Business is often more art than science. The art of building a team can be likened to that of conducting a choir, where the conductor must harmonize various components to create a unified and powerful performance. The conductor of a choir and a team leader share a similar vision and purpose. The conductor’s primary role is to guide the choir … Read More
I asked a lawyer acquaintance if he had ever lost an argument with his wife. He had to think about it. He eventually answered “yes,” but it wasn’t convincing. I figured as much. He’s a bit of a narcissist. We’ve run into them throughout our careers. The people who genuinely think the world revolves around them. Like many personality types, … Read More
No, not that kind of jerk, I mean the dreaded office a-hole. When getting a university degree in business, computer science, engineering, or most subjects, the soft skills that are foundational for relationship building—and for much of a person’s success in life—are often ignored. Not only do we not spend much time studying how to build and maintain relationships, but … Read More
Like a lot of startups, we looked at our banking situation with the news that Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank in the United States went belly up. The failures highlight our complicated relationship with banks and bankers but provide valuable lessons for tech startups and business leaders. There is now concern about more bank failures and the overall … Read More
March 15 is the ides of March. It’s the day in 44 BCE that Julius Cesar met an unceremonious end at the pointy part of Roman senators’ sharp daggers. Around 60 to 70 senators are thought to have been in on the plot. William Shakespeare made the whole thing famous, along with the quote, E tu Brute, which you are … Read More
Dating sucks. Okay, let’s refine that one. Dating sucks, except for the genetic freaks that would qualify to be on Love Island. They are not bereft of choice. Still, even for them, the odds may be good, but the goods may be odd. For B2B tech startups or any business looking into new markets, the behavior of potential clients is … Read More
As a B2B tech startup, you have likely already experienced the challenges of building and scaling your business. From developing a product that meets the needs of your target market to securing funding and building a strong team, the journey of a startup is often fraught with obstacles. One of the most significant challenges that many startups face is hiring … Read More
In our last post we touched on the 3 most common mistakes bootstrapped founders make when trying to transition out of founder-led sales and make their first sales hire [when they’re not necessarily quite ready to do so]. As mitigation against those common mistakes, we put forward the concept of finding a “diamond in the rough” – someone not necessarily … Read More
Make it rain, make it rain, make it rain. That’s the dream of B2B tech founders for their first sales hire. They will bring in the sales that will bring you stability and breathing room. Based on our years of experience, research, and conversations with tech leaders—this is rarely the case. And, it might not be the right mindset for … Read More
When you are a startup, you have to take every opportunity to get your name out in order to attract customers and talent. Yet, many startups give up a massive opportunity for increasing name identity. This happens in a number of areas, but critically when they are seeking their first salesperson. Startups often turn to recruiters to fill this role … Read More
