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Category Archives: Surrounding yourself with talent
Can you be liked while being tough?
People argue over whether an entrepreneur with a sense of fairness, a desire for collegiality, a want to share the profits can succeed in the long run within a business world full of lions and tigers that eat timid entrepreneurs … Continue reading
Should you find a business coach?
Does this resonate with you? The CEO position can be a lonely place, especially when you find yourself in a position of not being able to bring an issue directly to the board and not wanting to explore solutions with … Continue reading
I’ve been sued as a board member.
I’ve been sued as a board member too many times over the past twenty-five years of board service. Five times. Does that shock you? It does me. What’s the exposure? Here are some examples: Entrepreneurs blaming their board for failures … Continue reading
Are you expecting too much from your board?
Expect a board member to give a meeting a month, emails and phone calls between. Urgent issues require more of all. Of course this is a tricky question. You might expect the answer to be “as much as necessary” or … Continue reading
How do you pay an early-stage board?
Give one percent equity to each outside board member vesting over two to four years of service. Many early-stage CEOs and board members have asked for some guidance regarding pay and time commitments for board members. Here is my best … Continue reading
Should board members be elected “for life?”
No board member should be grandfathered, guaranteed a board seat forever. Practically speaking, this is an impossible goal. We have investigated the restrictions imposed by investment documents and the obvious need to keep continuity on the board with the retention … Continue reading
Your need for a board grows with complexity.
Start-ups with one founder rarely have or need a board of directors. In fact, such a board would seem out of place in a one-person company. As soon as any outside money is ingested into the corporation, others have a … Continue reading
Hire a consultant; ignore the advice!
The ideal use of consultants… At one time or another, most all businesses use consultants to fill the gaps in knowledge or to provide guidance for management. Consultants are good in that you can sample their work with short projects, … Continue reading
Can your lawyer destroy a good business deal?
Let’s talk about lawyers… Over the years in business and as a member of over forty boards, I have received good advice from corporate attorneys and on occasion bad advice as well. There is a line that should be drawn … Continue reading
Wow! Are your relationships important!
Forming business relationships at the highest level As you follow these insights from ignition to liquidity event, you’ll detect a continuing theme, emphasizing the need for deep and wide relationships that the CEO and senior staff can call upon for … Continue reading
