Hiring and Firing
What Interview Questions Should You Ask A Potential CTO?
The easy part about hiring a VP Engineering/CTO is finding a great technologist. Yes, that’s the easy part. Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. However, you stand a really good chance of hiring the wrong person if you just look for a technologist. It turns out there are…
Read MoreWhy You Shouldn’t Have Too Many C-Level Executives
I was in the lobby of “Donald Ventures” office on Sand Hill Road after I completed my 1:1 with “Raul,” the partner leading DV’s investment in our company. One of the associates at the fund walked by me, and said hello. Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. I…
Read MoreHow Should You Keep Employees From Quitting
I was recently asked the question, “What should I do to keep an employee that has quit from leaving.” I was happy to answer the question because I have a perfect batting average as CEO of keeping employees from quitting. That’s right. 0.00%. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click…
Read MoreWhy You Should Interview Your First 50 Employees
There’s an old truism about that you, the CEO, should be spending at least fifty percent of your time recruiting. The reason recruiting is so important is your startup can’t grow unless you have great talent around you. That’s why I interviewed everyone we hired when we were just starting out. It didn’t matter whether…
Read MoreHow To Keep From Hiring Superstars That Kill Your Company
I was just having coffee with a friend of mine. I’ve known Bill for years and I’ve never seen him this upset. Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. “You wouldn’t believe what my boss just did!” Bill said to me. “What did your boss do?” I asked. “They…
Read MoreWhat’s The Most Important Thing You Can Do Running Your Startup?
I was visiting with my Mom a few years ago. My Mom said to me, “I found this picture from years ago. Do you remember it?” Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. I looked at the picture and smiled. I did remember it from when I was a…
Read MoreWhat Books Do You Recommend For CEOs?
Since I’m biased, and you asked, you could start by reading my book, “Learn How to Take a Punch: Building Your Startup Isn’t a Marathon, It’s a Prizefight.” Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. While every startup’s journey is unique, I noticed similar patterns in the startups I’ve been…
Read MoreProtecting Employee Stock Options From Dilution
Your employees are going to be really worried about their stock options being diluted after a round of funding. This is especially true in bad economic times when you might take a down round with heavy dilution. However, there is a secret weapon you can employ to reduce the dilution you and your employees will…
Read MoreHow To Hire Elite Talent When You’re Broke
“He wants a salary of $200,000, but I can’t afford to pay him that,” “Stefan” said to me. “Then he doesn’t fit your company culture right now,” I said. “That’s okay…” Do you want to grow your business? I can help. Click here. “Why is it okay?” Stefan asked me. “And what does it have…
Read MoreHow Do You Determine Your Co-Founder’s Salary?
“I think our salaries should be different,” “Jim”, my co-founder, said to me and “John”, my other co-founder, “You should be paid the most, but, I think we should all have the amount of equity.” Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. That was not the response from Jim…
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