Something changed. I don’t know what. I don’t know when. But it changed. If you’re a bootstrapped founder and have achieved product market fit, then you’re probably thinking it’s time to get back to innovating on your product, get the hired gun in and make your first Sales hire. If you’re angel or VC-backed you may well be thinking the … Read More
I listen to a number of podcasts, including a few by comedians. It is fairly common for comedians to have grown up in dysfunctional households and/or have had to overcome their own demons of addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. What often strikes me is that once they have stopped using, many shift their addictive personalities towards work—which often leads to … Read More
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
Forgetting an anniversary might get you in trouble with your significant other. Ignoring that your employees or clients observe religious holidays can be catastrophic. Whatever your personal religious tradition, or lack thereof (all of which works for us), it’s important to take into account major religious holidays when doing sales and business planning. While most of the business world understands … 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
A 2,000-year-old book continues to have a major influence on today’s business thinking. No, it’s not the bible. It’s “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. It’s about war, thus the title. But its principles have made it go to reading for business professionals for more than 50 years. For B2B tech startups, it’s helpful to know some of Sun … Read More
