Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

Almost every entrepreneur and new business owner I mentor is certain that his/her idea has a very high probability of success, and all find it hard to believe that ninety percent of startups ultimately fail. I realized that he and I see several common patterns that account for a large percentage of new venture failures.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2020

I found real confirmation of my approach, and much practical guidance in a recent book, “ Entrepreneurial Leap ,” by a friend and cohort Gino Wickman. Implement the key business metrices you will live by. Identify the three most important metrics your business must hit every week to achieve growth goals.

Metrics 140

Metrics Entrepreneur Coach Satisfaction 140

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2023

In my experience as a mentor, I find that keeping creative thinking in the balance is a challenge for every startup, due to the natural employee tendency to resist change. Using data metrics alone for decisions, without seeking the root problem and alternative solutions, kills creativity. Failure to learn.

Marketing 119

Marketing Metrics Demand Statistics 119

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2022

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to get satisfaction from this lifestyle. I found some great help in outlining the elements of this process in the book, “ Disruptors ,” by Kunal Mehta. Put it behind you by setting your own realistic metrics for success and happiness.

Satisfaction 153

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Writing Startup 153

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2014

In my experience as a mentor, I find that keeping creative thinking in the balance is a challenge for every startup, due to the natural employee tendency to resist change. Using data metrics alone for decisions, without seeking the root problem and alternative solutions, kills creativity. Failure to learn.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Metrics Demand Statistics 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2013

In my experience as a mentor, I find that keeping creative thinking in the balance is a challenge for every startup, due to the natural employee tendency to resist change. Using data metrics alone for decisions, without seeking the root problem and alternative solutions, kills creativity. Failure to learn.

Metrics 110

Metrics Entrepreneur Demand Statistics 110

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

Create a written plan, with target milestones and metrics. I find the best business plans are not books, but may actually should start as a one-page “elevator pitch” that succinctly encompasses your business goals, problems and solution, opportunity, competition, and business model.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

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. More recently, the concepts have been applied to the general business management context, in a new book by Certified Turnaround Professional, Thomas H. Gray, titled “ Business Techniques for Growth.”

Entrepreneur 115

Entrepreneur Resource Training Product 115

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

I found a good summary of the dynamics behind personal business leadership, and how to get there, in a new book “ Leadership Rigor! ” Here are the key principles she espouses, extended to leadership teams, based on my own background and mentoring new entrepreneurs: Learn to trust yourself and your team. What gets measured gets done.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Startup Coach Metrics 104

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2019

Unfortunately, many aspiring leaders I mentor are not aware of the signals people are looking for, or are not attuned to the subtleties of their own actions. Define metrics to measure what you want to achieve. Show humility while acting as a mentor and coach. Granting trust is a strong signal that motivates returning the favor.

Mentor 98

Mentor News Summary Coach 98

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

I found a good summary of the dynamics behind personal business leadership, and how to get there, in a recent book “ Leadership Rigor! ” Here are the key principles she espouses, extended to leadership teams, based on my own background and mentoring new entrepreneurs: Learn to trust yourself and your team.

Develop 103

Develop Development Coach Metrics 103

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

Usually these are described as revenue growth drivers, as outlined in a new book, “ The Revenue Accelerator: The 21 Boosters to Launch Your Startup ,” by Dr. Allan Colman. For example , Bill Gates shared a mentoring relationship with Warren Buffett that increased the credibility of both, although their business domains were quite different.

Marketing 133

Marketing Custom Customer Outsource Development 133

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2022

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. Use data analysis and metrics to measure for results. Subjectively measuring employee engagement.

Tool 121

Tool Statistics Entrepreneur Metrics 121

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2015

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. More recently, the concepts have been applied to the general business management context, in a book by Certified Turnaround Professional, Thomas H. Gray, titled “ Business Techniques for Growth.”

Resource 105

Resource Startup Entrepreneur Training 105

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2022

As a mentor to business professionals, I find that many are frustrated that peers and managers don’t recognize the true value of their contributions. It is important to set the expectations for success early, as well as the appropriate metrics. Communicate the criteria for success early and often.

Examples 133

Examples Metrics Startup Customer 133

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2020

As a mentor to entrepreneurs over the years, I see many of you who don’t communicate enough, others who seem to do all the talking, and some that are hesitant to be direct and open. You as the leader have a responsibility to define goals, strategy, and operational metrics. Always open to be influenced by new information.

Startup 124

Startup Ideas Examples Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

Based on my own experience in both large and small companies, I agree it can be done, with the essential principles outlined in a new book, “ Winning Now, Winning Later ,” by David M. The challenge we all have as business leaders is balancing the focus between business today and tomorrow. Cote, former Chairman and CEO of Honeywell.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2020

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to switch and get real satisfaction from this lifestyle. I found some great help in outlining the elements of this process in the classic book, “ Disruptors ,” by Kunal Mehta. Put it behind you by setting your own realistic metrics for success and happiness.

