Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

Trust me – your chances of selling are much lower if you’re talking rather than actively listening. Let’s assume you run a Customer Support software company. Do you simply begin by asking, “I’d love to understand what your objectives are in customer support? Where are your current pains?&#.

Sales 314

Sales Startup Venture Capital Custom 314

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2022

One of the attributes that I often recommend to the business professionals and entrepreneurs I mentor is to always be totally accountable for your actions and ideas. I too often see people who are quick to make excuses, blame failures on peers or customers, or see management as the reason for their lack of productivity.

Activity 109

Activity Organization Mentor Training 109

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

He shared tons of information about how how they were using marketing to quantitatively make marketing decisions at HauteLook and acquire customers for prices that were far cheaper than similar companies. Natural mentors – a desire to help. I instantly hit it off with Greg because we was a fountain of knowledge.

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan. And because I wanted Ethan to be able to attract a great team, build & iterate a product, test it with initial customers and refine his strategy before having to take the wrappers off of his company. The company was called Red Beacon. So there you have it.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 28, 2017

As a long-time mentor and business advisor, I find it ironic that many look only to friends for advice. They forget that friends tell you what you want to hear, while good mentors tell you what you need to hear. When the message is the same from both, you probably don’t need the mentor anymore, but you always need the friend.

Mentor 72

Mentor Coach Help Ideas 72

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

As a long-time mentor to new entrepreneurs and business owners, I have noticed that many no longer associate more fulfillment and satisfaction with more money, power, and success. In fact, customers today also seem more attracted to companies with a higher purpose than profit. Mentor others to share what you have learned.

Satisfaction 173

Satisfaction Mentor Coach Entrepreneur 173

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2021

In these days of rapid change, the pandemic, and worldwide competition, you need to make sure your entire team is customer-focused, innovative, and always looking around the corner for the next big thing. Find folks who are customer-centric and sensitive to competition. Find people who enjoy being problem solvers.

Coach 174

Coach Activity Custom Customer 174

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

I admit that I haven’t yet read it but I’ve had numerous discussions with Brad over the years about board structure & conduct and consider him a mentor on the topic. So we first turned to solve the question of how to better meet the needs of our growing customer base of large brands and media companies. Mentorship.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

socalTECH

APRIL 8, 2013

What''s the idea behind the incubator--which gives its startups $20,000 in capital, education, mentoring, working space, and more--and how is it tied to USC? We''re giving them access to capital, mentors to build companies, and all here in Los Angeles. There''s been a lot of incubation activity in the Los Angeles are recently.

Incubator 233

Incubator USC Startup Artificial Inteligence 233

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2019

The challenge is to adequately define leadership in terms of everyday activities. Thus I’m always looking for more practical guidance on the right activities to be perceived as a business leader. Show that you actively listen to feedback and model the values. Envision the future by imagining the possibilities. Marty Zwilling.

Activity 92

Activity Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2021

The last thing they can afford is to waste any of these, but in my mentoring and coaching activities, I see it happening all too often. Waste in a startup is any activity that burns resources, but creates no value or competitive advantage in the eyes of customers. Focus on activities rather than results.

Startup 161

Startup Resource Training Entrepreneur 161

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2020

As an angel investor and a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always disappointed to see founders who seem stressed out most of the time, and more annoyed than energized by the abundance of challenges they see in building their startup. Able to balance right-brain and left-brain activities.

Startup 171

Startup Entrepreneur Activity Ideas 171

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2009

And you can always bring on a senior person as a mentor / coach to help guide you personally to become a better sales leader until you’re ready for somebody more senior on your team. He felt that we didn’t price correctly and he didn’t want to see customers until he had a grip on it. WTF!! ?? !!

Startup 327

Startup Sales Class CIO 327

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2022

I was shocked to read an old Gallup study that indicates only 13 percent of employees worldwide are actively engaged at work, and more recent data shows only a small change in the right direction. Find ways to recharge your emotional batteries, through supportive relationships and community activities. Start today. Marty Zwilling.

Examples 145

Examples Mentor Activity Product 145

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2021

For example, Elon Musk says he seeks out innovations from his team by constantly asking them how they can make things better, how often they get out of internal meetings and into customer shops, and actively encouraging them to try new things. Spend more time mentoring and coaching your team.

Tips 159

Tips Satisfaction Coach Mentor 159

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2012

The most active person responding negatively said, “so an ENITRE industry is undervaluing their services? And that person has almost certainly chosen specifically to be a startup lawyer over serving other types of customers because he or she enjoys working with entrepreneurs. Not possible. ” Or there was this one.

Startup 363

Startup Venture Capital Coach Press 363

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. Planning for the future must be a regular activity, not just an early-stage or once-a-year event. Survival requires regular updates.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2022

Thus, in my mentoring of potential technical entrepreneurs who have a real passion for their technology, I often recommend that they find a co-founder who can manage the marketing and execution elements of the new venture. Balance of passion with reality and customer feedback. Pay attention to all.

Mentor 133

Mentor Startup Custom Customer 133

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2016

Some will argue that people leadership is a skill you have to be born with, but I’m convinced that it can be learned from experience, mentoring, and failures. They reach to find mentors who have been there, read books on the subject, and participate in leadership development programs. Set personal leadership goals and solicit feedback.

