Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2023

The problem is particularly acute for middle-class, non-managerial, and exempt employees who don’t qualify for overtime pay under tightening labor laws, and high big-company expectations. Number of non-compete agreements is way down. Millions of folks need to find supplemental income to rebuild their eroded purchasing power.

Non-Compete 290

Non-Compete Entrepreneur Employee Japan 290

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2023

I found many non-disruption recommendations in the new book, “ Beyond Disruption ,” by W. Seek innovation with non-disruptive value. Use your confidence and competence to succeed. Not all innovations have to be as disruptive as the Netflix digital download was to Blockbuster’s DVD business. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne.

Non-Compete 348

Non-Compete Entrepreneur Technology Customer 348

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2023

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are feeling deeper and deeper in the hole. The non-technical leadership attributes of excellent communication skills, high integrity, passion, and perseverance are critical for the success of the whole team.

Entrepreneur 265

Entrepreneur Technology Management Non-Compete 265

Austin Startup

MAY 9, 2018

Every so often, I get an email from an entrepreneur that starts something like this: “By reading further, you agree to the terms of our non-disclosure and non-compete agreement” My immediate reaction is to delete these emails with prejudice. I am not alone. VCs get inundated with pitch decks and proposals for new technology.

Non-Compete 55

Non-Compete Seed Stage Stealth Entrepreneur 55

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2023

To get you started, here is my summary of a half dozen of her key tips, re-focused to the leadership success elements for entrepreneurs, even though the same principles apply to business professionals in larger companies, and even non-business domains: Don’t be afraid to challenge your own identity. Manage the stepping up process.

Developer 283

Developer Non-Compete Entrepreneur Leadership 283

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2021

Then they realize that they have talked to many people without signing non-disclosure statements, precluding a patent, or someone else has now beat them to the filing docket. Founders ignore non-compete clauses from former employers. Taking money from unknown or non-professional investors.

Cost 374

Cost Non-Compete Cofounder Accredited Investor 374

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2020

Always start with a formal proposal, limited in scope to a specific common objective or technology, for a limited amount of time, bounded by a two-way non-disclosure statement. Every startup has a core competency which should not be shared. Typically, there are market opportunities that neither of your core competencies can win alone.

Non-Compete 322

Non-Compete Intellectual Property Merger Entrepreneur 322

Berkonomics

JANUARY 27, 2012

Certainly the buyer’s asset purchase documents included a non-compete clause, usually valid for two years from the date of the closing. Separate confidentiality from non-compete, and obey the confidentiality clauses. The non-compete agreement does expire when stated. But watch it.

Non-Compete 63

Non-Compete Sales Email Employee 63

Berkonomics

JANUARY 20, 2012

What is the rule about those pesky non-compete agreements signed upon discharge or sale of the previous company? And some are former selling shareholders of just those businesses.

Non-Compete 54

Non-Compete Entrepreneur Employee Sales 54

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2021

Use external sourcing to fill in the non-critical gaps. Don’t use alliances for core competencies. Rather than push non-compete agreements on your superstars, it’s more productive to create incentive systems and creative ways for them to work more independently, just for you. Add basic partner contracts or alliances.

Startup 336

Startup Non-Compete Acquisition Merger 336

Seeing Both Sides

APRIL 10, 2014

For the last few years, many leaders in the Massachusetts innovation community have been arguing that non-compete agreements should be eliminated. Today, Governor Deval Patrick is officially proposing to change all that by putting forward legislation that will eliminate non-competes outright.

Non-Compete 53

Non-Compete Massachusetts Michigan Community 53

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2020

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are feeling deeper and deeper in the hole. The non-technical leadership attributes of excellent communication skills, high integrity, passion, and perseverance are critical for the success of the whole team.

Non-Compete 436

Non-Compete Cofounder Entrepreneur Social Media 436

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2020

The reality of competing. If you don’t compete with anybody for very long, it may mean that you’re trying to serve a market that doesn’t exist. Successful entrepreneurs often switch to non-profits and social entrepreneurship for real impact. It requires that you communicate with others in all the modern modes.

