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For Me, It’s Not Just Business
Startup CEOs come in different styles. For some, "it's just business." But, for many founder CEOs, it is far more than that as they pour all their passion into their startup and embody it profoundly. That embodied passion is often the activation energy that propels the startup out of the gate and onto a successful trajectory as it persuades others…
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Wingmen — Those Trusted to Go With You into Battle
When you lead your startup into battle, you need an inner circle of wingmen (and hopefully, wingwomen) backing you up. They are the trusted few who have earned the right to fly by your side and make an impact.
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Running the Hurdles
My father was a track and field hurdler in college. Just thinking about the challenge of trying to go fast while staying in stride to cleanly clear each hurdle in sequence reminds me of the challenges of complex, multi-party sales situations like hospital sales and venture capital fundraising.
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Applying the Least Work Principle
Developing a great, user-friendly, innovative product is often the heart of building a successful high-potential startup. But, as the team blazes new trails, they must successfully sift through user feedback to nail the design. The Least Work Principle is one of my tools for interpreting what users mean instead of just what they seem to be saying.
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The Highlight Reel Effect
When we hear stories of other startups, especially successful ones, it is easy to perceive that the path they traveled was straightforward and easy, especially if we lose sight of the highlight reel effect.
