Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2021

As a long-time business advisor and mentor to entrepreneurs, I consistently find that the most thriving businesses are people-centric, and those team members create the best processes, rather than the other way around. That takes less time and gives everyone greater satisfaction.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2021

I’ve always wondered if there was some way that I could quickly deduce a new entrepreneur’s “sweet spot,” and optimize my mentoring to those strengths and weaknesses, maybe similar to the Myers-Briggs type indicator for business professionals. Of course, discovering your entrepreneur type is only the beginning. Some are very positive.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2022

Yet I find, as a mentor and outside consultant, that many of you focus only on working conditions and compensation as the key factors determining team engagement , health, and productivity. Of course, you as the business leader have a key role in making all this happen. Occupational satisfaction. Social interactions.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2022

It’s been happening for some time, but business changes, accelerated by the recent pandemic, have highlighted the need for all of us to review our positions, image, and satisfaction at work. Now may be the time to build new credentials is this digital age by taking time for education courses and attending digital conferences.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2023

Yet I find in my mentoring practice that more and more team members prefer the human-centered approach and respond with more engagement and commitment. Make it clear that you always aim for progress, expect mistakes, and recognize that course-corrections or pivots are normal in business. Develop self-awareness of your triggers.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2023

That’s why I’m impressed with the classic book, “ All Dreams on Deck: Charting the Course for Your Life and Work ,” by Jeremy Cage. The best entrepreneurs relish the challenges, and get great satisfaction from overcoming and learning from adversity. Ask for help from advisors and mentor your team.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2019

Unfortunately, work and satisfaction have become an oxymoron in many businesses. I loved it when my boss gave me the additional responsibility of mentoring others in solving tough problems. Regularly asking for insight, and then following up, to fix these wasted efforts, will improve job satisfaction, as well as productivity.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2021

Of course, this kind of leadership has a big risk, since you have no one to blame if you get it wrong. This may mean attending industry conferences, taking college courses, or reading some key books. The more you use your new-found leadership ability, the greater will be your satisfaction and confidence.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2022

Of course the work must be done well, but your way or the highway is not the right way. It will inspire loyalty, provide real satisfaction for work done, and become the basis for mentoring and performance reviews. This requires hiring people with the right skills, not the least expensive or friends and family.

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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.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

Of course, starting and running your own business comes with financial and personal risks, so I always recommend that you do your homework first, and follow some tried and proven strategies to improve your odds of success. But if you do it right, the joys and satisfaction, as well as financial returns, of your success can’t be beat.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2022

After years mentoring young aspiring entrepreneurs , I am now convinced that getting along and becoming more productive with other people is a skill that any professional can learn, or accomplish via a dedicated strategy. Don’t let any hidden agendas or ulterior motives, such as political strategy, throw you off course.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 11, 2021

You can learn to be an entrepreneur by working in a startup, talking to peers, and mentoring. Of course, you must hire the right people and really listen to them, but don’t expect them to do your job. I like people who do their homework first, and take calculated risks, rather than closing their eyes and jumping.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

Many entrepreneurs I have mentored make big mistakes in this area, by hiring low-cost friends and family, with minimal skills or training, and expecting them to have the same work ethic , passion, and business knowledge as the founder. In addition, you can reduce to soft costs of mentoring, relationship building, and socializing.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2020

Of course, as you work with contract players, explore the potential for a long-term relationship, and wait until your organization matures to pursue career positions. Freelancers and consultants have to demonstrate results, without training and mentoring, so they can help you more quickly and probably at a lower total cost.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2019

Image via Pixabay I’ve always been a bit confused about the difference in a business context between a coach and a mentor. According to many pundits , a mentor shows you the right way based on experience, while a coach brings out the best in you, then let’s you find your own way. Give people the room to debate differences.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 26, 2021

With some coaching and mentoring from other leaders, I was able to do it myself, so I know you can do it too, by committing to the following strategies: Train yourself to always look for positives, not negatives. Of course, most professionals are optimistic, so they tend to over-commit and underestimate work requirements.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2020

That’s why I’m impressed with the classic book, “ All Dreams on Deck: Charting the Course for Your Life and Work ,” by Jeremy Cage. The best entrepreneurs relish the challenges, and get great satisfaction from overcoming and learning from adversity. Ask for help from advisors and mentor your team.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2018

Most people get a tremendous satisfaction from helping others, but are equally afraid to offer without being asked. The best way to do this in business is to proactively ask someone to be your mentor. The most successful business executives build one or more two-way mentoring relationships with peers.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2019

Of course the work must be done well, but your way or the highway is not the right way. It will inspire loyalty, provide real satisfaction for work done, and become the basis for mentoring and performance reviews. This requires hiring people with the right skills, not the least expensive or friends and family.

