There are many benefits to mentoring. From the satisfaction of giving something back to honing your own career, mentorship has its rewards. Employing managerial skills and guiding your entrepreneur through a key stage in their career is often just the beginning. It is a commitment as personal one-on-one mentoring is a time-consuming activity. So, take […]
Key to an entrepreneur’s success is confidence in oneself, and in one’s powers and abilities. Self confidence inspires confidence of others. After all, we hesitate to back an idea presented by someone who is nervous and overly apologetic. However, we are likely persuaded to support a project pitched by one who speaks clearly, answers questions with […]
You are a startup looking for a VC and a VC is looking for a startup. So how do you convince a VC to take your call or meet with you? You send them a deck—make sure it is stacked in your favor. Start by developing and refining the reasons why the VC should meet […]
You’re an entrepreneur. You have a vision. You can’t do it alone. So how do you get the help you need and keep everyone and every thing on track? First you need your plan, and it should include the 5 W’s—Why, What, Who, Where, and When. WHY are we doing it? By sharing the way […]
Your entrepreneurial venture begins with you. Entrepreneurship is a challenging and rewarding path. Are you cut out for it? What will give you the ability to grow through failures, carry on when things get tough, boost your spirits in difficult moments, and ultimately achieve success? Although research on the psychology of entrepreneurs shows there is […]
It’s a new year and it’s time to get things done. Staying on task and keeping motivation strong requires vision. And, commitment. Then that long list of byways and highways, bumps and potholes on the way doesn’t seem so daunting. Now, how to navigate the most efficient route to success? Here are three keys to […]
Your speech is great. You opened with a hook and hit all your main points. Now, you’re about out of time, and you need to wrap it up. So what do you say? Don’t blow your close. Don’t end with Q&A. The problem: you leave your audience remembering someone’s question instead of giving them a […]
It is important to plan your day and make the most of every minute. Here are five tips you can employ daily to boost your focus and your productivity, making sure every day is one day closer to realizing your dream. Own Your Morning. Use the morning hours for yourself. Plan what you want for […]
Greater Phoenix—and all of Arizona—has more happening in its startup scene now more than ever. Ask anyone in the community and they’ll demonstrate their excitement and general bullishness for our ecosystem’s continued growth. I am often asked what has been “the biggest change” that occurred to improve our startup community over the last few years. […]
Fetching funds and other resources is a critical aspect for any startup. And, managing investors is an important skill founders need to learn. It is said that getting venture funding is a lot like shifting gears. A typical startup goes through several rounds of funding, at each round getting just enough to shift it into […]