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How Do You Know The Value Of Your Sales People?
One of the best things that ever happened to me in my career was when I was given responsibility to manage an external sales organization. Previously, I was general manager of a business unit inside the company, and we had a matrixed sales organization. In other words, we fought for resources with the other business…
Read MoreWhat Tasks Do You Need To Do Every Day As An Entrepreneur?
I was talking Friday with a CEO I am advising named “Paul”. Paul’s in fund-raising mode right now. Nothing else matters when you’re in fund-raising mode except raising your money. I told Paul, “You need to have a laser-like focus on raising your funding. Let me put it to you bluntly: “Don’t spend time on…
Read MoreIs It Worth Starting A Company When You’ve Just Graduated College?
My Dad gave me some great advice when I was graduating college. He told me to take my chances when I was young. And, as I fast-forward ahead ten years to when my daughter will be graduating college, I wonder what I would say to Avery if she told me she wanted to start a…
Read MoreWhat Is The Best Way To Keep Your Equity As You Raise Funding?
I’ll never forget one of our investors saying to me, “There’s a certain percentage ownership you’re going to end up with, and there’s a certain percentage ownership we’re going to end up with. “The rest of it doesn’t matter.” The point our investor was trying to make was there a fair outcome for both of…
Read MoreDo You Need A Technical Background As CEO Of A Technology Company?
There is a one-word answer for why so many former engineers are now CEOs of technology companies. And that one-word answer is: Respect. Simply put, being an engineer running a technology company gives you some tremendous advantages: A. You engineering team will be more likely to respect you. Engineers like working with people that understand…
Read MoreWhy Is Paying Yourself A Living Wage As CEO So Important?
You work really hard for years building your company. And you’re burning through your savings as you build your company. Finally, finally you get your company to cash flow positive. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] “Thank goodness,” you say to yourself. “We’re finally free of needing more…
Read MoreWhat Skills Should You Learn As An Entrepreneur?
Someone just messaged me this: “Hey Brett, I’m just about to start a company. What do I need to know to be successful?” Here’s my answer: I don’t know whether these are learned skills or traits you are born with, but these are the traits/skills you are going to need to have in order to…
Read MoreWhat Is The Best Way To Get Introduced To Potential Investors?
I’m sorry, but it’s very rare that investors are going to come to you. You can try sitting back and waiting, but I certainly wouldn’t advise that approach. I can only tell you what I did which was the old fashioned way: I networked my ass off to get as many warm introductions as I…
Read MoreWhat Is The One And Only Key To Being A Great CEO?
I’ve come to a conclusion in the past few weeks. It’s a stunner. At least to me it is. What’s my conclusion you ask? [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] I’ve concluded that I’m a horrible manager. Maybe even the worst manager ever. Okay. Maybe horrible is too…
Read MoreWhat Key Performance Goals Should You Set?
Congratulations. You’ve just started your company. You and your team are excited and ready to go. You have a grand vision for disrupting your industry and becoming a big success. When you close your eyes, you can see your future company thriving. There’s just one question on your mind: What do I do now?…
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