Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2021

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. Don’t try to impress constituents with technical terms, jargon, and acronyms.

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Sample Writing Mentor Content 137

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 22, 2021

“Apple Tower Theatre anchors the corner of Eighth Street and Broadway, where visitors will immediately recognize the fully restored clock tower, recreated Broadway marquee, clean terra cotta exterior, and renovated historic blade sign,” Apple writes. The store’s opening also marks the launch of Apple’s new Creative Studios initiative.

Education 299

Education Los Angeles Press Hollywood 299

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. Before you start your business, think hard about your vision for fulfillment, and write it down. Mentor others to share what you have learned.

Satisfaction 173

Satisfaction Mentor Coach Entrepreneur 173

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.

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Mentor Coach Guide Startup 134

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.

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Tips Mentor Coach Guide 127

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. He writes from first-hand experience, and is now a recognized business leader, motivational speaker, and mentor to many entrepreneurs.

Mentor 134

Mentor Slides .Net Writing 134

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2023

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. Writing something down is the first step toward moving forward and making it real.

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Writing Ideas Startup Entrepreneur 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2022

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?” You will be operating outside of any proven realm, no mentor can give you the answer, and it won’t help to blame anyone else for missteps and environmental changes you can’t predict. Money is not a substitute.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Writing 124

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. Then write them down. By writing these goals, you add validity to each target and create a mental desire to see them fulfilled. Only 13 percent of workers are fully engaged in their job. Take action now.

Satisfaction 153

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Writing Startup 153

socalTECH

AUGUST 23, 2013

Mark writes about The Perils of Shiny New Objects. In today''s uber-connected, social media, everything-is-public, people tell you there''s killing it with these new features, investor & mentor whiplash - it''s hard to avoid the latest thing. Yet sadly most startups have "shiny object" obsessions. The new thing. The shiny object.

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Social Media Mentor Writing Blogging 187

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 10, 2012

On his first day of work my wife was kind enough to write down words of wisdom from her years on the job. I don’t write about Tania very often – mostly at her request. ” She gave me a special one-time permission to write about her in a blog post so I could publish the advice she gave our friend.

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Writing Mentor Blogging Tips 414

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans take too much time, are inaccurate, and rarely add value. In fact, they are probably in such a hurry to give you money that they don’t want you to waste time writing anything down and passing it along to new investors.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

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

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. Many times I think that it would be awesome to have a conversation with them, but typically write off the idea because the process for access is too difficult.

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Mentor Platform Social Network Chief Technology Officer 94

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2021

Ask a mentor for support. Choose a friend or mentor (not your spouse) whom you trust to tell you the truth, and ask for help. As I’m writing this, I’m thinking that these points are so obvious that they don’t need to be reiterated here. Start a log on your efforts and progress. Measurable progress is itself exciting.

Startup 129

Startup Mentor Satisfaction Writing 129

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2021

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. They never call, they never write, and wait for you to make the first move. Studies show that as much as 50-90% of communication is body language.

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Entrepreneur Startup Social Network Mentor 140

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2021

You don’t really understand a new idea, until you try to write it down and succinctly communicate it to peers and critics. Even the best have mentors they really use. A mentor is someone who will tell you what you need to hear, while friends and associates often tell you what you want to hear.

Mentor 139

Mentor Entrepreneur Ideas Networking 139

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

The second is that they are usually very experienced operators that can mentor the founding team. I think when you choose an independent board member you should be thinking about somebody who can mentor you. I really like it when independent directors write a check into the company. But if they could even write $2,500?—?money

Startup 187

Startup Writing Venture Capital Oracle 187

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

Starting in 2009 I began writing checks consistently, year-in and year-out. I had realized that I didn’t have it within me to be as good of a player as many of them did but I had the skills to help as mentor, coach, friend, sparing partner and patient capital provider.

Venture Capital 466

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 24, 2014

As a result I didn’t write my first venture capital check until March 2009 – exactly 5 years ago. I divided success into the phases of venture capital and 18 months into writing my first check here was my view (details on each in the link above). Sourcing high-quality leads : 9/10. The monkey on my back. ” Yup.

Venture Capital 387

Venture Capital Downey Writing Press 387

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2019

Based on my own mentoring and investing experience, the best entrepreneurs are pragmatic problem solvers. If you can explain the problem to a mentor, or even write it down, you will more likely get to the root cause quickly, and avoid emotional and blame-infused responses. Explore solutions, outcomes, and options calmly.

