How You Know You Have What It Takes To Succeed As CEO
You usually have a lot of self doubt when you’re a startup CEO. I certainly did. So wouldn’t it be nice to know if you have what it takes to be a successful startup CEO? I’ll give you my take on what I look for in the people I work with in this short video.…
Can You Fire Your Cofounder For No Reason?
“I’m thinking I’m going to let “Randy” go,” I told “Raul” who was one of our two investors. Raul nodded, and then he asked me why I was thinking of letting Randy go. “Randy’s having problems working with the rest of the team. I’m going to try and see if I can help…” [Do you…
What Are Your Responsibilities As CEO?
“What are you doing?” Tina, our controller, asked me. I was in the front lobby of our office, and I had a scissors in my hands. “I’m cutting the ends of the plants, so they look nice. I want everything to look perfect when the investors get here tomorrow.” Cutting the plants so there were…
How Much Help Should You Really Expect From Your Investors?
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when you’re raising money is expecting your investors to do too much. In fact, expecting too much can cost you investors if you’re not careful. So what should you really expect from your investors? I’ll give you my take in this short video. Do You Want…
Why Your Cofounder Shouldn’t Get A Sales Commission
“That sounds like double-dipping,” I said to “Al”, the CEO of a company I am working with. Al was describing to me his cofounder’s idea of getting paid a commission for using his network to refer customers to Al’s company. I asked, “Isn’t that what we’re paying him for?” “Yes it is,” Al said. “I…
What You Shouldn’t Expect As A Successful Startup CEO?
You may have dreams of instant success, fame, and celebrity when you think about your expectations as an entrepreneur. The reality is much different. I’ll explain exactly what you should expect if you are a successful entrepreneur in this short video. Do You Want To Grow Your Business? Maybe I Can Help. Click Here.
When Should You Sell Some Of Your Company Stock?
“I have a dilemma,” “Oscar”, the CEO of a startup that I’m working with said to me Friday. “Right now, my percentage ownership is around 70% of the company. I’d like to take some money off the table, so my family is financially set. “The problem is that I will likely drop below 50% ownership…
How Much Ego Do You Need To Succeed As CEO?
Anyone that starts a company and says they don’t have an ego is lying. You have to have an ego to start a company because what makes you think you will be the one company that makes it? However, is there a point where you can have too much ego as a startup CEO? And…
How Do You Pitch A Startup With Two Strategies?
“I never invest in act two of a startup,” Gill’s partner Carl said to me. The meeting was going well. We had really signed our term sheet, so this was more of a get to know you meeting. Then Carl continued talking, “I’m heartened that you have experience doing act one already. That makes me…
What Should You Know When You Design Your Employee Compensation Plan
I remember having breakfast with the Chairman of the Board of a startup. The Chairman was trying to convince me to join the company as CEO. I’m not sure how we got on the subject, but we started talking about compensation. Mike proudly told me about when he was CEO of a well known public…