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5 Keys To An Unbeatable Solution For Your New Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

In my role as advisor and mentor to many new entrepreneurs, I often find myself suggesting that they think bigger. Ideas to improve the usability of an existing product, or ways to extend its audience, are not likely to be unique to you, and difficult to win over competitors. Be prepared to ship a minimum viable product and pivot.

Startup 162
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7 Excuses I Don’t Want To Hear For New Owner Failure

Startup Professionals Musings

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. Either could improve the statistic that half of startups fail within the first five years. So why do most startups fail?

Startup 135
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5 Tips For New Entrepreneurs Needing Investor Funding

Startup Professionals Musings

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. Successful startups are all about the right people with the right stuff. Pitch your company, not your product. Written business plan.

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What’s your story? Did someone else create it?

Berkonomics

I have a friend in the music business who worked hard to gain introductions to, and become mentored by, several known names in the business. One well known informal mentor called him the “Stevie Wonder of Hip Hop.” A mantra, tag line, motto, or logo with your unique brand definition is a good start. How do you define yourself?

Mentor 120
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7 Face-Saving Quotes For Entrepreneurs Ready To Quit

Startup Professionals Musings

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. Either could improve the statistic that half of startups fail within the first five years. So why do most startups fail?

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10 Obstacles To Creative Responses For Market Growth

Startup Professionals Musings

Successful entrepreneurs are the ones who think the most creatively, not only in their initial product or service, but more importantly all through the stages of growth from startup to maturity. Sales people tend to remember the latest product when selling to clients, not the one best for that customer. Tricked by recency.

Marketing 119
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7 Risks Of Not Leveraging Team Member Data Analytics

Startup Professionals Musings

Even after many years mentoring entrepreneurs and advising businesses, I continue to be surprised by the primary focus on products and processes, and the often incidental attention to hiring and nurturing the right people. Almost any startup can start with Excel, and move to open-source data analysis tools, including Python or RStudio.

Tool 121