Mentor 59

Mentor Entrepreneur Demand Coach 59

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2014

As shown below, it was recently ranked as the fifth most active metropolitan area in the US, in terms of venture deals and dollars, on a per capita basis. Salty Girl Seafood - Another focus of the TMP is the recruitment and mentoring of women entrepreneurs.

Santa Barbara 258

Santa Barbara Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 258

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2020

I was shocked to read an old Gallup study that indicates only 13 percent of employees worldwide are actively engaged at work, and more recent data shows only a small change in the right direction. Find ways to recharge your emotional batteries, through supportive relationships and community activities. Start today. Marty Zwilling.

Product 129

Product Examples Mentor Activity 129

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2020

In this age of interactive social media, your culture image quickly spreads to customers, and determines their loyalty. He cites eight leadership actions, which I also recommend, from a non-scientific perspective, as a mentor to entrepreneurs. Being open is a two-way street, requiring active listening, inclusion, and responsiveness.

Claremont 172

Claremont Mentor Study Startup 172

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. You are in the best position to take the initiative to address growth, emerging technologies, and changing customer needs.

Training 173

Training Examples Startup Social Media 173

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2023

I’m sure you can imagine how much that impacts any business or startup’s ability to react to changing customer needs and growth opportunities, no matter how insightful their leaders. If you and your team are confident in each other, and proud of your business solution, you will not be afraid to innovate as customer requirements change.

Coach 117

Coach Mentor Study Activity 117

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2020

According to the classic book, “ One Second Ahead ,” by noted authority on training the mind, Rasmus Hougaard, there are some basic rules that can really help you manage your focus and awareness in all work activities. I concur, based on my own extended career in business and mentoring entrepreneurs.

Email 170

Email Activity Social Media Coach 170

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Today, with the Internet and social media, if you aren’t visible in a positive way to everyone, including customers, your leadership efforts will be lost. Allocate time for active participation in relevant outside industry conferences, and public panels or TED talks that look ahead. Foster an image of open mind and learn mode.

Mentor 145

Mentor IBM IBM Social Media 145

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2021

As a mentor, my mission is to recommend actions that can strengthen your image with investors and peers, as well as help you get the startup job done. Focus on customers and people over profits and ego. Use active listening to learn from your team, your customers, and investors. billion buyout.

Custom 157

Custom Customer Metrics Ideas 157

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

According to FLAG Capital there are 100 active VCs (as defined by making at least $1 million in VC per quarter for 4 consecutive quarters). So for argument’s sake let’s triple the number of active VCs and call it 300. If you read Ken Auletta’s piece it makes it clear there was active VCs involvement in the early days.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

For example, we all know people who really believe that everyone in the world is their supporter, when in fact many are actively working against them. In my role as a mentor to business professionals and entrepreneurs over the years, I have found that it’s important to take a hard look at the relationships around you on a regular basis.

Tips 95

Tips Mentor Coach Activity 95

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2021

Rather than get angry and upset, fall back to your initial process for evaluating markets, customer needs, and financial implications. Often what looks like an emotional issue, like unwarranted customer complaints online, have specific facts behind them, which may surprise you. Seek input from the team, as well as mentors.

Mentor 127

Mentor Satisfaction Custom Customer 127

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

You need to build business relationships with partners, team members, investors, and of course customers. Asking someone to be your mentor is not a sign of weakness, and most mentors love to help. Actively expand your business networking activities. That means proactively finding common exchanges of value.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Mentor Activity Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2021

If you are one of the many professionals still trapped between jobs by circumstances outside your control, or are about to dump the loser job you have now, you should be actively defining and starting your own business, in parallel with looking for that ideal job. Let me explain why this is a win-win deal, no matter what the outcome.

Startup 156

Startup Social Network Activity Ideas 156

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2020

More importantly, we all need to develop the right relationships, and actively avoid those types that are not right for the business, or not right for our career at a particular point in time. Workship - Mentor. Unlike the mentor, who is a coach and teacher, the advocate inspires you to be the best that you can be.

Mentor 135

Mentor Competition Summary Activity 135

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2021

When I started mentoring entrepreneurs and startups a few years ago, I anticipated that I would get mostly tough technical questions, but instead I more often hear things like “Where do I start?” It doesn’t matter how good your product or service is if most of your potential customers don’t know about it. The marketplace is a war zone.

Entrepreneur 138

Entrepreneur Activity Guide Patents 138

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2012

I think it takes a few more steps to “activate” the checklist and fruitfully engage in the activities that lead to leadership success. Solicit coaching and mentoring. Through such efforts, entrepreneurs who actively pursue feedback from their team and their customers are on the road to success. Marty Zwilling.

Study 94

Study Startup Activity Mentor 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2014

The last thing they can afford is to waste any of these, but in my mentoring and coaching activities, I see it happening all too often. Waste in a startup is any activity that absorbs resources, but creates no value or competitive advantage in the eyes of customers. Focus on activities rather than results.

Entrepreneur 115

Entrepreneur Resource Training Product 115

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2010

John Morris: I think it's trying to make a decent connection with customers, and trying to assess the size and viability of the market. It's really trying to make sense of who is the customer, how do we get to them, how big is the market. Where is this talent coming from?

Networking 215

Networking Research Startup USC 215