Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2021

If your startup is great enough to get a term sheet from angel investors or a venture capitalist, the next step for the investor is to complete the dreaded due diligence process. Some startups do nothing to prepare for the due diligence process, assuming the people and business plan documents will speak for themselves.

Technical Review 152

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 152

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2012

In any case, it is good form to offer compensation, such as a small monthly stipend, plus expenses, and perhaps a 1% ownership in your startup, to show your commitment. I recommend one or more early discussions of mutual objectives, with a written summary of goals and expectations from the mentee to the mentor, with timeframes and milestones.

Mentor 105

Mentor Satisfaction Entrepreneur Startup 105

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2022

It’s been happening for some time, but business changes, accelerated by the recent pandemic, have highlighted the need for all of us to review our positions, image, and satisfaction at work. Ramp up face-to-face time with key contacts. Internally, you may need a video summary report of monthly value. Do I need new skills?”

Social Media 125

Social Media Summary Startup Mentor 125

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2021

Here is a summary of some key insights I have gathered over the years from talking to and reading about serious entrepreneurs, including some of the “movers and shakers” today who have built multi-billion dollar enterprises, and really changed our world: The magic is in only pursuing smart risks.

Entrepreneur 171

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Demand Customer 171

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2020

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always surprised by the fact that some never seem to be able to that first startup going, while many others never seem to stop, starting their second or third initiative before the first one is fully hatched. You can’t win a race that you never start.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2021

By definition, all of you entrepreneurs are leaders, by taking the initiative to start a new company. Yet I have learned over the years as a startup advisor that all business leaders are not the same. You generally don’t fix things by throwing them away and starting over. The time to get started is now.

Coach 162

Coach Startup Resource Competition 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

For the elite startups and entrepreneurs who manage to attract the investor they dream of, and survive the term sheet negotiation, there is still one more hurdle before the money is in the bank. That might start with the CEO giving the investor pitch to the whole organization, and distributing the current business plan document to everyone.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Today, customers are looking for real relationships, a memorable shopping experience, and satisfaction of a higher purpose. Other companies, including Ritz-Carlton , now incent their employees to build real relationships with guests, by authorizing them to spend up to $2,000 per guest to solve an individual concern.

Customer 133

Customer Custom Satisfaction Examples 133

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2022

Business partners can be co-founders in a startup, multiple owners of an existing business, or a joint venture. In every case, a partner can be an asset, bringing new skills and perspectives to the business; or a burden, making every decision more difficult, and taxing your lifestyle satisfaction.

Technical Review 125

Technical Review Satisfaction Summary Startup 125

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2022

In any case, it is good form to offer compensation, such as a small monthly stipend, plus expenses, and perhaps a 1% ownership in your startup, to show your commitment. I recommend one or more early discussions of mutual objectives, with a written summary of goals and expectations from the mentee to the mentor, with timeframes and milestones.

Mentor 101

Mentor Develop Development Startup 101

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2013

If your startup is great enough to get a term sheet from angel investors or a venture capitalist, the next step for the investor is to complete the dreaded due diligence process. Some startups do nothing to prepare for the due diligence process, assuming the people and business plan documents will speak for themselves. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 97

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2020

Many entrepreneurs have a passion and an idea, or even invent a new product, but are never able to execute to the point of creating a startup. Even fewer are able to grow the startup into a viable business. Here is a summary of the key stages along the way: Idea and seed stage. Startup and development stage.

Ideas 127

Ideas Entrepreneur Satisfaction Summary 127

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2023

Here is my summary of her insights, with my thoughts added: Strive to make things better by serving others. Building belief is a never-ending effort, both in jump-starting a change journey, and in sustaining a long-term commitment. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 3/28/2023

Satisfaction 130

Satisfaction IBM IBM Summary 130

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

As Yogi Berra once said, “If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up someplace else.” Without a measurable objective, you will be constantly frustrated by not seeing progress, and you will never feel success satisfaction. Stop talking and writing, and start executing the plan. So don’t give up your dreams.

Writing 139

Writing Startup Summary Activity 139

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2015

In any case, it is good form to offer compensation, such as a small monthly stipend, plus expenses, and perhaps a 1% ownership in your startup, to show your commitment. I recommend one or more early discussions of mutual objectives, with a written summary of goals and expectations from the mentee to the mentor, with timeframes and milestones.

Mentor 105

Mentor Startup Summary Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2022

They know how to communicate what they have to the best advantage, and generate more results and satisfaction for all parties. Effective storytelling requires practice and time, so start today. The end-result will be more business success and personal satisfaction from your lifestyle choice. Start today. Do your homework.

Satisfaction 116

Satisfaction Social Media Summary Entrepreneur 116

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2021

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Set up an award, and show winners. People buy from people.

Web 117

Web Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising 117

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2012

If your startup is great enough to get a term sheet from angel investors or a venture capitalist, the next step for the investor is to complete the dreaded due diligence process. Some startups do nothing to prepare for the due diligence process, assuming the people and business plan documents will speak for themselves.