Entrepreneur 436

Entrepreneur Non-Compete Startup Hiring 436

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2022

You should be ready with your personal anecdotes on achieving success through persistence, from non-business efforts as well as business. Surround yourself with a competent team and advisors. Yet no human body and mind can sustain the stress of constant work, with no time off for a personal life and non-business activities.

Startup 364

Startup Angel Investor Non-Compete Entrepreneur 364

Business Plan Blog

NOVEMBER 18, 2012

Part of the process of differentiating from a non-profit organization and a for profit business requires a social enterprise to understand how it competes with the business entities on each end of the business spectrum. All non-profits are engaged in some form of fundraising, as it is a necessity to fund their organization.

Non-Compete 45

Non-Compete Lean Equity Metrics 45

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2021

Compete against non-consumption and non-existing markets. Often entrepreneurs are more able to think outside the box and bring disruptive change to less-known business domains. Consider Apple’s move into music, telephones, and watches. Facebook built the social media market before customers even knew they needed it.

Entrepreneur 388

Entrepreneur Non-Compete Social Media Marketing 388

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2020

To get you started, here is my summary of a half dozen of her key tips, re-focused to the leadership success elements for entrepreneurs, even though the same principles apply to business professionals in larger companies, and even non-business domains: Don’t be afraid to challenge your own identity. Manage the stepping up process.

Startup 315

Startup Leadership Non-Compete Entrepreneur 315

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2023

Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Smart entrepreneurs never outsource their core competency, and never rely on intellectual property they don’t own. Show that you have and can continue to hire the right people to run the scaled business without you being everywhere and making every decision.

Hockey Stick 345

Hockey Stick Startup Intellectual Property Non-Compete 345

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2023

Don’t count on contracts and non-disclosure agreements to save you. It’s hard to write a detailed specification on an evolving new service, process, or product that embodies your core competency. Despite some recent advances, there are still some cultures which have less regard for patents and other intellectual property.

Due Diligence 290

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Non-disclosure Agreement Cofounder 290

Steve Blank

AUGUST 25, 2021

Their organizations hemorrhage the very people they need to help them compete against aggressive adversaries or competitors who have them in their sights. Asking a series of “ five whys ,” (see this HBR article ) would have discovered that: The agency’s existing processes were not designed for non-standard work.

Non-Compete 436

Non-Compete Government Incubator Design 436

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

In the old days, marketing agencies were non-existent, and most companies were struggling to market their business and making sales. Almost every business needs a digital agency to compete in the tough business environment.

Hiring 277

Hiring Marketing Non-Compete Small Business 277

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2022

If you want people to follow, you need to be able to convince them of three things: (1) your mission is worth supporting, (2) you have the competence to build a critical mass, and (3) you have integrity to look out for their best interests along the way. We all agree that innovation is an adventure into the unknown. Lead the revolution.

Entrepreneur 348

Entrepreneur Technology Non-Compete India 348

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2021

The most effective startups focus on their core competency, and work hard to pick the best of the rest for partners. Overcoming a bad image, or even changing a non-image, takes lots to time, money, and effort. Pays close attention to new potential competitors. Reassess new entrants and competitors every month.

Startup 427

Startup Non-Compete Entrepreneur Channel 427

Berkonomics

MAY 18, 2023

But all will immediately question whether the new business will compete in any way with their enterprise and react to the future entrepreneur in either of two very distinct ways based upon those fears. This is especially true for someone who has sold a business only to surface later to compete in some way with the buyer.

Non-Compete 62

Non-Compete Entrepreneur Business Plan Employee 62

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Always start with a formal proposal, limited in scope to a specific common objective or technology, for a limited amount of time, bounded by a two-way non-disclosure statement. Every startup has a core competency which should not be shared. Typically, there are market opportunities that neither of your core competencies can win alone.

