founders, VC's, mentors and startup experts.
Remember your first business loan? Or, if you're like many entrepreneurs, you may have initially bootstrapped your startup by buying some stuff on your credit card. You were excited and apprehensive: Excited because now you had the cash to invest in your business, apprehensive because you had just taken on a debt you would have to repay. ...
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Via: On Startups
Entrepreneur. Founder/CTO @HubSpot inbound marketing and st |
Creating a positive company culture is much like creating a positive classroom culture. As former teachers and camp counselors, this is something we enjoy actively considering. When intentionally attempting to improve company culture, I recommend following these three tips: ...
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Via: Silicon Prairie News
Reshaping grading to be about learning instead of points wit |
Ask 10 founders about company culture and what it means and you'll get 10 different answers. It's about office design, it's about screening out the wrong kinds of employees, it's about values, it's about fun, it's about alignment, it's about finding like-minded employees, it's about being cult-like. So what is culture? ...
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Via: Bhorowitz
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Have you ever been on a project team with great people? I'm not talking about super-smart people, although they might have been some of those great people. I mean a project team where the team meshed. Where the team jelled, where the team knew how to work together. Now, I bet that team didn't magically jell on day one. But I bet that team had a lot in common from day one. That's called cultural fi ...
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Via: Johanna Rothman
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It's now 2 years since I launched Buffer, and the company has grown from just myself (working from my bedroom) to a team of 7. It seems rather obvious in hindsight, but only after growing a team over 2 years have I realised just how gradual and progressive building a startup culture is. ...
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Via: joel.is
Founder of @bufferapp, a smarter way to share. Focused on th |
Company culture can have a real impact on your bottom line. Two stories from Mikey Trafton's Business of Software 2012 presentation. ...
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Founder and CEO of Fire Ant Software. We help doctors get pa |
Klaas Kerstin of Flare Games gives a fantastic talk about company culture and the merits of an asshole-free company. "You are spending a great deal of your life at work, and choosing energy in where and who you work with is always a good investment." Klaas spoke at one of the HackFwd build events where all of our companies are invited to meet and build the future of their companies ...
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Via: HackFwd Blog
We're experienced tech entrepreneurs looking to support and |
Culture at a startup is like capital - once you've started running out, it becomes harder to raise more; and once you're out, you're done. I've twice worked at startups that doubled in size within a year. The first time, it was bad - for morale, for productivity, for overall quality. ...
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Via: Cindy Alvarez
Making people more awesome through building better software. |
The New York Times reported that recent research supported the hunch that open floor plan offices reduce roductivity. The research showed that ambient conversations at work and a noisy office space contributed to "a decline of 5 percent to 10 percent on the performance of cognitive tasks requiring efficient use of short-term memory, like reading, writing and other forms of creative work." ...
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Via: iDoneThis blog
The insane, on occasion, are not without their charms. - Kur |
To find out how startup leaders think about building companies that they themselves enjoy working in, we surveyed the founders of some of the most innovative startups out there to ask them one simple question: What do you value most about your company's work culture, and what's one important way that you contribute to it? ...
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Via: iDoneThis blog
The insane, on occasion, are not without their charms. - Kur |
A major criteria or a deciding factor for employee happiness is the people he/she is working with. High pay, bonuses, equity, benefits, etc are all just fuel to the car. The people in it should be great to actually enjoy the ride. Your employee will stay if she enjoys working with the people around. ...
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Co-founder @hackerrank & @interviewstreet |
To keep commitment high and reinforce a culture based on your objectives you need to install a systematic approach to meetings that allows people to be heard, get help, pose ideas, participate, learn, grow, move projects forward, and stay connected. ...
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Via: Duct Tape Marketing
I actually tweet at @ducttape, but I have this account to us |
If the investor thinks it is, then it is. If not, no.While that may sound simplistic, it's actually accurate. It is important to look at questions like this holistically. Investors are putting their money behind an entrepreneur and his/her particular vision, team, and operating skills. If the entrepreneur believes that having office jellyfish is a Good Thing for company morale and a work environme ...
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Via: Gust Blog
Venture capitalist, entrepreneur, angel investor |
For over two decades, I've tried to understand what drives teams. Conventional theories never work; I find that the secret sauce for a successful team has three ingredients: ...
