Startups: What Exactly is Execution?
Sunday, 03 December 2023
I want to put your head on a specific focus as we explore this question. In the last few weeks, I’ve tackled the question of an ideal team for a startup, sharing new research about personalities, been critical of expectations, and proposed that understanding and avoiding how startups fail is more important than attention directed
- Published in Insights / Research, Startups
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Success as a Startup Founder? Need for variety and novelty, reduced modesty, an openness to adventure, and heightened energy levels
Thursday, 19 October 2023
A recent study conducted by researchers from the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the University of Melbourne examined data from over 21,000 startup founders, formally identifying six key startup founder personality types associated with success. Notably, the research indicates that the collective personalities of a startup’s entire founding team significantly influence the venture’s
- Published in Insights / Research, Startups
Business is Personal
Wednesday, 07 July 2021
I found myself at Hewlett-Packard, some 15 years ago, as desktop and laptop computers still dominated our lives and the iPhone was merely a sparkle in Apple’s eye. With my PDA in hand, and Microsoft Zune spinning tunes, HP’s marketing team released a brand campaign designed to reposition the company and remind consumers that the
- Published in Industry, Insights / Research
Commitment to Entrepreneurship
Tuesday, 06 April 2021
“Without commitment you cannot have depth in anything.” Neil Strauss “Motivation is what gets you started. Commitment is what keeps you going.” Jim Rohn “Commitment leads to action. Action brings your dream closer.” Marica Wieder “You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear.” Sammy Davis Jr “Most people fail not because of a lack
- Published in Startups
The Distinction of Startup CEO
Tuesday, 05 January 2021
Chief Executive Officer. The responsibilities of a CEO are set by the organization’s board of directors because technically, a CEO is the Chief Executive among many, referring to the fact that companies are largely run by the CxOs of their respective business (CMO, CTO, CIO, etc.). Managing a leadership team and meeting the expectations of stakeholders
- Published in Startups
The Family and the Wedding Party – Starting a Startup Team
Wednesday, 06 May 2020
You need to think of EVERYONE at this stage as co-founders and owners OR merely consultants (formally contracted with VERY clear terms, requirements, deliverables, and ownership). Trust me. You do not want to be in a situation where you are committing anything to anyone hired, an agency, or freelance professional – such people either need to be
- Published in Startups
Can the Languages of Love Help us Build Enduring Companies?
Thursday, 06 February 2020
In the mid and late ’90s, a book sparked a new way of thinking about love. Love has been distinguished in it’s various forms, likely since humans fell for it, and notable as far back as the Greek Philosophy that identified Agape (the unconditional love one experiences with family), Eros (you can probably guess), Philia
- Published in Insights / Research