Doing the Mundane
Valuation Lessons from the Shark Tank
I have previously shared that the TV reality series Shark Tank provides valuable lessons for early stage entrepreneurs. Watching a wide cross-section of start-up entrepreneurs ask for capital from sophisticated investors is such a wonderful learning opportunity. And for struggling entrepreneurs, one can't beat the price of this education. It's free! Now, with a MBA in finance, years of financial consulting work, and having been the leader of one of the country's … [Read more...]
Lessons from the Shark Tank
Entrepreneurs looking to raise angel or early seed funding can learn a lot watching entrepreneurs pitch wealthy investors on ABC's prime time show, Shark Tank. In each show, the lessons come fast and furious for the observant. In fact, the show is such a good primer in pitching to, and negotiating with, early stage investors that I ask the founders of the high performing companies in my Venture Accelerator program to catch the lessons served-up in every show. Shark … [Read more...]
101 Ways to Transform Your Life by Dr. Wayne Dyer
Link to Inner Peace Wayne … [Read more...]
Is Fear of Hearing “No” Holding Back Your Venture?
Almost all of us have some level of fear about being rejected. Fear of getting told "no" so often keeps us from achieving all of that with which we are capable. This fear can impact us in our business activities, as well as in many aspects of our personal life. Few people in business need to be more capable of being able to tolerate hearing "no" than the founder of a new venture. Even the most successful of founders will hear "no" far more often than "yes" from capital … [Read more...]
Slow Dancing With Potential Venture Investors
If you are anything like the vast, vast majority of venture founders, your venture needs funding, and it needs it pronto! If you are just starting up, you are eager to get funded to be first to market in what you perceive to be a niche opportunity. Or, if you already have initial funding, you seek more funding so you can accelerate your progress to-date. No matter what stage you are in, you likely are pursuing funding. There is no end to potential investors. Individual … [Read more...]
Step 30 Celebrate! Celebrate! Celebrate!
Wow! We have come so far together. At last, we cross the finish line together. Congratulations! By now, you should have a high quality plan (completed in Step 23) that you have tweaked into a thoughtful “final” plan. You hopefully have gotten some constructive feedback from your Board of Advisors (Step 25), with potentially more feedback still to come. You have taken the plan to the next level by creating your Magnificent Milestones (Step 26). And you have identified … [Read more...]
Step 29 Pile on the Support for Your Success
Wow! We have come so far together. By now, you should have a high quality draft plan (completed in Step 23). You hopefully are starting to get constructive feedback from your Board of Advisors (Step 25). You have taken the plan to the next level by creating your Magnificent Milestones (Step 26). And you have begun identifying your support structures with your selection of an All Star Support Team (Step 27) and your scheduling of Supporting Events (Step 28) you plan to … [Read more...]
Step 28 Plan to Attend Events that Support Your SMART Goals
The finish line is getting so close. One step today and one tomorrow and you will be well positioned to celebrate on New Year’s eve knowing you have in place the elements to lift your performance in 2012. Congratulations on your diligence in completing the steps that have preceded this one! By now, you should have a high quality draft plan (completed in Step 23). You hopefully are starting to get constructive feedback from your Board of Advisors (Step 25). You have taken … [Read more...]
Step 27 Put in Place Your All Star Support Team
Can you believe it? We have journeyed through 26 steps together. By now, you have hopefully created a 2012 Plan that inspires you and have sent your draft plan to your Board of Advisors for their feedback. And, with your completion of the previous step (Step 26), you should now have Magnificent Milestones created for each of your SMART Goals. You are poised for a great year. But, being poised is not enough. I want you to have a great year. And, I believe there is one … [Read more...]
