A presentation I gave in ISBM in December of 2009

1. 3 BOSSES 7 DAY WEEK UNDERPAID & OVERWORKED TAX AFTER EXPENSES UNLIMITED SCALABILITY MASTER OF YOUR DESTINY ENTREPRENEUR-SHIP Separating the fact from fiction

2. WHAT KIND OF ENTREPRENEUR ARE YOU? THE ART OF THE START DEFAULT SERIAL CLOSET FAMILY JEDI

3. IN THE BEGINNING IT’S JUST AN IDEA THE NICHE MARKET PAIN VS. PLEASURE WHY ONLY YOU? BETA REVENUE? COMPETITION MARKET SIZE BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY

4. FAILING TO PLAN = PLANNING TO FAIL PLANS ARE GUIDELINES NOT BLUEPRINTS PLAN A STARTUP 90 DAYS AT A TIME

5. STARTUP MISTAKES TO AVOID RUNNING OUT OF CASH RUNNING OUT OF FOUNDERS BEING YOUR OWN CUSTOMER RUNNING INTO THE LAW TOO MUCH MARKETING, TOO LITTLE REVENUES SELLING THE DRAMA, NOT A SOLUTION FAILING TO GET UP WHEN YOU ARE DOWN RUNNING OUT OF RELATIVES CONFUSING EMOTION WITH PASSION

6. BUDDIES ARE GREAT AS A TEAM, MAKE SURE YOU COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER TECH FINANCE OPS S&M

7. BUILDING A CRACK TEAM IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE RECRUIT GIANTS EMPLOYEES HAVE CHOICE A-LISTERS ATTRACT OTHER A-LISTERS CHALLENGE, COMMIT, REWARD

8. CLIENTS COME IN ALL SHAPES & SIZES SMALL CLIENTS LACK MONIES BIG CLIENTS WILL MUSCLE YOU GOVERNMENT CLIENTS ARE THE WORST OF BOTH WORLDS SHORT SALES CYCLES + TIGHT COLLECTIONS = GOOD BUSINESS

9. TACKLING SCALED COMPETITION FLEXIBILITY TRANSPARENCY PRODUCTIZE SERVICE HUMILITY

10. STARTUP MARKETING DONE RIGHT GUERRILLA MARKETING K.I.S.S BE FRIENDLY HAVE A STORY DIFFERENTIATE BE THE EXPERT USE ALL MEDIUMS

11. CREATING BARRIERS TO ENTRY PATENTS & COPYRIGHTS TRADEMARKS, BRANDS BUSINESS MODELS ECO SYSTEM FIRST MOVER ADVANTAGE GEOGRAPHICAL/MONOPOLY

12. NETWORKING AND PARTNERSHIPS PEER TO PEER ONE UP COMPETITION LATERAL

13. THE VALUE OF MENTORING INSPIRE EDUCATE CHALLENGE GUIDE

15. WHEN CRISIS STRIKES... THE KNACK BE PREPARED DON’T BE PWNED LEARN CONTINUOUSLY BUILD A REPUTATION BE THE NEWS, DON’T JUST SEE IT

16. CHALLENGES TO SCALING UP VISION & FORESIGHT MENTALITY & MONEY QUALITY RELIABILITY CONSISTENCY MASTERY

17. TO TAKE MONEY OR NOT?? FRIENDS & FAMILY INSTITUTIONAL DEBT VENTURE CAPITAL PRIVATE EQUITY PUBLIC MARKETS RAISE ENOUGH MONEY AT EACH STAGE. LEARN TO SHARE THE PIE GRANTS ANGEL/SEED FUNDING

18. VALUATION AND EXITS? WHAT IS YOUR COMPANY WORTH? WHAT IS THE END GAME? IS VALUE BEING ADDED CONSTANTLY? IS THERE MORE THAN MONEY ON THE TABLE?

19. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS, ONLY STUPID ANSWERS