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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. Your future satisfaction and success likely depends on your answer. My simple answer is that they keep their focus on customers, rather than technology.

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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.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2015

Creating an innovative new business is guaranteed to test your skills, patience and determination, and you need to derive satisfaction from the journey, as well as the destination. Don’t hesitate to call in an experienced advisor or mentor to help. Of course, problem-solving is required for scaling and continued business growth.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2015

Apply the same high bar to product quality, employee satisfaction, social responsibilities and customer service. Don’t let day-to-day demands take the reins and drag you off course. Doing the right thing means never accepting “good enough” or making excuses for lapses. Provide leadership to your team for doing the right thing.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2015

As an advisor and mentor to startups, I try to make sure entrepreneurs understand both the pros and cons of an IPO as an exit strategy. Of course, there are cases where a new technology or medical startup needs that huge financial infusion to build the infrastructure needed for real growth, so the rewards are worth the risks and costs.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2015

Of course the work must be done well, but your way or the highway is not the right way. It will inspire loyalty, provide real satisfaction for work done, and become the basis for mentoring and performance reviews. This requires hiring people with the right skills, not the least expensive or friends and family.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2017

As an advisor to startups, and a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m still surprised at the number who are determined to go it alone. Of course, the right ones cost may you equity, but a small percentage of a big business is worth far more to you than a large chunk of nothing. Don’t let your ego get in the way.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 19, 2016

Rather than focus on negatives, let me summarize key positive attributes that I look for in people to move ahead, from my own experience as a corporate executive, and many years mentoring entrepreneurs. Too many employees are searching for that magic course that will make their existing job easy, rather than preparing for the next one.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

Of course the work must be done well, but your way or the highway is not the right way. It will inspire loyalty, provide real satisfaction for work done, and become the basis for mentoring and performance reviews. This requires hiring people with the right skills, not the least expensive or friends and family.

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Startup SEO Social Media Satisfaction 53

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 3, 2013

Of course the work must be done well, but your way or the highway is not the right way. It will inspire loyalty, provide real satisfaction for work done, and become the basis for mentoring and performance reviews. This requires hiring people with the right skills, not the least expensive or friends and family.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 21, 2012

As a result, there have also been many new resources and mentors popping up specifically aimed at women. Here is a short list of impacts they commonly reported and all mentors have seen: You feel overwhelmed. The antidote and solution to doing too much is doing less and, of course, doing it well.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

For this, you should expect participation in monthly strategy and review meetings, and unlimited access via phone or email for questions, mentoring, and advice. Based on my experience, it is reasonable to offer 1% ownership in your company to each advisor, plus expenses, and a small annual stipend of maybe $1000.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2017

That’s why I’m impressed with a new book, “ All Dreams on Deck: Charting the Course for Your Life and Work ,” by Jeremy Cage. The best entrepreneurs relish the challenges, and get great satisfaction from overcoming and learning from adversity. Ask for help from advisors and mentor your team.

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Startup Entrepreneur Social Media Coach 63

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2013

Of course, that leads to further isolation. Most people by nature get some satisfaction from team interaction, working toward the same goal. Even if your startup is a one-man show, you can find an intelligent outside mentor or advisory board member to bounce ideas off. It doesn't have to be lonely at the top.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2012

Of course the work must be done well, but your way or the highway is not the right way. It will inspire loyalty, provide real satisfaction for work done, and become the basis for mentoring and performance reviews. This requires hiring people with the right skills, not the least expensive or friends and family.

Entrepreneur 96

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2011

For this, you should expect participation in monthly strategy and review meetings, and unlimited access via phone or email for questions, mentoring, and advice. Based on my experience, it is reasonable to offer 1% ownership in your company to each advisor, plus expenses, and a small annual stipend of maybe $1000.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2012

Of course, that leads to further isolation. Most people by nature get some satisfaction from team interaction, working toward the same goal. Even if your startup is a one-man show, you can find an intelligent outside mentor or advisory board member to bounce ideas off. It doesn't have to be lonely at the top.

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Startup Satisfaction Organization Mentor 97