Entrepreneur 123

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Writing Startup 123

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Great business leaders, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett , are constantly asking questions and reading books about new technologies, new cultures, and new business opportunities. They mentor each other, and seek out experts in domains outside their current expertise and experience.

Startup 113

Startup Custom Customer Technical Review 113

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. Thus I was pleased to see the evidence confirming that perspective in a new book, “ The Amazon Management System ,” by Ram Charan and Julia Yang.

Marketing 123

Marketing Technical Review Custom Customer 123

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2023

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs, I also encourage an entrepreneur exit focus early, and I really like the specific steps outlined in the classic book, “ Exit Signs ,” by Pamela Dennis, who has helped companies through this critical transition for decades. New startup founders keep all the operating metrics they need in their head.

Startup 99

Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs, I also encourage an entrepreneur exit focus early, and I really like the specific steps outlined in the new book, “ Exit Signs ,” by Pamela Dennis, who has helped companies through this critical transition for decades. New startup founders keep all the operating metrics they need in their head.

Startup 98

Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 98

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 31, 2014

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to switch and get real satisfaction from this lifestyle. I found some great help in outlining the elements of this process in a recent book, “ Disruptors ,” by Kunal Mehta. Put it behind you by setting your own realistic metrics for success and happiness.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Startup Writing 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2017

Yet, in my experience as a mentor to entrepreneurs, the majority of failures I see are related to starting and growing the business, not developing the solution. Manage the business with metrics and goals. This has been particularly surprising to me, since building a business is not rocket science.

Ideas 72

Ideas Startup Metrics Entrepreneur 72

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

In fact, in my experience as an executive and a mentor to entrepreneurs, sustainable results require a balance between hard work and learning , for you and your team members. I see these issues addressed well in a new book, “ The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action ,” by Eduardo Briceño.

Case Study 94

Case Study Organization Study Examples 94

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 23, 2013

No summary of what we did, no easy way for me to recommend my trainer to my friends, and no way for me to easily book the next appointment. Andy, a trainer, uses amSTATZ to book appointments, handle payments and message with multiple clients. We all enjoyed the in-person session, but afterwards, their was nothing. Who is on your team?

Social Network 92

Social Network Networking Training Summary 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2016

In my experience as a mentor, I find that keeping creative thinking in the balance is a challenge for every startup, due to the natural employee tendency to resist change. Using data metrics alone for decisions, without seeking the root problem and alternative solutions, kills creativity. Failure to learn.

Metrics 60

Metrics Demand Statistics Sales 60

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 9, 2014

This was a chance to blow open the story on their companies, to address a room full of potential investors, mentors, partners, customers, and press. They’ve captured their market quickly by being the first providers of affordable luxury bookings with a business model to fill in a large amount of unused travel inventory.

Startup 111

Startup Mobile Commerce Education 111

Tech.Co

APRIL 30, 2018

The freight shipment marketplace will match shipper and driver, book loads, optimize routes, track metrics, and manage payments. This one-stop-shop interface aims to save time, money and simplify the freight process. “We’ve

Startup 70

Startup Tool Platform Metrics 70

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2018

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. More recently, the concepts have been applied to the general business management context, in a classic book by Certified Turnaround Professional, Thomas H. Poor or too many business processes.

Resource 52

Resource Training Entrepreneur Activity 52

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2017

In my years of mentoring and advising business leaders, I find that real planning for the future always gets the short shrift. I found some key ones in a new book, “ The Future-Proof Workplace ,” by Linda Sharkey, PhD, and Morag Barrett. It’s not enough to merely talk about these changes.

Company 55

Company Companies Artificial Inteligence Technical Review 55

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 7, 2015

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to switch and get real satisfaction from this lifestyle. I found some great help in outlining the elements of this process in the classic book, “ Disruptors ,” by Kunal Mehta. Put it behind you by setting your own realistic metrics for success and happiness.

Satisfaction 57

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Writing Startup 57

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2017

In the same way, you may think that people assessment is all about skills and experience, but as a mentor to business owners, I have learned to look more for the right attitude, persistence, and determination, as success factors. I like the points made in the classic book, “ You Can Win ,” by Shiv Khera.

Software Review 57

Software Review Technical Review Startup Press 57

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2017

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. Use data analysis and metrics to measure for results. Subjectively measuring employee engagement.

Tool 53

Tool Entrepreneur Statistics Metrics 53

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 13, 2013

ML: Porter is a really simple consumer app, a one-stop shop for booking your recurring in-home services. My every day is trying to fundraise, reaching, re-reaching out, and trying to keep people updated with metrics. ML: I do mentor and advise a lot of young entrepreneurs, especially from USC since I went to that school.

Technical Review 87

Technical Review Mobile Startup Los Angeles 87