Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

So here are my own top recommendations on how to think about your business aspirations, and put innovation in perspective among all the other priorities you will need to achieve success and satisfaction with your role on the road ahead. Search for customer pain rather than high margins. Experiment and pivot to avoid ‘big bang’ expectations.

Artificial Inteligence 114

Artificial Inteligence Ideas Satisfaction Customer 114

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2020

All the technical people I know laughed when Amazon patented their big red button for a “one-click-buy,” but many pundits now attribute their scaling success to this simplification for the average customer. Your long-term satisfaction and business success depends on it. Google and others have since emulated this feature.

Startup 141

Startup Customer Custom Design 141

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2021

Too many Innovators are like Dean Kamen , still struggling with the Segway Human Transporter , while holding over 1000 other device patents. But I see a real opportunity here for every entrepreneur to optimize his impact, and his personal satisfaction, with a minimum of effort.

Entrepreneur 134

Entrepreneur Framework Mentor Web 134

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2020

A while back, one of my aspiring entrepreneur friends was trying to impress me with his expertise, by bragging that he had the idea for a couple of innovations before anyone else, but he just never got around to filing a patent before someone stole it from him. Plan to learn from what doesn’t work, but never give up.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. If you deliver a great service, but no one knows it, your business will suffer.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2014

In addition, we all know that patent disclosure rules often facilitate legal reverse engineering, and innovation at this point is now much cheaper. Timing is critical, as well as a focus on marketing and customer satisfaction. Capitalize on the lessons from early adopters and competitors.

Technology 103

Technology Entrepreneur Study Research 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. If you deliver a great service, but no one knows it, your business will suffer.

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2016

New business models that provide an ongoing revenue stream, or a secondary stream from advertising, raise your margins and can give you some additional satisfaction. Watch that patent provide a real barrier to competitive entry. Feel the inspiration from peers asking for your secret, or peers trying to model their efforts after yours.

Satisfaction 61

Satisfaction Startup Customer Custom 61

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

Over time, I have collected a list of new business attributes that go beyond the initial idea or solution, which often are more critical to long-term success and satisfaction. Elon Musk mitigated this by making his battery patents free to all. Solutions and inventions alone do not make a business.

Tips 80

Tips Startup Satisfaction Ideas 80

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 30, 2023

In addition, we all know that patent disclosure rules often facilitate legal reverse engineering, and innovation at this point is now much cheaper. Timing is critical, as well as focus on marketing and customer satisfaction. Capitalize on the lessons from early adopters and competitors.

Social Media 92

Social Media Study Research Satisfaction 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2014

Despite some recent advances, there are still some cultures which have less regard for patents and other intellectual property. You cant isolate your customers from language idiosyncrasies and empowerment issues, per reduced customer satisfaction highlighted a while back by the Wall Street Journal.

Outsource Development 95

Outsource Development Outsource Offshore Software Review 95

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2014

If your business is managing contracts and patents, it makes sense, but the CLO for most startups is LegalZoom on the Internet. They should get their satisfaction from building their business, rather than building their title. Chief Legal Officer. Also known as General Counsel, this position is an expensive one to fill and maintain.

CTO Hire 100

CTO Hire Funding Cloud Computing CIO 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

If your business is managing contracts and patents, it makes sense, but the CLO for most startups is LegalZoom on the Internet. They should get their satisfaction from building their business, rather than building their title. Chief Legal Officer. Also known as General Counsel, this position is an expensive one to fill and maintain.

Startup 97

Startup Invest CTO Hire Cloud Computing 97

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2010

If your business is managing contracts and patents, it makes sense, but the CLO for most startups is LegalZoom on the Internet. They should get their satisfaction from building their business, rather than building their title. Chief Legal Officer. Also known as General Counsel, this position is an expensive one to fill and maintain.

Startup 90

Startup CTO Hire Cloud Computing CIO 90

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. If you deliver a great service, but no one knows it, your business will suffer.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

In addition, we all know that patent disclosure rules often facilitate legal reverse engineering, and innovation at this point is now much cheaper. Timing is critical, as well as focus on marketing and customer satisfaction. Capitalize on the lessons from early adopters and competitors.

Startup 65

Startup Social Media Study Research 65

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2016

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. If you deliver a great service, but no one knows it, your business will suffer.

