Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2022

If you are like most entrepreneurs I know, there just aren’t enough hours in a day to get all your own work done, as well as run the many one-hour meetings each team member seems to demand for decisions and mentoring. For one-on-one coaching from the startup founder, I call this approach five-minute mentoring. Marty Zwilling.

Mentor 154

Mentor Technical Review Coach Slides 154

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

It used to be there was a geographical composition to our prescreening panel--for example, if an LA company, regardless of what they did, applied for funding, the LA network of the TCA would process them. For example, our LA network is having the Fast Pitch on the 24th at UCLA. How are you handling all those applications nowadays?

Tech Coast Angels 231

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 13, 2010

The wisest mentor I ever had was Ameet Shah , my partner on several projects. He coached me that I had to start with the answers. To give you an example it might go something like this, here is a made up situation that a portfolio company might face: - we currently sell through channels. - How can I START with the answers?

Entrepreneur 372

Entrepreneur Startup Design Framework 372

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 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

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. Mentor others to share what you have learned. It seems that fulfillment to these new entrepreneurs is all about changing the world and legacy.

Satisfaction 173

Satisfaction Mentor Coach Entrepreneur 173

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2021

Perhaps you need to do more to be a role model for accountability , and provide more coaching on exactly what it means. For example, a couple of years ago, Starbucks' chief executive officer, Kevin R. It is best taught by example, by individuals and leaders within teams who practice the strategies outlined here.

Training 173

Training Examples Startup Social Media 173

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2022

For example, TOMS shoes inspired everyone by highlighting and effectively communicating a higher purpose from founder Blake Mycoskie of helping the needy by donating a pair of shoes for every pair sold. I urge you to assess yours, and listen to friends and mentors, to find and highlight a purpose that perhaps you didn’t even see in yourself.

Technical Review 143

Technical Review Coach Mentor Customer 143

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2021

People who are anxious to improve, or reluctant to take an initiative, really need your direct guidance and coaching to learn what they need to do. As an example, customer-centric may mean interacting on social media, or actively taking the customer's position in a dispute, rather than the company position.

Coach 174

Coach Activity Customer Custom 174

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

In reality, business success and satisfaction is about doing the right things at the right time, which requires leadership and coaching. But coaching doesn’t always work the way you expect. Trevor is a veteran coach who has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, organizations, and business families across the country.

Coach 57

Coach Training Summary Tool 57

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

You have to figure out when to be the up-beat coach, “It will all get better, stay confident, keep the course” or the honest voice in one’s ear, “Listen mate, you’ve been protecting your head of product for far too long. I don’t need to name companies for you to come up with your own examples.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

socalTECH

JANUARY 7, 2019

We continue to have a steady stream of industry and thought leaders raising their hands to be mentors for our upcoming cohorts. They also have to be willing to lead by example, while not being afraid to show vulnerability and honesty about their limitations. Yet they turned-out each and every week of our six-week programs.

Technical Review 157

Technical Review Software Review Startup Coach 157

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business. Demand for coaching, counseling, and discipline training is high. Examples of exemplary companies practicing this model include Starbucks Coffee and the Whole Foods.

Training 142

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 142

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2020

The best executives make it clear by example that all team members who help the business expand will be compensated, by awards, special bonuses, or career advancement. A single marketing coordinator can accelerate your efforts by being the coach and mentoring key members of the team on soft marketing. Reward success.

Marketing 130

Marketing Develop Development Startup 130

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2015

If you are like most entrepreneurs I know, there just aren’t enough hours in a day to get all your own work done, as well as run the many one-hour meetings each team member seems to demand for decisions and mentoring. For one-on-one coaching from the startup founder, I call this approach five-minute mentoring.

Product 99

Product Mentor Startup Technical Review 99

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2023

Facilitate coaching and mentoring, inside and outside. This means sending them to industry conferences, supporting professional organizations, as well as allocating time and roles for internal mentoring and coaching. Highlight career advancement opportunities and examples. This is a win-win for the business.

Coach 117

Coach Mentor Study Activity 117

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2013

Entrepreneurs not only have to pick the right team members, but have to continually communicate the vision, tasks required, and provide mentoring and feedback to each member. Coaching and mentoring are key to the leadership role. Leadership comes with building and nurturing the right team. People ignored see no leadership.

Entrepreneur 116

Entrepreneur Mentor Coach Customer 116

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

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2010

An example might help: We were recently presented with a project, and two of our members jumped at a chance to look at it, thinking they could become CEO. Where is this talent coming from? We need to be able to determine a pathway to a revenue generating product. The technology was ready for revenue, and the product was refined.

Networking 215

Networking Research Startup USC 215

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Entrepreneurs not only have to pick the right team members, but have to continually communicate the vision, tasks required, and provide mentoring and feedback to each member. Coaching and mentoring are key to the leadership role. Leadership comes with building and nurturing the right team. People ignored see no leadership.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Mentor Coach Customer 108

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2022

For example, Jeff Bezos of Amazon always finds time for his " divinely discontented " customers, as an opportunity, rather than an irritant. You can’t find the time for coaching and mentoring. Maybe now is the time to bring in outside coaching and motivational speakers, as well as more training.

