Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2022

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Technology 133

Technology Cloud Computing Social Media Networking 133

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2019

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Mentor 85

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Summary 85

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2020

Yet as I mentor entrepreneurs around the country, it still seems to be one of the least understood approaches to startup funding, with more myths than accredited angels and professional venture capital investors combined. The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return.

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Satisfaction Equity 129

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often get asked for the magic that has made Amazon the world's most valuable brand , from a total unknown only twenty years ago. Their pricing algorithm crawls the Web daily, and adjusts prices to always match the lowest price found anywhere, offline or online.

Marketing 123

Marketing Technical Review Customer Custom 123

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2015

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Mentor 105

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2014

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Mentor Technical Review Satisfaction 102

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2019

Quantify your results in terms of cost per transaction, higher customer satisfaction, lower prices, and profit per employee, rather than number of transactions or hours worked. Accept and capitalize on change. Highlight your productivity and efficiency rather than workload. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 03/18/2019.

Technical Advisors 75

Technical Advisors Startup Satisfaction Customer 75

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Yet as I mentor entrepreneurs around the country, it still seems to be one of the least understood approaches to startup funding, with more myths than accredited angels and professional venture capital investors combined. The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return.

Venture Capital 108

Venture Capital Angel Satisfaction Equity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2019

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Technology 86

Technology Cloud Computing Social Media Networking 86

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

In essence, as a contractor, you are a consultant who is competing regularly for new work, and you constantly have to differentiate your offering from other candidates, including price. Use blogging, outside publication, and speaking or mentoring opportunities to establish credibility and stand out above peers.

Startup 98

Startup Outsource Development Competition Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2015

Ironically, as a startup investor and mentor, I have seen too many failures caused by just the opposite – too much money spent too soon, taking time to get product perfection, and assuming customers will wait. Adding priced services is another way to augment a product business. Create new kinds of solutions.

Resource 98

Resource Entrepreneur Competition Startup 98

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2015

Bring in expert advisors and mentors to set initial goals, and build recovery plans. Don’t wait for your worst case scenario where no customers show up, and expect that slashing the price will solve the problem. Even though invention can’t be scheduled, detailed planning does work, both on the product side and the business side.

Startup 105

Startup Entrepreneur Marketing Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2015

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Startup 107

Startup Cloud Computing Social Media Entrepreneur 107

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2012

But very quickly, it is becoming obvious to startups that the value and satisfaction exceeds the costs. Socially responsible products typically sell at a premium price. More and more customers choose a company based on their perceptions about the good that they do, as well as the price and service. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 100

Startup Organization Customer Custom 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2017

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Cloud Computing 61

Cloud Computing Startup Social Media Networking 61

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2017

Many business executives and entrepreneurs I know are convinced that business success is all about having the right solution for the right price. Takers can never get satisfaction, and they antagonize those around them. Thus most investors I know claim to invest in the person, rather than the product. Only givers build self-esteem.

Software Review 57

Software Review Technical Review Startup Press 57

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2014

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Cloud Computing 99

Cloud Computing Social Media Entrepreneur Networking 99

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2017

Based on my current role as a mentor to entrepreneurs, I will paraphrase and recommend Whiddon’s top techniques in business terms: Build an image of likability and rapport. As an example, early businesses that were willing to publish their commitment to “customer satisfaction or your money back” became influencers.

Social Media 58

Social Media Customer Custom Entrepreneur 58

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2015

Yet, due largely to non-technology business considerations, including pricing, safety concerns and support infrastructure, there are none that most people can name. Most successful entrepreneurs, including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, maintain mentor relationships with key advisors that they highly respect.

Technical Review 54

Technical Review Product Activity Technology 54

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2013

Do we price for volume of consumption or for enterprise integration with other platforms? The board was unanimous in our opinion of this including outside director Ian Rogers who has served as Jonathan’s mentor and friend. Jonathan shared that experience in his blog post so I won’t repeat it.

Startup 303

Startup Technical Review Product Blogging 303

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

In most companies, maintaining momentum requires the right strategic partners and acquisitions, in lieu of short-term price adjustments and special sales. Utilize outside expertise and mentoring. Your long-term success and satisfaction depends on it. The company has since gone public, and is still a market leader.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 20, 2013

Users may want different features, key partners may not be happy with certain decisions you’ve made, or the price point may be too high or too low to sustain a successful business model. Such an approach will increase overall satisfaction of your startup team as you empower these leaders with the influence to affect the bottom line.

Startup 94

Startup CTO Coach Coach Study 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2022

You need other people with skills that complement yours, are not “yes” people, and have relevant experience rather than a low price-tag. Too many business people let the daily challenges cause them to revert to emotional and autocratic demands, failure to communicate, and inability to coach and mentor team members.

Startup 143

Startup Competition Coach Satisfaction 143

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 3, 2015

Many women rose to the top of their careers only to discover how unsatisfying, soul-draining and unhealthy a lifestyle it was and completely changed careers to find satisfaction doing something completely different where they once again became successful, but in a more balanced manner.

Conference 40

Conference Entertainment Startup Digital Hollywood 40