Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

In my experience as an employee, up to an executive, in large companies as well as small, I’ve found that people who are consistently negative and complain are a big constraint on productivity, as well as the most difficult management problem that most business leaders face. The result is a positive and productive work environment for all.

Employee 371

Employee Salary Hiring Stock 371

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2021

Look for real problems to solve, like losing weight, staying healthy, or gaps in a popular product line. Today it more often means a “trusted friend” who seems real, visible, and doesn’t “push” products. Hiring virtual assistants for each specific project can be a lot more efficient and cheaper than hiring and managing employees.

Technical Review 312

Technical Review Software Review Internet Revenue 312

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2022

New entrepreneurs tend to focus only on getting the product right, and assume that the right culture and ethics will come later simply by hiring good people. Hire only ethical people, so further time on business ethics is not needed. The reality is different. We’ve never broken the law so we must be ethical. Marty Zwilling.

Software Review 291

Software Review Offshore Entrepreneur Leadership 291

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

Hire and train your own managers for internal and external work projects. Labor rates are lower in some countries, but culture and language match are the real keys to productivity. You should never hire internal or external staff based solely on what they can do now. Bored and unmotivated teams are never cost-effective.

Cost 346

Cost Philippines Bandwidth Cofounder 346

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2019

In the interests of helping you work smarter and last longer, I would like to offer my top ten list of key resource drains to avoid in early businesses and startups, based on my years of advising entrepreneurs and my own business experience: Expanding your product line too quickly for scaling. Use multiple small orders at first.

Technical Review 306

Technical Review Metrics Social Media Channel 306

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2020

Thus if you want to change the world with your new business, you need to follow the example of startups like Zappos , which hires according to cultural fit first. There are many ways to add levity to a tough challenge, and engaging the team occasionally in some fun activities will work wonders for your team’s productivity and motivation.

Product 322

Product Stock Options Salary Leadership 322

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2023

That means every entrepreneur needs to learn how to attract, hire, and manage technical people for their team. You may not have the breadth of technical challenge, or the budget, to lure in and keep motivated the caliber of technical expert you need.

Technical Cofounder 260

Technical Cofounder Technology Management Entrepreneur 260

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Hire a professional marketing and public relations agency once you have a good revenue stream but you don’t need them to start a free blog, establish Facebook and Twitter accounts with initial content and complete the basics of search engine optimization. Cash flow can be drastically reduced by working out of your garage.

Burn Rate 258

Burn Rate Hockey Stick Management Salary 258

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2023

Then when you have to hire people, you will pick the best. Work on habits that improve your productivity, and find better tools every day. Develop productive relationships with people around you. While highly productive relationships lead to success, dysfunctional relationships make you a poor employee and a bad boss.

Management 291

Management Leadership Demand Founder 291

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2022

I find that many business leaders are “too busy” to focus on talent, so they hire interns, available family members, or the first candidate, without regard to talent, experience, or dedication. Relationships are key to happiness and productivity. Always maintain the very best talent for your team.

Product 273

Product Social Media Channel Leadership 273

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 23, 2021

Here are my recommendations for training and managing your team to keep their delivery memorable for customers, as well as profitable for your business: Hire team members who enjoy customer interaction. Encourage employee innovation in service, just like you must always be looking for ways to improve your product offerings.

Customer 369

Customer Technical Review Metrics Employee 369

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2022

Research has confirmed that culture is a primary driver for financial performance, customer experience, and team productivity. Investors want organizations that manage people talent and growth, through good hiring, performance feedback, development on the job, and building commitment. Focus on talent and people growth.

Technical Review 323

Technical Review Due Diligence Valuation Leadership 323

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2019

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. It’s the same for customers and products, where analytics have long proven their value.

Analytics 245

Analytics Metrics Employee Open Source 245

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2022

With social media and smart phone apps, real product information spreads at astounding speeds. Every organization must constantly review its hiring practices, training, and leadership to make sure the focus is on people who are motivated, open-minded, and empowered. They don’t realize that business as usual is gone forever.

Agile 379

Agile Technical Review Leadership Social Media 379

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Developing the ideal product the first time around is unlikely, high risk, and very expensive in today’s chaotic market. Provide outside training opportunities and hiring to promote this culture. Open sharing also increases market acceptance of new products and expedites support infrastructures. First, failure is not always bad.

Artificial Inteligence 286

Artificial Inteligence Technology Leadership Business Model 286

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2020

Products that can be easily produced and sold via multiple channels, including the Internet, are more easily scaled world-wide. Minimize permanent hiring and customized operational facilities. In this age of the gig-economy, you can more quickly hire and manage freelancers, contract workers, and contract operations.

Merger 386

Merger Software Review Acquisition Social Media 386

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2021

The founder explains that the product or service is so “buzz-worthy” that the merits will spread rapidly through word-of-mouth only, meaning people loving it and recommending it to their friends. It usually implies an opportunity to win big, like a lottery, or experience something sensational, like an incredible video or free product.

Viral 348

Viral Marketing SEM Campaign 348

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2023

The organization can’t keep up the pace of change, and soon loses motivation, productivity, and all sense of where they are headed. Tends to hire helpers and not develop talent. Idea people are so bright that they don’t see the need to leverage the capabilities of others, or hire people smarter than they are in any given domain.

Partner 206

Partner Cofounder Startup Bandwidth 206

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

One of the most stressful and unanticipated challenges that comes with starting a new business is hiring and managing employees. For example, if I need help with product installation or customization, I don’t want to see someone who is clearly new to this role or inexperienced. You contract expertise rather than train employees.

