Leadership and Management
Do Introverts Make Better Startup CEOs Than Extroverts?
“Who do you know that might be interested in what we’re doing?” I said to Chuck. Chuck was engineer I was introduced to by a friend of mine. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] “Oh, you should definitely talk to Richard. He’s one of the best engineers I…
Read MoreCan You Avoid No Man’s Land? Your Startup Depends On It.
Have you ever found yourself in No Man’s Land? You know. It’s kind of like you’re driving along on the highway, and a sign comes along: “Next gas, 50 miles.” Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. Your tank is close to empty. And you’re wondering, “Can I make…
Read MoreBuilding Trust Is Your Most Important Trait
“Whatever you do, never, ever lie,” I said to the large group of startup CEOs I was talking to. Then, I continued and said, “It’s much better to say, ‘I don’t know the answer. I’ll get back to you,’ then to lie.” [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.]…
Read MoreAre You Better Off With An Older Team or A Younger Team?
“So, you’re thinking of going the young route,” Bruce Wooley, who was the dean of the electrical engineering department at Stanford, said to me. One of Bruce’s past students had introduced us, and we were having coffee. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] I told Bruce I was…
Read MoreShould You Set Up A Fast Exit Strategy For Your Startup?
“So, how long do think it will be before we can exit?” The engineer said to me during his job interview. “Two years? three years?” [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] As politely as I could, I said, “I hate to burst your bubble, but it’s going to…
Read MoreHow Do You Prevent Killer Mistakes As A First Time CEO?
“You don’t know what you don’t know,” I said to “Evan,” a young CEO I am working with. I was telling Evan that he needed a world-class VP Operations for his startup. Evan challenged me, and he said, “Why?” [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] Evan’s company was…
Read MoreWhat Is Your Startup CEO Superpower?
Maybe the best piece of art I’ve ever seen is the musical, Hamilton. Thanks to Blossom’s insistence, I was fortunate enough to see the original cast in New York, and then see the touring cast in San Francisco. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] Not surprisingly, the original…
Read MoreWhat Are The Six Rules For Building Loyal Teams
“It was my fault. I screwed up,” I told Maxim Integrated Products CEO, Jack Gifford. “You should be screaming at me, not him!” Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. I didn’t want Steve (my boss) to take the beating for my screw-up. I wanted Gifford to tear into…
Read MoreWhy Is Paranoia Part Of A Successful CEO’s Mindset?
“You’re the most paranoid person at Maxim!” Jack Gifford, Maxim Integrated Products CEO, told me one day. Then he paused for what seemed like an eternity. Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here. Gifford looked at me and said, “And that’s good!” Gifford built Maxim from $0 to $1…
Read MoreHow Do You Keep Your Company On The Right Track?
I think of all the questions you have when you’re starting out, the biggest question (and worry) you have is are you on the right track? Unless you get instant success, and instant traction and instant growth, your faith is shaken more by are you on the right track than anything else. Do you want…
Read More