Startup advisor and early-stage investor. My vision: to make every startup I work with a sustainable billion-dollar business.
Startups face a unique set of challenges — high failure rates, resource constraints, and intense competition. It’s no surprise that many founders and CEOs are focused on the short-term, tactical aspects of running a business, such as sales, product development, or marketing. But there’s one area that’s often overlooked, yet can be a major differentiator … Continue reading Culture as a secret weapon
As a startup founder, it can be tempting to get caught up in the hype of fast growth and flashy metrics. After all, these are the things that often catch the attention of investors and the media. But it's important to remember that true success for a startup is not just about accumulating vanity metrics, … Continue reading Building something meaningful
The past few years I‘ve gone through a significant change not only in mind-set but more importantly in the words and actions I use. Growing up in California, I have the typical optimistic and overly enthusiastic attitude about a positive future that defines us on the west coast. The major change in my life isn’t … Continue reading What if…
Growing a company has so many daily struggles, it’s important to not only have the right structure which allows growth to be possible, but also to have the right mindset. Speaking with a mentor or someone with Startup experience is always a major help when identifying and later focusing on attributes to help keep … Continue reading Adjusting your mindset
This is somethings which I found many years ago. Unfortunately I don’t know who originally wrote it. Whoever they are, I would like to thank them as it has helped me on my journey... A time comes in your life when you finally get it. When, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, … Continue reading The Awakening
I was at a client meeting the other day. Everyone had narrow eyes and that look of intensity. There was a task force which needed to immediately be created to solve a massive problem. At one moment I took a step back and realized that all this negative energy was becoming an even bigger problem… … Continue reading Embrace the Struggle
A friend of mine once told me that he needed to "stay in his lane" many years ago. In the meantime I have heard that saying quite a lot. And I think it's terrible! Staying in your own lane might keep your manager happy but are you really going to grow long-term if you keep … Continue reading Get out of your lane!
I was speaking with a founder the other day, trying to understand his business. Let's just say I had to lead him the entire conversation... and I mean literally! After he introduced himself and explained his company, it took me what felt like 50 follow up questions to understand what he was building 🙄 In … Continue reading If you can‘t sell it, they won‘t buy it!
Executive Strategic Recruitment & Talentmanagement (the short version). Thanks Sam Cooke. During growth periods in young companies, it is vital to look at the senior management and honestly ask if they are the right individuals for that job moving forward. Most startups don’t even consider this point until it’s too late, allowing minor problems to become … Continue reading A change is gonna come…
Get yourself a Greyhair! The underappreciated experience of previous generations is untapped knowledge and a valuable resource for all Startups. Call them what you want: Consultants, Advisory Board, the old guy who keeps rambling on about how easy the younger generation has it – either way, get yourself 1 or 2 or even 3! Your … Continue reading Great advice no one ever told you…
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