Stories have a lot of power — the power to inspire, delight, provoke, and even change people. Last year, North Americans spent more than $11B at the movies, showing how deeply people enjoy stories that entertain and enlighten them. Movies show how powerful stories can change people — and they have the potential to change […]
Management
7 Keys To Selecting A Startup Idea That Works For You
A common request I hear from aspiring entrepreneurs is for an assessment of their latest idea. I don’t even try to assess things at the idea level, since I can’t read minds. I can assess execution plans if you have one Yet, I believe that business success is more a function of the person than […]
6 Value Propositions That Resonate With All Investors
Young entrepreneurs often are so excited by new technology or their latest invention that they forget to translate it into a value proposition that their customers or potential investors can understand and relate to. They become frustrated with investors, senior executives, and even customers who don’t seem to “get it,” with the result that everyone […]
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, but Not Used
For an early-stage founder, closing a deal is cause for celebration. It validates your idea, gives you the confidence to keep pushing on, and of course sets you up for more work. This two-part series focuses on that subsequent work. Just because a client has signed does not mean they’re “live,” and being “live” certainly […]
7 Business Realities To Temper Invention Excitement
Every inventor seems to think their invention is worth a million dollars, but I haven’t seen anyone pay that much for one yet. In fact, I often have to tell aspiring entrepreneurs that their inventions have zero value, at least not until they are put in the context of a business plan, with qualified people […]
How Today’s Full Customer Buying Journey Is Critical
Whether you are an executive, an entrepreneur, a marketer, or a salesperson, it’s time to look beyond how you sell, and focus on how your customers buy.
5 Criteria For Splitting Equity In Your New Venture
I always tell entrepreneurs that two heads are better than one, so the first task in many startups is finding a co-founder or two. You need to find the skills or experience you don’t have in business, technology, or money. So the first question I usually get is what percent of the company or equity […]
4 Retargeting Tactics to Help Startups Reengage With Their Missed Opportunities
Retargeting can be intimidating because it’s far from a “set it and forget it” venture. It requires constant testing to ensure profitability. But you can devise a strategy to maximize your efforts by focusing on using retargeting to win new customers, prioritizing segmentation, not going overboard, and incentivizing consumers with promotions and discounts. By using these strategies, your startup could find its power in transforming missed opportunities into new ventures.
How to Keep Your Business From Running Your Life
Every entrepreneur I meet in my role as a small business advisor dreams of making the business run like clockwork, even without them. You are all frustrated when that never happens, even after years of 16-hour days, repeated efforts to hire the right people, and multiple campaigns to delegate more and sign up for less. […]
7 Reasons To Turn The Enemy Into A Strategic Partner
Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. Generally, they are so focused on killing competitors that they fail to see the positive potential of a strategic partnership or some other type of collaborative relationship. Sometimes you have to put aside the emotion and the passion, and just look at what is best […]
The Short and Unhappy Reign of Subscription Boxes
If you looked at internet commerce ten years ago, you might well have imagined that the future belonged to the box. Specialized goods subscriptions boxes suddenly popped up everywhere, like mushrooms after a strong rain.