Partner 148

Partner Non-Compete Intellectual Property Merger 148

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

I believe we need more non-linear “out of the box” thinking, to come up with the next step beyond the iPhone, or the next big step in transportation technology. This means that all of you can compete, even if you are starting from scratch.

Entrepreneur 377

Entrepreneur Non-Compete Startup Restful 377

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2022

Keep your company focused on the business areas and functions that fit your strategic direction, by periodically eliminating non-contributing activities, organizations, and business units. With growth opportunities, the first capable response often wins; not necessarily the first mover, but the first one to provide a competent reaction.

Intellectual Property 327

Intellectual Property Acquisition Non-Compete Merger 327

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2020

He cites eight leadership actions, which I also recommend, from a non-scientific perspective, as a mentor to entrepreneurs. The best entrepreneur leaders today build trusting cultures by being warm, competent, approachable, and relaxed. Trust causes the brain to release oxytocin, which stimulates productivity and raises motivation.

Leadership 431

Leadership Entrepreneur Non-Compete Employee 431

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2021

Now that it is more mature, they are offering lower-cost alternatives, consistent with non-electric competitors. Believe it or not, in some market segments, customers with many alternatives, who see extra value from your product, will altruistically offer more than you might need to compete and thrive.

Startup 373

Startup Non-Compete Cost Revenue 373

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

Before you start negotiating any of these coopetition deals, I do recommend that you spend some time thinking about where and how you will be competing, and how you will be cooperating. Deals that are not win-win won’t work, and may indeed jeopardize your whole future.

Partner 435

Partner Non-disclosure Agreement Intellectual Property Startup 435

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2021

Yet my own experience, and a still relevant McKinsey survey , leads me to believe that non-cash motivators may be more effective in the long term than financial incentives. Lead through experience and competence, not through title or position. But the conventional wisdom is that employees work for money, above all else.

Non-Compete 350

Non-Compete Leadership Entrepreneur Employee 350

Feld Thoughts

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

Torn apart by competing factions and stranded on opposite sides of the world, they race to discover the truth before the world goes to war. Can they bring the past to life before it kills them all?

Non-Compete 143

Non-Compete Thailand Syndicate Syndication 143

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2021

Logically, I would expect these non native-born entrepreneurs to be at a big disadvantage, having to learn the culture here, local idiosyncrasies, and new relationships. If you adopt the right mindset, and do your homework, you too can compete in their domain, as they can in yours. Expand your focus and learning today, and we all win.

South Africa 376

South Africa Entrepreneur Greece Non-Compete 376

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2014

Always start with a formal proposal, limited in scope to a specific common objective or technology, for a limited amount of time, bounded by a two-way non-disclosure statement. Every startup has a core competency which should not be shared. Typically, there are market opportunities that neither of your core competencies can win alone.

Partner 248

Partner Non-Compete Intellectual Property Entrepreneur 248

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2014

The principle asserts that in a hierarchy, members are promoted so long as they work competently. Sooner or later they are promoted to a position at which they are no longer competent, and there they remain, unless they start or join a startup to get the next level. Consistent demonstration of high-level competencies.

Startup 252

Startup Non-Compete CTO Entrepreneur 252

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

The third class focused on Russia, which since 2014 has asserted itself as a competing great power. How does the proliferation of autonomous weapon systems to great powers, lesser powers, or non-state actors (pick one of the three) threaten America’s traditional military advantages in that domain? Pick one domain of war (e.g.

Technology 291

Technology Russia China Taiwan 291

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 8, 2021

Kearney , these go well beyond an organization getting rid of its "problem children:” Deconsolidate —shed non-core functions to focus on core competencies. Contrary to popular belief, according to a report by A. An example would be Time Warner spinning off AOL—to end a disastrous, dot.com-era marriage.

Startup 317

Startup Non-Compete Entrepreneur Merger 317