Services 61

Services Startup Training Writing 61

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2016

In addition, we all know that patent disclosure rules often facilitate legal reverse engineering, and innovation at this point is now much cheaper. Timing is critical, as well as focus on marketing and customer satisfaction. Capitalize on the lessons from early adopters and competitors.

Technology 57

Technology Startup Study Research 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2016

Patents and other intellectual property must be secured at this point. In addition, you will like the exhilaration and satisfaction that comes with a successful moonshot. It’s time for the executive team and advisory board to commit the necessary funds and people resources to complete the plan. Move into full project execution mode.

Startup 56

Startup Metrics Entrepreneur Resource 56

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2016

Despite some recent advances, there are still some cultures which have less regard for patents and other intellectual property. You can’t isolate your customers from language idiosyncrasies and empowerment issues, per reduced customer satisfaction highlighted a while back by the Wall Street Journal.

Outsource Development 53

Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Technical Review 53

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2021

Everyone seems to espouse extrinsic motivations, such as getting rich, having power, and fulfilling parent dreams, when in fact a focus on satisfying internal interests and desires will likely lead to more success, as well as satisfaction. Satisfaction of doing something great. Do it for meaning.

Startup 144

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Patents 144

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 28, 2015

Everyone seems to espouse extrinsic motivations, such as getting rich, having power, and fulfilling parent dreams, when in fact a focus on satisfying internal interests and desires will likely lead to more success, as well as satisfaction. Satisfaction of doing something great. Do it for meaning.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Patents Ideas 111

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

Everyone seems to espouse extrinsic motivations, such as getting rich, having power, and fulfilling parent dreams, when in fact a focus on satisfying internal interests and desires will likely lead to more success, as well as satisfaction. Satisfaction of doing something great. Do it for meaning.

Satisfaction 108

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Patents Ideas 108

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2018

Everyone seems to espouse extrinsic motivations, such as getting rich, having power, and fulfilling parent dreams, when in fact a focus on satisfying internal interests and desires will likely lead to more success, as well as satisfaction. Satisfaction of doing something great. Do it for meaning.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Patents Ideas 98

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 24, 2011

If we had stayed on the sidelines, waiting for less market uncertainty, we would have lost the opportunity to file the landmark medical robotic patents that eventually motivated Intuitive Surgical to purchase Computer Motion for approximately $150 million. Measure Thrice, Cut Once. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.”. Bargains Galore.

Company 257

Company Companies Startup Study 257

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

If your product is really new and disruptive, make sure you have supply to meet the demand at rollout, and a patent to prevent others from jumping in quickly. I suspect that most of these have failed their way to this top satisfaction. Use the rule of “plan early, quote late, and ship early,” to be a hero rather than a zero.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Satisfaction 109

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 30, 2020

If your product is really new and disruptive, make sure you have supply to meet the demand at rollout, and a patent to prevent others from jumping in quickly. I suspect that most of these have failed their way to this top satisfaction. Use the rule of “plan early, quote late, and ship early,” to be a hero rather than a zero.

Startup 125

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 125

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2022

If your product is really new and disruptive, make sure you have supply to meet the demand at rollout, and a patent to prevent others from jumping in quickly. I suspect that most of these have failed their way to this top satisfaction. Use the rule of “plan early, quote late, and ship early,” to be a hero rather than a zero.

Startup 100

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2015

If your product is really new and disruptive, make sure you have supply to meet the demand at rollout, and a patent to prevent others from jumping in quickly. I suspect that most of these have failed their way to this top satisfaction. Use the rule of “plan early, quote late, and ship early,” to be a hero rather than a zero.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction 60

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2018

If your product is really new and disruptive, make sure you have supply to meet the demand at rollout, and a patent to prevent others from jumping in quickly. I suspect that most of these have failed their way to this top satisfaction. Use the rule of “plan early, quote late, and ship early,” to be a hero rather than a zero.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup Customer 63

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Too many Innovators are like Dean Kamen , still struggling with the Segway Human Transporter , while holding 440 other device patents. But I see a real opportunity here for every entrepreneur to optimize his impact, and his personal satisfaction, with a minimum of effort.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Mentor Framework Web 96

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2017

Patents and other intellectual property go to the first person who files, rather than the first person with the idea. Great entrepreneurs find the satisfaction and the learning in making those steps, rather than merely thinking about them. Thinking without action leads to lost opportunities. Time is money in business.

Ideas 72

Ideas Entrepreneur Examples Satisfaction 72