I've been fascinated by different company cultures for as long as I can remember and I love asking entrepreneurs to describe the culture of their companies. Over time I've come to realize that when you break down culture descriptions you'll often find a mix of two components: values and vibe. ...
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Via: Feld Thoughts
I'm a managing director at Foundry Group. I live in Boulder, |
Make sure you have agreement on the facts of the situation and a range of hypotheses where you don't have strong data. Don't agree to a course of action without understanding the larger goal, key risks and outcomes to be avoided, and doing at least one round of pre-mortem review where you agree on the most likely causes of failure Whenever an advisor suggests a particular course of action get an e ...
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Via: Sean Murphy
New Technology Product Introduction Focused on Early Custome |
Companies are not people. But they are comprised of people. And the people side of the business is harder and way more complicated than building a product is. You have to start with culture, values, and a committment to creating a fantastic workplace. You can't fake these things. They have to come from the top. They are not bullshit. ...
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Via: AVC
I am a VC |
To get started, be clear what culture to learn about. In a large institution, there may be big differences across departments. Cultures also can be moving targets. Large institutions may change with their environment. In start-ups, expect everything to be different a year later. ...
Starting a new technology company is exciting. Since the founders have their energies fully focused on new technologies and innovations that promise to change the world, there is little time left for them to think about creating the right culture for the company. Hence, more often than not, the company's culture takes after the styles and personalities of the founders. ...
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Via: Venture Beat
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It's not enough to focus on vision and mission. If things are taking off then your team might stick around while the times are good. But if things go bad (and let's face it, they always do), your team will only stick around if you have aligned their passions and values with yours. In so doing, the opportunity cost equation will have them sticking around and making things right as part of your team ...
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Via: Mark MacLeod
Seed investor for SaaS, e-commerce and other awesome startup |
"Soft culture matters as much as hard numbers. And if your company's culture is to mean anything, you have to hang - publicly - those in your midst who would destroy it." ...
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Via: Usman Sheikh
Co-Founder of IDENTIFI. On a mission to get the right people |
Last week I was in a meeting with 22 people. I calculated the average salary as $150k per annum, which then translated into an hourly rate of $75. The meeting went for 5 hours. The cost of this meeting was then $8250. I don't care how big or wealthy the companies involved are, this is a lot of money. ...
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Trying to create. www.stevesammartino.com |
"Oh, that's not my job," is the sound of doom. Maybe not imminent doom, but doom indeed. It's the magic inflection point when a company becomes too big (even if only psychologically) for any single employee to give a rat's ass about job numero uno: Making shit work. No profession is immune. You can have designers who oh-thats-not-my-job to get the JavaScript they w ...
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Creator of Ruby on Rails, Partner at 37signals, Co-author of |
Your company culture is the foundation on which everything you do rests. Your culture acts as an unwritten set of rules that drives behavior and cohesion across the company. Cohesive, insular cultures are more resilient and can withstand shocks to it (e.g. pivoting multiple times) as well as can be extremely motivational / draw out the best in people ...
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Via: Eladgil
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There are a number of reasons why startups must carefully consider their leadership style: the right leadership style can help employees and stakeholders thrive on change; it can encourage an open and learning culture; and most of all, it can help you to retain your best people. ...
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Via: HackFwd Blog
We're experienced tech entrepreneurs looking to support and |
Behaviors travel across the organization through copying and imitation. And when business leaders change the way they work and communicate, it'll hopefully spread like an epidemic and everyone else will eventually follow. Then, we can have a more meaningful "humanize the brand" conversation. ...
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Via: Edelman Digital
SVP, Social Business Planning @edelmandigital. Hustler. Lake |
Strong corporate culture starts from the top with the co-founders. If the co-founders don’t emphasize corporate culture it'll take on a life of its own, even more so than it already does. As the company grows, middle management will drive corporate culture if it isn't pushed from the top, and the outcome can be fine ...
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Via: David Cummings
10-20 tweets per week. Tech entrepreneur who enjoys family, |
Is there much disagreement in your company? I'm not talking about where to head for lunch – I mean real, passionate, fundamental disagreement on product, marketing, operations, etc. I hope so. Even more so the earlier you are in your business. Running it is a messy business. ...
