Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 21, 2014

You join teams that got good write-ups on TechCrunch, have great VCs, have star CEO’s, whatever. ” Strangely, the best I’ve ever heard this exemplified is in Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential - which is really a book about startups as told through kitchen stories. Writing a book will be fun.

CTO Hire 320

CTO Hire Startup CTO Coach Venture Capital 320

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 4, 2019

When I saw World Series Poker Champion Annie Duke speak in 2017, I was inspired to write an article describing some of her recruiting techniques. Impressed with her wit and insights during her talk, I was excited to read her latest book, Thinking In Bets. Annie has previously written several well-received poker strategy books.

Help 100

Help Startup Santa Barbara Study 100

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 17, 2019

I understand that Adam Grant is a fairly popular professor at Wharton and has a book that some people loved called “Originals” (for me it interesting but not mind blowing, and I have some first-hand knowledge of some of its inaccuracies). I know it may feel this way since I’m writing this tongue in cheek. I get a lot of those, too.

Email 250

Email Writing Conference Mobile 250

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2022

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. For example, I remember a classic book by Penina Rybak, “ The NICE Reboot ,” that does a great job of outlining problem solving steps, honed from working with special needs youngsters.

Startup 135

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review 135

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 5, 2010

Why Every Entrepreneur Should Write and 9 Tips To Get Started - OnStartups , September 27, 2010 "The best part of blogging is the people you will meet"- Hugh MacLeod repeating wisdom from Loic Lemeur to me at the Big Pink at 2 am in South Beach after the Future of Web Apps 2008. Why You Should Write. Why You Should Write.

Startup 191

Startup Product Technology Venture Capital 191

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

Huddlewoo a live video platform set to launch early 2013 to give people the ability to access extraordinary people for one-on-one conversations and mentoring. I am constantly reading articles, stories and books about and written by fascinating people. Based in Columbus, Ohio and community management in Washington, D.C,

Mentor 94

Mentor Platform Social Network Chief Technology Officer 94

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2023

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. A great business plan doesn’t have to be a book in length, with extensive financial statements.

Startup 102

Startup Writing Mentor Sample 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2015

Based on my experience as an investor and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, one of the quickest ways to kill your credibility and your startup is to offer a poorly written business plan, or none at all. A great business plan doesn’t have to be a book in length, with extensive financial statements.

Startup 109

Startup Writing Mentor Sample 109

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2019

Millennials have come a long way in business since I started writing about them nearly ten years ago. As a partially-retired baby-boomer in business, I’ve spent much of the last few years mentoring aspiring millennial entrepreneurs, and I’m always looking for more insights into how to help them.

Tips 127

Tips Mentor Coach Guide 127

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2014

If you’re an early investor like I am that often means writing the first $2-3 million check into a business that previously had either survived on fumes or on a $500,000 angel round. You’re the coach, mentor, cheerleader. One of the interesting things about being a VC is that you often see companies in transition.

Startup 381

Startup Resource Venture Capital Activity 381

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2018

Millennials have come a long way in business since I started writing about them almost ten years ago. As a partially-retired baby-boomer in business, I’ve spent much of the last few years mentoring aspiring millennial entrepreneurs, and I’m always looking for more insights into how to help them.

Mentor 60

Mentor Coach Guide Startup 60

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2021

Kevin Cope, in his classic book “ Seeing the Big Picture ”, does a great job of outlining the basics of business acumen for executives, and helped me assimilate some practical ideas on building the essential elements for entrepreneurs: Reserve time daily to research the market, as well as technology.

Mentor 139

Mentor Entrepreneur Ideas Networking 139

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

Millennials have come a long way in business since I started writing about them over ten years ago. As a partially-retired baby-boomer in business, I’ve spent much of the last few years mentoring aspiring millennial entrepreneurs, and I’m always looking for more insights into how to help them. Their success is now vital to our success.

Mentor 134

Mentor Coach Guide Startup 134

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2015

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. For example, I read a recent book by Penina Rybak, “ The NICE Reboot ,” that does a great job of outlining problem solving steps, honed from working with special needs youngsters. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Mentor 105

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2014

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. For example, I just completed a new book by Penina Rybak, “ The NICE Reboot ,” that does a great job of outlining problem solving steps, honed from working with special needs youngsters.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Mentor Technical Review Satisfaction 102

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2017

Most business mentors tell me that the single biggest problem they have to deal with in small companies is the lack of open, honest, and effective communication, both from the top down and from the bottom up. Communication is not just talking, but also listening, writing, body language, and “actions speak louder than words.”

Mentor 61

Mentor Technical Review Entrepreneur Guide 61

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2021

What these people need is more relationships, not more experts, more blogs, or more books. Nominate someone as your mentor. Build a two-way relationship with several people who can help you, and then kick it up a notch with one or more, by asking them to be your mentor. That’s usually the important relationship part.

Entrepreneur 140

Entrepreneur Startup Social Network Mentor 140

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. Then write them down. The sad part is that it seems to be getting worse, rather than better.