Mentor 85

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Summary 85

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. Writing something down is the first step toward moving forward and making it real.

Ideas 121

Ideas Writing Startup Entrepreneur 121

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2021

In my role as mentor to many of you aspiring entrepreneurs, I often find you convinced that all you need to start is a unique innovation or idea , and now you are ready to jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride. Enlist a mentor and advisor who is not a ‘yes’ person. Write a business plan for your first startup.

Satisfaction 135

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Startup Mentor 135

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

As a mentor to young aspiring entrepreneurs , I often get asked for tips on a strategy to get started. Don’t be shy about networking for advisors with business experience for coaching and mentoring. Write a business plan for your desired new business. The ability to pivot quickly is a key to success.

Startup 114

Startup Tips Coach Satisfaction 114

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2023

The first step toward a business with any idea is to write it down, and build a business plan around it. Usually these will not give you money, but will provide inexpensive expert mentoring and office services. Let’s take a look here some similar stages from a support perspective: Idea stage.

Startup 122

Startup Funding Organization Incubator 122

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2019

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?” You will be operating outside of any proven realm, no mentor can give you the answer, and it won’t help to blame anyone else for missteps and environmental changes you can’t predict. Money is not a substitute.

Entrepreneur 135

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Writing 135

socalTECH

JUNE 6, 2011

Those programs--epitomized by YCombinator in the Bay Area, and TechStars in Boulder, Colorado--attract newly minted entrepreneurs with a mixture of cash and mentoring, and a program which rapidly takes ideas and turns them into viable, executing businesses. Those mentors are not just Bruce and I, although we are full time on this.

Startup 221

Startup Mentor Southern California Incubator 221

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 17, 2019

I don’t feel like canceling LinkedIn just because occasionally a well-meaning but slightly not-clued-in person from a faraway place wants me to be their personal mentor, answer 3-questions for their high-school entrepreneurship project or take a sales pitch for their recruiting services. I get a lot of those, too. I’m not an elitist a **e.

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Email Writing Conference Mobile 250

Tech.Co

JANUARY 29, 2018

Add Mentors to Your Roster. Regardless of one’s stage, mentors are a must have for any founder. Through the CTA Mentor program, these individuals can help founders foresee roadblocks and challenges, work through regulations, offer perspectives, help one fine tune pitches and asks, introduce them to the right people, and more.

Startup 87

Startup Mentor Artificial Inteligence Research 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2023

Then write down and prioritize your goals. Use your mentor or support organization to get you over the hurdle, and celebrate the success. Make the goal increments small, so you can see yourself making each step, rather than face a step the size of a mountain. Recognize the terror barrier and see it as a growth opportunity.

Satisfaction 124

Satisfaction Startup Entrepreneur Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

You probably already know the key challenges to complete each step, but it helps to write them down, review them with peers, and have a written list to update as you learn more. Stop talking and writing, and start executing the plan. Populate each step with actions required for success. Now is the perfect time to take that next step.

Writing 139

Writing Startup Summary Activity 139

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

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. Don’t try to impress constituents with technical terms, jargon, and acronyms.

Startup 109

Startup Writing Mentor Sample 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2022

Write it down, but even then, keep it to the top ten priority items or less. Discuss the tough ones with a mentor. The longer that high-priority items stay on your list, the more stress you will feel, and consequences will add new items. Keep a written to-do list. Multiple pages of work items won’t get done anyway.

Startup 123

Startup Tips Entrepreneur Mentor 123

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

The first step toward a business with any idea is to write it down, and build a business plan around it. Usually these will not give you money, but will provide inexpensive expert mentoring and office services. Let’s take a look here some similar stages from a support perspective: Idea stage.

Resource 171

Resource Startup Organization Incubator 171

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

As a startup mentor, I’m always amazed that some entrepreneurs seem to be an immediate hit with investors, while others struggle to get any attention at all. Some entrepreneurs love to talk and produce videos, but hate to write anything down. Others send investors email and business plans in all uppercase or no punctuation.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 1, 2023

As a mentor to entrepreneurs and business owners, and seeing their workload and challenges, it would be easy for me to conclude that starting a business is a big hit to health and happiness. After all, most of us spend more hours in this role than any other, and life is too short to spend most of your life unhappy. Keep track of your wins.

Satisfaction 119

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 119