Technical Review 98

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Training 98

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 2, 2014

There’s a healthy balance between allowing a design team to dream up functional requirements, talk with customers, analyze competitors and for technical projects – research the latest cool-kid tools to play with. If you pull hard at the time end of the spectrum you end up shipping inferior product.

Software 344

Software Startup Design Course 344

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 28, 2013

Changing the culture and mindset in an existing businesses is difficult and slow, so this becomes another “opportunity” for smart entrepreneurs and startups to excel. They apply to any business, but every startup better lead with these: Prepare your team to always say “yes”. Stop bossing and start teaching. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 88

Startup Cloud Computing Customer Custom 88

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 4, 2011

Changing the culture and mindset in an existing businesses is difficult and slow, so this becomes another “opportunity” for smart entrepreneurs and startups to excel. They apply to any business, but every startup better lead with these: Prepare your team to always say “Yes”. Stop bossing and start teaching. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 105

Startup Cloud Computing Customer Custom 105

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2013

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Set up an award, and show winners. People buy from people.

Search Engine Optimization 105

Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising SEO 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2016

Many entrepreneurs have a passion and an idea, or even invent a new product, but are never able to execute to the point of creating a startup. Even fewer are able to grow the startup into a viable business. Here is a summary of the key stages along the way: Idea and seed stage. Startup and development stage.

Startup 66

Startup Ideas Satisfaction Entrepreneur 66

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2022

As a business consultant with experience in large companies as well as startups, I often hear about dysfunctional management hierarchies, as well as the value provided by exceptional ones. We have all heard about the successes of flattened management organizations in the last decade at Facebook, Valve, Zappos, and others.

Outsource 133

Outsource Training Organization Social Media 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

Every startup faces a myriad of challenges that are well beyond the scope of any founder, so you need a few guiding lights to illuminate the road ahead. I recommend that every early-stage startup find three Advisory Board members. Once your company is past the startup stage, you do need a board of directors.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2019

In any case, it is good form to offer compensation, such as a small monthly stipend, plus expenses, and perhaps a 1% ownership in your startup, to show your commitment. I recommend one or more early discussions of mutual objectives, with a written summary of goals and expectations from the mentee to the mentor, with timeframes and milestones.

Mentor 85

Mentor Startup Summary Satisfaction 85

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2019

Take satisfaction from a couple of simple wins every day. Make it a habit to tally these up at the end of a day, and share your small successes with a friend. Your satisfaction and productivity will both go up for the rest of the day. Getting to know the managers also helped engagement.

Satisfaction 91

Satisfaction Mentor Summary Class 91

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Set up an award, and show winners. People buy from people.

Search Engine Optimization 88

Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising SEO 88

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2011

Every startup faces a myriad of challenges that are well beyond the scope of any founder, so you need a few guiding lights to illuminate the road ahead. I recommend that every early-stage startup find three Advisory Board members. Once your company is past the startup stage, you do need a board of directors.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Even though I have seen many startups succeed, and many that failed, I still struggle with what really makes the difference. Here is a summary of seven maxims that I excerpted from their e-book, which you can use in your startup and every entrepreneurial initiative: Work as a trusted customer advisor. Leadership is distributed.

Startup 93

Startup Organization Customer Custom 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 13, 2015

Many entrepreneurs have a passion and an idea, or even invent a new product, but are never able to execute to the point of creating a startup. Even fewer are able to grow the startup into a viable business. Here is a summary of the key stages along the way: Idea and seed stage. Startup and development stage.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Ideas Satisfaction Summary 109

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2010

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Set up an award, and show winners. People buy from people.

Tips 92

Tips Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising 92

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2021

The recent world-wide health pandemic has highlighted again how fast things can and do change in the environment today, and it’s up to you to make sure your business can survive and thrive in this new world. Purpose-driven companies like Airbnb, Patagonia, and TOMS, have shown increased returns by up to 400 percent.

Examples 128

Examples Social Media Summary Satisfaction 128

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2019

Perhaps sparked by the now forgotten recession, I’m seeing a new era of the entrepreneur, with startups springing up all around. Problems will occur in every startup, simply because you are stepping into uncharted territory. Don’t let it make your startup dysfunctional in resolving future challenges.

Mentor 85

Mentor Entrepreneur Technical Review Summary 85

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 7, 2021

Here is her summary and mine of the steps that every business owner should follow in assessing and repairing any situation when you sense that your business reputation in is jeopardy: Assess the scope and impact of any negatives. Refrain from bringing up the past to new customers, and celebrate every success with all your constituents.

Social Media 144

Social Media Media Summary Satisfaction 144

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2019

For example, if your business is landscaping, it’s well worth your time as the owner to make one last call on every customer a week after completion, to check their satisfaction, clear up any oversights, ask for a testimonial, and probably get some follow-on work. Regularly review every customer comment, and reply.

Customer 86

Customer Custom Examples Sites 86

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2022

Use simple words and sentences, and try to make a full circle, to put a closing summary on your thoughts. Too often, leaders start telling stories that branch off in directions that they were never meant to go. The result is more success and satisfaction for you, as well as your customers and your constituents.

Summary 115

Summary Satisfaction Mentor Help 115