Technical Review 308

Technical Review Due Diligence Startup Employee 308

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

Plan to deliver a family of products, rather than a one-trick pony. Even a great initial product, with no follow-on, won’t keep you ahead of competitors very long. A smarter risk is to build a plan, with associated greater resources, that will put you in position to expand your product line and keep one step ahead of competitors.

Forecast 304

Forecast Stock Options Technical Review Metrics 304

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 26, 2021

Idea people must surround themselves with people who build momentum and get things done, including production, marketing, finance, and sales. Unfortunately for them, building a business is all about implementation. As an example, I worked with Bill Gates early on, but I fear he may have failed without partners Steve Ballmer and Paul Allen.

Entrepreneur 341

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Partner Software Developers 341

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2019

Every startup lucky enough to get some traction gets to the point where they decide to hire some “regular employees” for sales, marketing, and administrative tasks. Then they are surprised to see productivity and creativity take a big dip. Hire employees who have strong skills, with the motivation to learn new ones.

Employee 222

Employee Technical Review Hiring Lead Generation 222

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2019

Look for real problems to solve, like losing weight, staying healthy, or gaps in a popular product line. Today it more often means a “trusted friend” who seems real, visible, and doesn’t “push” products. Hiring virtual assistants for each specific project can be a lot more efficient and cheaper than hiring and managing employees.

Technical Review 243

Technical Review Software Review Internet Revenue 243

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2020

Then when you have to hire people, you will pick the best. Work on habits that improve your productivity, and find better tools every day. Develop productive relationships with people around you. While highly productive relationships lead to success, dysfunctional relationships make you a poor employee and a bad boss.

Leadership 380

Leadership Demand Management Founder 380

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2019

Hire and train your own managers for internal and external work projects. Labor rates are lower in some countries, but culture and language match are the real keys to productivity. You should never hire internal or external staff based solely on what they can do now. Bored and unmotivated teams are never cost-effective.

Entrepreneur 303

Entrepreneur Philippines Bandwidth Cofounder 303

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2020

The organization can’t keep up the pace of change, and soon loses motivation, productivity, and all sense of where they are headed. Tends to hire helpers and not develop talent. Idea people are so bright that they don’t see the need to leverage the capabilities of others, or hire people smarter than they are in any given domain.

Founder 329

Founder Cofounder Bandwidth Matching 329

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Hire a professional marketing and public relations agency once you have a good revenue stream but you don’t need them to start a free blog, establish Facebook and Twitter accounts with initial content and complete the basics of search engine optimization. Cash flow can be drastically reduced by working out of your garage.

Burn Rate 310

Burn Rate Hockey Stick Salary Angel Investor 310

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

You have to start with hiring only people who are willing and able to make serious customer service happen. It’s a core process that must be up and effective when you deliver your first product or service. Their eight initiatives should be required reading for every entrepreneur: Find and retain quality people.

Technical Review 249

Technical Review Salary Metrics Matching 249

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

As a simple example, the Wal-Mart website now shows shoppers more products that they may like, based on previous purchases. Select new hires with attention to values. The Wal-Mart home page is customized for each shopper based on location, local weather, and the customer search and purchase history.

Software Review 355

Software Review Algorithm Global IPO 355

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2019

The assumption usually is that more money is needed for marketing, or another round of new development is needed on the product. For example, a “quality first” message is negated if you minimize testing to reduce product costs. Assume a better product is the primary key to growth. Evidence of ineffective hiring and recruiting.

Leadership 217

Leadership Analytics Hiring Operations 217

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2020

If the company has been around for more than a couple of years, and still has no product or revenue flow, there better be a good explanation. Every startup should have at least a couple of outside advisors who are not major investors or family members, anxious to talk to new investors and key new hires.

Technical Review 436

Technical Review Due Diligence Sweat Equity Burn Rate 436

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2023

If the company has been around for more than a couple of years, and still has no product or revenue flow, there better be a good explanation. Every startup should have at least a couple of outside advisors who are not major investors or family members, anxious to talk to new investors and key new hires.

Sweat Equity 207

Sweat Equity Burn Rate Technical Review Intellectual Property 207

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 28, 2019

New entrepreneurs tend to focus only on getting the product right, and assume that the right culture and ethics will come later simply by hiring good people. Hire only ethical people, so further time on business ethics is not needed. The reality is different. We’ve never broken the law so we must be ethical. Marty Zwilling.

Software Review 192

Software Review Offshore Leadership .Net 192

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2020

Research has confirmed that culture is a primary driver for financial performance, customer experience, and team productivity. Investors want organizations that manage people talent and growth, through good hiring, performance feedback, development on the job, and building commitment. Focus on talent and people growth.

Valuation 311

Valuation Technical Review Due Diligence Leadership 311

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

For example, early adopters may be easily sold, but new technology product success really hinges on adoption by certain demographics, perhaps more influenced by celebrities or mommy bloggers. The last thing you need in a startup is a false start, where you can’t deliver on a product change deadline, or a new marketing channel.

Metrics 387

Metrics Technical Review Leadership Framework 387

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2022

Don’t wait for competitors to force the need for better products, lower prices and better customer service. This means hiring the right people, providing training and tools, and improving systems to overcome challenges. Encourages innovation and out-of-the-box thinking. Allocates adequate resources to overcome constraints.

Leadership 317

Leadership Founder Startup Partner 317

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

You need to have a technical genius on the team to get your startup product off the ground. The rest can come from early hires (with stock options to assure commitment), equity investors, or even strategic partners. Outsourcing your core competency does not work.

Technical Cofounder 309

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Startup 309