professional.

Startup 164

Startup Social Media Course Entrepreneur 164

InfoChachkie

JUNE 17, 2014

It should be no surprise that this social media guru has earned over 113,000 authentic Twitter followers. His bonafides are impressive: named by Forbes as a Top 50 Social Media Influencer, cited by LinkedIn as a Top 25 Social Media Market Expert and proclaimed by AdWeek to be a Top 50 Person Re-Tweeted By Marketing Leaders.

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Activity Social Media Startup Mentor 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2023

Inside the organization, it also pays to offer some of your time for coaching and mentoring to less experienced team members, as an entrée to a supportive relationship. Graduate from an idea person to one who delivers results. Ideas without results kill many businesses. Loners need not apply.

Startup 121

Startup Satisfaction Technical Review Ideas 121

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2023

In this age of interactive social media, your culture image quickly spreads to customers, and determines their loyalty. Everyone knows and admires the leaders , including Google and Zappos, but most entrepreneurs have only a fuzzy idea of what to do to get there. So, how do you build trust? Flatten management levels.

Claremont 101

Claremont Mentor Study Startup 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing more than sweat, instead of the desired sweat equity. Similarly, it will be very satisfying to see the productivity increases from your leadership and mentoring.

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Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2023

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. My idea is just too far ahead of its time.” Either could improve the statistic that half of startups fail within the first five years.

Startup 135

Startup Entrepreneur Statistics Course 135

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

As a mentor to young aspiring entrepreneurs , I often get asked for tips on a strategy to get started. Don’t be shy about networking for advisors with business experience for coaching and mentoring. Raising money is difficult, even with the best idea, so don’t assume any entitlement to loans, grants, or seed funding.

Startup 114

Startup Tips Coach Satisfaction 114

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2021

In my role as advisor and mentor to many new entrepreneurs, I often find myself suggesting that they think bigger. For example, I’m not sure the world needs one more social media niche site, or another dating site, or yet another flavored drink alternative. Marketing should begin even at the idea stage.

Startup 162

Startup Metrics Ideas Entrepreneur 162

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

In many ways this was the precursor to the MVP philosophy our era espoused by Steve Blank and the ideas we discuss around product/market fit. So Troy and Lady Gaga were amongst the earliest artists that turned to social media and tech platforms to break out. It’s the same story.

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Mentor Venture Capital Marketing Product 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

The realm of an entrepreneur is all about change, but in my experience as a mentor to business founders, I hear too much about incremental change, and not enough about revolutionary change. Whenever you have a great idea, ask yourself why it couldn’t be made 10 times bigger, or even 100 times. Talk to everyone and think young.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Social Media Artificial Inteligence Examples 103

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2020

In this age of interactive social media, your culture image quickly spreads to customers, and determines their loyalty. Everyone knows and admires the leaders , including Google and Zappos, but most entrepreneurs have only a fuzzy idea of what to do to get there. So, how do you build trust? Flatten management levels.

Claremont 172

Claremont Mentor Study Startup 172

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and startups, here are my best recommendations for keeping the burn rate low, planning ahead and maintaining credibility with investors: Manage cash flow personally every day. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2023

As an entrepreneur mentor and startup investor, I see with sadness the 50 to 90 percent that fail. With the success of Facebook and Twitter, I still see new social media startups almost every day, with most destined to fail. But I’m not convinced that it’s as simple as that. Relying on an old formula for success.

Entrepreneur 125

Entrepreneur Netflix Social Media Startup 125

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

You should also use these forums to test and hone your solution idea for general acceptance, before your risk your own money and investor funds to build a shippable version. Anticipate and establish supporting social media accounts. It’s easier, cheaper, and quicker to pivot at this stage rather than later.

Product 127

Product Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Technical Review 127

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2020

For example, I often hear proposals for new online social media or collaboration platforms, maybe more specifically tuned to inventors or artists, or easier to use, and populated by experts, to compete against Slack or Facebook. Take a deeper dive into your idea before you declare. He is quoted as saying, “I have not failed.

Startup 134

Startup Artificial Inteligence Ideas Entrepreneur 134

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that most have the technical challenges well understood, but many are a bit short on some basic street smarts , or basic business realities. Start with a range of platforms, including social media, advertising, and a great website.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2021

With longer life expectancies and greater health in later life, older generations are moving to start new firms -- and mentor young entrepreneurs. 83 percent of online users aged 50-64 use social media now, and the growth rate continues to increase. They are becoming the new early adopters.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Technical Support Entrepreneur Startup 126

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

The first step is to set your criteria, including a match for your sector type and stage, and then proactively seek out and contact the best candidates: Review profiles on professional social media sites. There is a good chance that business advisors and mentors also have access to investment capital, or know someone who does.

Statistics 98

Statistics Entrepreneur Funding Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2021

With real-time online reviews and feedback via the Internet, and instant relationships via social media, a voice from the top that is inconsistent with what is heard from the firing line defines a dysfunctional and noncompetitive company for today’s customer. Thus team makeup is the critical success factor.

