How Do You Learn How To Sell?
“You’ve figured it out,” I said smiling to “Vern”, an engineer turned CEO that I’ve been working with. Since we started working together, I’ve been urging Vern to drive sales himself. Yet, until this conversation, he resisted my suggestion. Vern sells enterprise software. Each deal Vern’s company inks is worth well into six or seven…
How Do You Know That Your Product Is Going To Sell?
I was talking with an entrepreneur the other day about his company. He said to me, “I’ve asked customers if the would buy my product and they said they would. That counts as validation, doesn’t it?” I was talking with an entrepreneur the other day about his company. Ezra said to me, “I’ve asked customers…
How Do You Do Market Research For Your Startup?
Back in the day, long before the internet and ChatGPT, I would drive over to Stanford University to do my market research. The business school had a really nice library where I could find just about everything I wanted. Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. This would be…
How Do You Divide Equity When You & Your Co-founders Are Investing?
It’s great that you and your cofounder are both investing more money in your company. That’s a sign of true commitment. Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. Let me ask you a question? Why is your money worth more than your cofounder’s money? The answer is obvious.…
How Do You Define Product Market Fit?
There’s a great quote that US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said about obscenity. He said, “I know it when I see it.” Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. The same can said about Product Market Fit from my experience. You know it when you see it. When…
How Do You Decide Your Team’s Salary & Stock
“He needs to understand that asking for more equity is like pulling on a string,” I said to Adolfo, my co-founder and VP Marketing. We were reviewing what offer package we should give a potential employee, and Adolfo was indicating the applicant wanted more equity. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can…
Can An Employee Manual Really Improve Your Culture?
“I have an optional one for everyone,” I said to the team at our latest all hands meeting, “There have been some requests for an employee culture manual. [Do youwant to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] “And, I don’t know about you, but I hate employee manuals. No one ever uses…
How A CFO Can Help You Run Your Company
“I’m really impressed with your new CFO,” I said to “Kevin”, the CEO of a startup I’m working with. “I love his attitude, and I love what he had to say about joining your company.” “You don’t know the half of it,” Kevin said to me. “He’s (the new CFO) hit the ground running, and…
Handling The Bad Days Is Key To Your Success
“As you know, Brett presented to my partnership at ‘Donald Ventures’,” “Raul” said to myself and the other board members at our board meeting. “And the meeting went horribly. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] “None of my partners believes we should continue supporting the company,” Raul said,…
Do You Have The Right Team To Scale Your Startup?
“You’re at $5 million in revenue. Since we’re in the last quarter of the year, this is the perfect time to do some long term planning,” I said to “Kevin”, a CEO I’m working with. “What did you have in mind?” Kevin asked. “I love to go through the exercise every year of what does…