7 Ways to Exceed Customer Expectations
Since the days of Henry Ford, mass production has been the Holy Grail for businesses rather than build-to-order. Too many companies haven’t noticed that we have come full circle, where…
7 Things Investors Avoid
We all know that every startup is risky. No risk means no reward. Yet every investor has his own “rules of thumb” on what makes a specific startup too high…
Find the Right Type of Investor for your Stage of Growth
If you are looking for an outside investor, you need to know how they see you. Different types of investors look for startups at different levels of maturity. If your…
What Do Investors Look For in a Startup’s Team?
Every investor is looking for the “dream team” of executives to put his money on - somebody like the next Jim Clark. Often I find that experienced investors flip to…
Every Startup Needs the Right Social Media Presence
If your startup can’t be bothered with social media or has no plan to take advantage of it, then you are at risk. But simply jumping in is not enough…
How to Succeed in a Business that Doesn’t Scale
Many writers have outlined the critical success factors for product companies, like sell every unit at a profit, patent the design, and continuous product improvement. But recently I was asked…
Tips for Effective Business Writing
In the world of business, you only get one chance for a great first impression. The stakes are high – you are asking an investor for money, a customer for…
How to Be a Great Boss
Everyone can recognize a great manager a mile away, so why is it so hard to find one? We all remember a few that are “legends in their own mind”,…
Boomers are Back, This Time as Entrepreneurs
The buzz from startup executives, especially high-tech ones, has long been that startups are no place for Baby-Boomers (1946-1964) – you must have the high energy and crazy determination to…
How to Tell if You’re Ready to Take the Leap
Many budding entrepreneurs struggle mightily with that first step – out of their comfort zone and into the unknown. They keep asking people like me whether the time is right,…