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Class Develop Development Startup 155

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

These days, with all the new technology, including smartphones and social media, many are convinced that multi-tasking is the answer. I concur, based on my own extended career in business and mentoring entrepreneurs. It means always paying full attention to the people, objects, and ideas around you.

Email 96

Email Activity Product Social Media 96

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

The first step is to set your criteria, including a match for your sector type and stage, and then proactively seek out and contact the best candidates: Review profiles on professional social media sites. There is a good chance that business advisors and mentors also have access to investment capital, or know someone who does.

Funding 173

Funding Tips Startup Statistics 173

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2022

In my role as a mentor to entrepreneurs and an angel investor, I find that too many are stuck in this myth that a good pitch, and good marketing content, should consist of more product features, and more hype on customer benefits. PowerPoint pitches crammed with words will bury your message and yourself.

Startup 117

Startup Social Media Guide Content 117

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 20, 2013

In today’s uber-connected, social media, everything-is-public, people tell you there’s killing it with these new features, investor & mentor whiplash – it’s hard to avoid the latest thing. Yet sadly most startups have “shiny object” obsessions. The new thing. The shiny object. Just say no.

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Course Resource Social Media Design 368

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

As a new business advisor and occasional investor, I get approached regularly by people who have a dream or a new business idea, and are looking for support and money to make it a reality. Thus, I’m more impressed with entrepreneurs who ask me to review their implementation plan, rather than listen again to their idea.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2022

Your role is to provide this enablement, through listening to their needs, and providing personal coaching and mentoring as required. He is always open to the ideas of his team, and even if he doesn't agree that an idea will work, he'll say so, but he often supports and funds it anyway.

Product 109

Product Training Customer Custom 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2021

I often think of the scope of this example in my role as mentor to a struggling entrepreneur who is quick to blame his problems on employee mistakes, or even changing customer expectations. He later closed more than 8,000 of his stores for a day to provide employee racial-bias training. Don’t wait for a crisis to test accountability.

Training 173

Training Examples Startup Social Media 173

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2020

These holidays, with all the new technology, including smartphones and social media, many are convinced that multi-tasking is the answer. I concur, based on my own extended career in business and mentoring entrepreneurs. It means always paying full attention to the people, objects, and ideas around you.

Email 170

Email Activity Social Media Coach 170

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2022

In my role as a mentor, I challenge every business leader to be more open-minded as they face the challenges of change and new competitors entering their space. You need to solicit diverse and creative ideas from outliers, and people who are willing to take a risk, even if you don’t agree. For this to work requires trust on both sides.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Customer Custom Social Media 120

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 2012

As the founder of an accelerator, I'm constantly being approached by ambitious people with big ideas, and generally we invest in 1/100th of what comes to us. We were also about to build a really solid mentor network in a short period of time, pulling in about 250 CEO's and CTOs, from all backgrounds and locations. Finally, Google.

Southern California 168

Southern California High Tech SaaS Social Media 168

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2015

As a mentor to startups, I see more and more startups that are really an individual professional, marketing themselves as a consultant or freelancer. This world changes rapidly, and needs a professional with experience in digital and conventional media to keep up. business professional entrepreneur mentor startup'

Entrepreneur 99

Entrepreneur Startup Mentor Social Media 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 7, 2019

In my role as a mentor to many business professionals, I still see some who have no idea how to adapt to the new realities. Most employees I know have no idea what their business life costs, since they have never had to worry about costs as employees. Start tracking your costs as well as income elements.

Artificial Inteligence 96

Artificial Inteligence Startup Social Media Training 96

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2020

As an entrepreneur mentor and startup investor, I see with sadness the 50 to 90 percent that fail. With the success of Facebook and Twitter, I still see new social media startups almost every day, with most destined to fail. But I’m not convinced that it’s as simple as that. Relying on an old formula for success.

Startup 124

Startup Netflix Social Media Customer 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 18, 2020

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. My idea is just too far ahead of its time.” Either could improve the statistic that half of startups fail within the first five years.

Entrepreneur 121

Entrepreneur Startup Statistics Course 121

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and startups, here are my best recommendations for keeping the burn rate low, planning ahead and maintaining credibility with investors: Manage cash flow personally every day. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

socalTECH

DECEMBER 27, 2012

Kevin Winston , is the organizer of Digital LA , the popular and widely attended networking organization for the Los Angeles startup, web, movie, music, marketing, and social media community. What was the biggest news for you/your firm this year? What was the biggest lesson you learned over the past year (good or bad)?

Dollar Shave Club 272

Dollar Shave Club Technical Review Santa Monica Southern California 272

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2019

With longer life expectancies and greater health in later life, older generations are moving to start new firms -- and mentor young entrepreneurs. 65 percent of online users aged 50-64 use social media now, and the growth rate continues to increase. They are becoming the new early adopters.

Startup 119

Startup Technical Review Technical Support Entrepreneur 119