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Via: Seth Levine
a little geeky. a little funny. a lot opinionated. saving |
As Start-Ups and Entrepreneurs are popping up with the help of great local systems such as Start Up Weekend and 5X5 Night the trends for office environments are changing also. A quick search online for some of the most creative office environments, such as Etsy.com and Facebook, show laid back, hipped out, collaborative spaces where your imagination is more important than your punch card. ...
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Via: Bostinnovation
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There are lots of different “secrets” for startups success There’s the lean approach, minimal viable products (MVP), bootstrapping, crowdsourcing, strategic seed capital, etc. But in working closely with startups, here’s a key ingredient few people talk about: lunch. Yup, lunch. Think about it. Lunch is not just about nutritional intake, it’s about community and colle ...
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Via: Mark Evans Tech
Startup marketer, conference organizer, hockey player, dad, |
Recently a team member was lamenting about how long it was taking us to fill a position. We had interviewed a number of qualified candidates, some even getting to the final stage of the process. Internally, I had to keep reiterating that these candidates were very strong but not perfect for us. Frustrating? Yes. The [...] ...
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Via: David Cummings
10-20 tweets per week. Tech entrepreneur who enjoys family, |
The following is a guest post from John Greathouse. John is an entrepreneur and investor. He currently blogs at Infochachkie where he provides practical startup advice. You may not realize it, but your adVenture's Core Team, the senior executives who make the key decisions which drive the company's strategic direction, is akin to a primitive tribe. Primitive tribes an ...
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Via: On Startups
Entrepreneur. Founder/CTO @HubSpot inbound marketing and st |
Culture Management is essential for growth stage companies Our company has been through many cycles and products throughout the years, but it’s the passion and bond between teammates that have always carried on with us. That will continue to carry on no matter what size we grow to. We are a team, and we are a [...] ...
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Via: Yu-Kai Chou
RewardMe Co-Founder. Gamification Expert and Lecturer/Speake |
Infusing Your Business With Platform ThinkingThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing Infusing Your Business With Platform ThinkingThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing Marketing podcast with Phil Simon (Click to play or right click and “Save As” to download – Subscribe now via iTunes or subscribe via other RSS device (Google Listen) I’ve been talking about this idea of a bu ...
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Via: Duct Tape Marketing
I actually tweet at @ducttape, but I have this account to us |
Today’s EO Accelerator quarterly education day was on people and more specifically accountability. As part of the material there was a lengthy discussion on results only work environments (www.goROWE.com). ROWE is the idea that results are what matter, not people being in the office from 8am – 5pm daily. Here are some tips when considering [...] ...
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Via: David Cummings
10-20 tweets per week. Tech entrepreneur who enjoys family, |
What Is Shared CultureThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing What Is Shared CultureThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing I wish I could give you a crisp definition of what the word culture, with regard to business, really means. It’s a tricky word that finds its way into most discussions regarding the workplace these days. Like so many things, it’s hard to describe, but you [...] ...
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Via: Duct Tape Marketing
Small business marketing consultant, speaker and author of D |
Success is a beautiful thing. We all want it, because it’s the undisputed champion in measuring our professional selves. We know it’s hard to get, and that’s what makes it all the more satisfying. We cherish it, because we know what it’s like to fail (because we all do). So, when it happens, there’s the part of us that wants to strut around like a peacock. I did i ...
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Via: TerryStarbucker
Writer, Husband, Friend, Entrepreneur. I write about (and h |
What a great week I had last week. On Tuesday I attended the Splunk Worldwide User Conference. On Thursday I attended the SAY Media all hands meeting. (On Wednesday I had board meetings for StumbleUpon and Ebates -- they're building awesome companies as well, but that has nothing to do... ...
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David Hornik is an investor at August Capital, the author of |
“The days of leading countries or companies via a one-way conversation are over. The old system of ‘command and control’ — using carrots and sticks — to exert power over people is fast being replaced by ‘connect and collaborate’ — to generate power through people.†- Dov Seidman When I became an executive for the first time back in ...
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Via: TerryStarbucker
Writer, Husband, Friend, Entrepreneur. I write about (and h |
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