Satisfaction 153

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Writing Startup 153

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 8, 2014

So much so that if you read Ken Auletta’s wonderful book “ Googled ” you’ll see that Larry and Sergey had for years stated they would never do paid search results. And of course we have great public companies that have spanned content & communications like J2 Global whose market cap as of this writing is a cool $2.5

Entrepreneur 376

Entrepreneur Snapchat Startup Google 376

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2022

In my experience as a mentor to entrepreneurs, I find that self-doubt and lack of confidence are the primary constraints people have to overcome to move ahead. I found the key ones to be outlined well in a new book, “ Hunting Discomfort ,” by Sterling Hawkins. The challenge is to recognize your problem and fix it.

Mentor 134

Mentor Slides .Net Writing 134

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2022

As a mentor to many business professionals and owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs, I find a wealth of innovative ideas, but often less insight on what it really takes to transform ideas into an income stream that can excite new customers into long-term business success. Write down your business model and five-year plan.

Ideas 145

Ideas Startup Case Study Writing 145

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

I have found that the process of writing down your idea, with a plan for implementation, and reviewing that plan with a business advisor, will force you to learn and acknowledge the real requirements for implementation. Target measurements allow you to assess your business progress. Expand your own learning and knowledge by helping others.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

Many aspiring entrepreneurs I mentor can talk at length about their innovative ideas and passions, and ask lots of good questions, but never make much progress in building a real business. For an inspiring story full of specifics on how to achieve goals, I recommend the classic book, “ Three Points of Contact ,” by Gregory Q.

Ideas 121

Ideas Writing Startup Entrepreneur 121

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2019

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. For example, I remember a classic book by Penina Rybak, “ The NICE Reboot ,” that does a great job of outlining problem solving steps, honed from working with special needs youngsters.

Mentor 85

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Summary 85

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 24, 2012

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. In her book, Jan devotes a whole chapter to speaking to the media, as a key aspect of public speaking.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Media Customer Custom 126

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

YOU Selling – My wise old friend & mentor, Ameet Shah, once told me after a meeting we had with clients (when I worked at Accenture), “there are two ways to run a meeting: asking or telling. You’re a persuasive guy but be careful not to always be telling people the answer. I still do this sometimes, too.

Sales 314

Sales Startup Venture Capital Custom 314

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2021

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. Even if you have an hour booked, the advice is the same. A perfect size is ten slides, with the right content, that can be covered in ten minutes.

Entrepreneur 156

Entrepreneur Tips Funding Startup 156

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 5, 2013

Kevin Cope, in his book “ Seeing the Big Picture ”, does a great job of outlining the basics of business acumen for executives, and helped me assimilate some practical ideas on building the essential elements for entrepreneurs: Reserve time daily to research the market, as well as technology. Even the best have mentors they really use.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Startup 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2022

Most business mentors tell me that the single biggest problem they have to deal with in small companies is the lack of open, honest, and effective communication, both from the top down and from the bottom up. Communication is not just talking, but also listening, writing, body language, and “actions speak louder than words.”

Technical Review 137

Technical Review Entrepreneur Guide Mentor 137

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2021

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs, I don’t believe that it is only a birthright, and there are several key strategies, including the following, that you can learn and practice which will lead to success: Give your own judgement a high priority in decisions.

Entrepreneur 132

Entrepreneur Course Satisfaction Guide 132

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 28, 2022

In fact, it’s already a problem with more successful entrepreneurs than you know, based on the classic book by serial entrepreneur Brian Gast, “ The Business of Wanting More.” Write down the “ what” of your vision, but let go of “ how” it will be achieved; you can’t control the precise manner, form, or timing.

Entrepreneur 153

Entrepreneur Coach Satisfaction Mentor 153

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. Then write them down. One obvious alternative is to become an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur 123

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Writing Startup 123

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2013

What these people need is more relationships, not more experts, more blogs, or more books. Nominate someone as your mentor. Build a two-way relationship with several people who can help you, and then kick it up a notch with one or more, by asking them to be your mentor. That’s usually the important relationship part.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Tips Startup Social Network 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2015

What these people need is more relationships, not more experts, more blogs, or more books. Nominate someone as your mentor. Build a two-way relationship with several people who can help you, and then kick it up a notch with one or more, by asking them to be your mentor. That’s usually the important relationship part.

Startup 108

Startup Social Network Mentor Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2014

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. Even if you have an hour booked, the advice is the same. A perfect size is ten slides, with the right content, that can be covered in ten minutes.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Slides 108

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2021

In her classic book “ Corporate Concinnity in the Boardroom ,” board expert Nancy Falls outlines the most common mistakes with boards, and I believe several of these apply to startups as well as to more mature companies as follows: Have too many or too few board members. Fail to establish adequate structure.

Startup 145

Startup Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 145

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2022

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. In her book, Jan devotes a whole chapter to speaking to the media, as a key aspect of public speaking.

Marketing 113

Marketing Entrepreneur Customer Custom 113