Coach 120

Coach Satisfaction Customer Custom 120

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2020

Based on my experience and a business advisor and mentor, this is the ideal time to get back to the basics of business leadership and innovation. For example, I’ve always been impressed with how improvisational comedy never loses its positive impact, no matter how controversial the subject matter.

Mentor 122

Mentor Ideas Competition Examples 122

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2022

I enjoyed her recommendations and real-life stories as well as her self-coaching advice, which I will paraphrase here, combined with my own insights from the field: Take a hard look in the mirror to see yourself today. Mentors and coaches are always willing to help you find creative ways around roadblocks, even ones you don’t even see.

Coach 140

Coach Guide Startup Mentor 140

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2021

Green, a noted executive coach, speaker, and CEO of Brilliance, Inc. A key part of her message that resonated with me, as a mentor to entrepreneurs, is her guidance on how to deal with the constant demands and requests that every business founder faces. Share a credible reason for declining. Offer sincere gratitude (as relevant).

Startup 172

Startup Tool Coach Satisfaction 172

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2012

In my experience, there is no magic gene involved, just simple good habits executed consistently and convincingly until everyone around you in a startup wants to follow your example. This leading by example is easy to say, but not so easy to put into action. Great entrepreneurs are mentors to everyone on their team.

Startup 104

Startup Examples Entrepreneur Ideas 104

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2019

In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business. Demand for coaching, counseling, and discipline training is high. Examples of exemplary companies practicing this model include Starbucks Coffee and the Whole Foods.

Training 123

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2014

Entrepreneurs not only have to pick the right team members, but have to continually communicate the vision, tasks required, and provide mentoring and feedback to each member. Coaching and mentoring are key to the leadership role. Leadership comes with building and nurturing the right team. People ignored see no leadership.

Mentor 103

Mentor Coach Entrepreneur Customer 103

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. Let your team members feel that they are constantly learning new things, and allow them to share their talents through coaching and mentoring assignments.

Technical Review 141

Technical Review Mentor Social Media Custom 141

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2020

I concur, based on my own extended career in business and mentoring entrepreneurs. Examples of companies already coaching their teams on these mental strategies include Google, Starbucks, AOL, and more: Mentally be fully present and engaged in the current task. Presence is foundational for focus and mindfulness.

Email 170

Email Activity Social Media Coach 170

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2022

In my experience as an advisor and mentor to entrepreneurs in business, one of the biggest failures I see is a lack of self-leadership. For example, I often hear from aspiring entrepreneurs that “I had that idea first, and he stole it, and is now making money on my idea.” The first challenge is to find your strengths.

Capital 114

Capital Coach Satisfaction Ideas 114

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 4, 2020

In my opinion, great examples in today’s entrepreneur world include Elon Musk (Tesla), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), and Richard Branson (Virgin Group). These leaders not only recognize team members who have high potential, but they willingly and selflessly customize their coaching to what these special protégés really need.

Oracle 124

Oracle Organization Examples Coach 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

For example, I have a friend with a Ph.D. For example, I often cite the case of Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer , who grew Microsoft together. That’s why I caution my aspiring entrepreneur clients against proclaiming to investors that they are a great “idea” person. Don’t assume you can outsource the implementation decisions.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 16, 2022

One of the dysfunctions I often see in my coaching and mentoring work with small businesses is team member burnout. You can improve your office culture by nurturing positive relationships with people, actively listening to feedback, and coaching peers.

Coach 120

Coach Organization Demand Resource 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2020

As a startup mentor and advisor, I often contemplate what makes the difference between winners and losers. The relationship between Bill Gates and Warren Buffett is a prime example. The best business people are also the best mentors and coaches. I believe the best make their own luck.

Startup 121

Startup Mentor Coach SpaceX 121

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2013

In my experience, there is no magic gene involved, just simple good habits executed consistently and convincingly until everyone around you in a startup wants to follow your example. This leading by example is easy to say, but not so easy to put into action. Great entrepreneurs are mentors to everyone on their team.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Startup Examples Ideas 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2022

As a mentor to many early business leaders, I always emphasize that need to switch from a product focus to a team focus. Examples might include missing project deadlines, uncharacteristic mistakes, and incomplete assignments. Perhaps your team member needs coaching on how to say “no,” or needs time off to rejuvenate.

Coach 95

Coach Activity Mentor Startup 95

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2023

The best executives make it clear by example that all team members who help the business expand will be compensated, by awards, special bonuses, or career advancement. A single marketing coordinator can accelerate your efforts by being the coach and mentoring key members of the team on soft marketing. Reward success.

Startup 95

Startup Coach Mentor Social Media 95