In one of my technology startups, we are on a third pivot to drive a revenue model that scales. This is always a hard call because part of a strategy is to commit to the time, resources and risk of seeing it work or not. I like to model out the future on a spreadsheetContinue reading “Pivoting vs. Determination in a Startup”
Category Archives: Blog
Using Gmail as a Simple CRM Tool
For individuals and small teams that may not require the collaboration and power of Salesforce.com or the many other CRM solutions on the market, you can retain speed, simplicity and discipline with your sales and relationships using Gmail and G Suite. Much of the efficiency of using Gmail as a CRM comes from habits andContinue reading “Using Gmail as a Simple CRM Tool”
Managing Projects and Tasks in Gmail
There are a lot of project management tools out there (Basecamp, Monday, Trello, Asana, etc.) And many can be a great fit for sophisticated project management workflow for teams. The collaboration, task management and record keeping structure can be helpful. However, there’s a lot of friction also when it comes to using a whole otherContinue reading “Managing Projects and Tasks in Gmail”
Taking Notes
I agree with Richard Branson on Why everyone should take notes. We are moving through a lot of information and trying to make sense of it to be able to take the right actions.I have a process I have used for years that moves information to action. That is the goal of notes for me. Here is aContinue reading “Taking Notes”
Don’t Start A Business Until You Do This
When you don’t know what to do or have an idea that you want to build a business around, I would inject restraint. There are more things against you than for you. And the downside risk of your business idea being successful is much higher than the upside dream. I like Derek Sivers’ principle: “Don’tContinue reading “Don’t Start A Business Until You Do This”
Brainstorm Your Next Step
Opening up more options is always a better thing than limiting your choices. However, this takes some time and, I would argue, brainstorming works better in collaboration than alone. Working with someone else helps stimulate your thinking. When I brainstorm an option, I like to pull out visual tools. A Google Sheet for working financialContinue reading “Brainstorm Your Next Step”
Always Be Connecting
I had an exploratory call the other day around a new technology venture. It was about an hour long where we were looking at some strategies for go to market. The call was stimulating in and of itself, but I wanted to share a best practice I did, and tend to do, afterwards. I likeContinue reading “Always Be Connecting”
Action Moves the Needle
When there’s a temporary lull in my life – when new opportunities don’t seem to be finding their way to my desk – it’s a signal for me to start taking action. ~ Robert Ringer Being busy is a form of laziness—lazy thinking and indiscriminate action. Being busy is most often used as a guiseContinue reading “Action Moves the Needle”
Easier Funding
One of the best kept secrets of raising money is that funding is always easier when a project is already under way. ~ Robert Ringer, Action You can paint a picture of something that will materialize or you can get to work and turn your idea into assets and reality. The product/market fit and proofContinue reading “Easier Funding”
How to Be Useful
I love this story of Jim Collins meeting Peter Drucker in their first encounter and Drucker’s respective challenge to Collins: “My first meeting with Drucker is one of the the ten most significant days of my life … “ “… At the end of the day, Peter hit me with a challenge. I was onContinue reading “How to Be Useful”