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Is ‘servant leadership’ too soft for you?
First, what is “servant leadership?” It’s a term rooted in ancient philosophy. Robert Greenleaf may have been the first to resurrect the concept in his book published in 1970. Not quite as bold as inverting the management triangle, the concept … Continue reading
Mailing lists, email marketing, errors, oh my!
Using old email lists for the first time is like eating really stale doughnuts. The taste is pretty bad, and the side effects could be disastrous. Strict rules about spam accounts Email companies like Constant Contact, Mail Chimp and many … Continue reading
Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Positioning
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The lion and the ant: A managerial lesson
This story has turned out to be one of the most enduring posts ever for me, well worth repeating. And what a lesson for us all. I confess that our research cannot find its source. So, with thanks to whomever … Continue reading
Finding “stinky clauses” in legal investment documents
Here’s the problem: Investors sometimes join into investment rounds that have been pre–negotiated by others, receiving the paperwork already created by attorneys from that negotiation. It is not uncommon for a sharp investor to discover a “stinky” clause or two … Continue reading
Posted in Raising money
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The best advice startups will never follow
Dave’s note: This is a reprint of a 2015 insight that seems to have struck a chord with investors and entrepreneurs. None of this advice has changed… Let me tell you a few short hair–raising stories of entrepreneurs who have … Continue reading
Posted in Ignition! Starting up, Raising money
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VC investors: Don’t be greedy even if you can.
First, the marginal exit event: Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event for the early investors, including the entrepreneur or the founders. Especially when outside investors, venture capitalists or angels have put in … Continue reading
What can go wrong with your business growth?
So, your business has begun to take off. You’ve figured out your channels of distribution, pricing model and how to support your growing list of customers. Don’t be alarmed by this next statement. That’s relatively easy. You can be the … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Protecting the business
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Premature scaling can kill your business.
Here’s a lesson from experience. Venture capitalists sometimes make an error in directing their portfolio company CEOs to push resources to the limit and scale the business to immense size quickly, all to seize market share. The logic in this … Continue reading
Posted in Growth!, Protecting the business
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The four rules for motivating your employees with money.
We’ve debated this one forever it seems. Should be overwhelm prospective employees with stock options and perks? Or concentrate our available resources on just plain money as an attraction? Well, here are rules to make money work for you in … Continue reading
The coffee and wine school of innovation.
Here’s one for debate around a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Most innovation occurs when creative people are relaxed and thinking about other things. Coffee, wine, quiet time, showers… How it occurs in large companies… We all … Continue reading
Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Growth!, Positioning
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