What started out as an unknown editorial adventure back in March 2011 (launching the Red Rocket blog), has resulted in my writing 101 Startup Lessons--An Entrepreneur's Handbook for executives of aspiring startups. This is my small contribution back to the startup ecosystem which has treated me so well over the years. Keep this "table of contents" list handy, as your future business needs arise. And, thanks for forwarding this list to your entrepreneurial friends that you think may also benefit from such lessons.
Below are the original 101 Startup Lessons, plus following lessons I have written since then, sorted by major business topic:
STRATEGY
Lesson #1: Drivers of Success for Startups. Do I Have a Good Idea?
Lesson #7: Key Components for Writing a Business Plan
Lesson #11: Considering Incubators or Accelerators for Your Startup
Lesson #12: How to Structure Your Board of Directors or Advisory Board
Lesson #17: Pitfalls to Avoid When Joining Someone Else's Startup
Lesson #19: How to Identify Your Competition
Lesson #37: The Plusses and Minuses of Franchising
Lesson #38: Things to Consider When Buying a Business
Lesson #43: Examples of Barriers to Entry For Your Business
Lesson #45: Find a Business Mentor or Business Coach
Lesson #63: Determining Exit Options for Your Startup
Lesson #64: How to Find Buyers for Your Business
Lesson #65: How to Structure the Sale of Your Business
Lesson #81: Considerations for Global Expansion
Lesson #96: Vertical vs. Horizontal Growth Options
Lesson #100: The Definitive Checklist for Startup Success
Lesson #110: When to Drive Growth vs. Profits
Lesson #112: Startup Ideation
Lesson #118: Market Research for Startups
Lesson #121: Designing an Omni-Channel Business
Lesson #128: Try to Kill Your Startup Before You Start
Lesson #145: Issues to Consider Before Selling to Big Companies
Lesson #149: Can't Attract Venture Capital? Buy a Business with Private Equity!
Lesson #151: How to Start a Business
Lesson #164: Is Your Startup Building a "Vitamin" or a "Pain Killer"?
Lesson #167: The Unlucky 13 Reasons Startups Fail
Lesson #168: Start Thinking Globally Now -- 3.5BN People Are Waiting!!
Lesson #170: What's More Important? Your Product or Proof-of-Concept??
Lesson #176: How to Filter Conflicting Advice from Multiple Mentors
Lesson #180: How Retailers Can Combat Showrooming
Lesson #195: Entrepreneurs Speak Out on What They Would Have Done Differently
Lesson #200: Startup Success Equals Strategy AND Execution
Lesson #207: Big Companies That Embrace Intrapreneurship Will Thrive
Lesson #212: How to Roll-Out Your Local Business, Market-By-Market
Lesson #218: You Don't Know, What You Don't Know
Lesson #221: The Internet of Things is Coming, Hang On to Your Hats!!
Lesson #225: The Potential Pitfalls from Mergers & Acquisitions
Lesson #227: How to Run a Strategic Planning Process
Lesson #231: The War Between Driving Growth and Profitability
Lesson #234: Setting Mergers & Acquisitions Goals
Lesson #235: How to Take Your Business Global
Lesson #238: Continue to Innovate Your Products . . . Or, Die a Slow Death!!
Lesson #245: You Cannot Cut Your Way to Growth
Lesson #246: Buying a Business is Hard Work!!
Lesson #251: U.S. Ecommerce Companies, Beware The Looming Overseas Guillotine
Lesson #253: You Can't Expand, While Your House is on Fire!!
Lesson #258: How to Roll-Up Several Companies Into One
Lesson #260: Where to Find Businesses for Sale
Lesson #271: Want to Scale Revenues? It's All Math!
Lesson #272: Do You Bet on the Jockey or the Horse
Lesson #279: Ali Express, The Amazon Killer You Never Heard Of
Lesson #284: How To Calculate Your Total Addressable Market Size
Lesson #289: Our First Acquisition--Red Rocket Acquires Restaurant Furniture Plus
Lesson #296: Copy Proven Ideas for Quick Success--A Fortnite Case Study
Lesson #303: How to Find Expert Consultants for Your Business
Lesson #312: Don’t Let Short-Term Thinking Hurt Long-Term Success
Lesson #323: How Your Business Survives A National Crisis Or Pandemic
Lesson #329: Leverage Market Downturns as Investment Opportunities
Lesson #339: OKRs Unite Companies to Achieve Goals
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses Consistent Problems Across Startups
VIDEO George Deeb Presents Successful Startup Strategies
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses Business Coaches and Mentors
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses Market Research and Business Planning
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses "Pain Killer vs. Vitamin" Business Models
VIDEO George Deeb Discussed "Driving Growth vs. Driving Profits"
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses How to Survive the Coronavirus Pandemic
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses How COVID-19 Impacted Small Business
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses Consistent Problems Across Startups
VIDEO George Deeb Presents Successful Startup Strategies
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses Business Coaches and Mentors
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses Market Research and Business Planning
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses "Pain Killer vs. Vitamin" Business Models
VIDEO George Deeb Discussed "Driving Growth vs. Driving Profits"
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses How to Survive the Coronavirus Pandemic
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses How COVID-19 Impacted Small Business
GENERAL BUSINESS
Lesson #3: The Importance of Timing & Luck for Your Startup
Lesson #8: Startups Require Flexibility to Optimize Business Model
Lesson #28: Expect the Unexpected -- Always Have a Cushion
Lesson #29: No Matter How Bad it Gets, Persistence Wins
Lesson #31: The Power of a Pivot -- Thinking Out of the Box
Lesson #39: The Art of Negotiation
Lesson #40: Focus! Focus! Focus! Build One Business at a Time.
Lesson #47: The Importance of Networking
Lesson #50: Do What You Love!! Passion Drives Success.
Lesson #71: Launch Fast! Fail Fast!
Lesson #85: Tap Into Your Local Startup Ecosystem
Lesson #86: Perception Often Outshines Reality
Lesson #87: The Art of Decision Making
Lesson #90: Proper Business Etiquette for Startups
Lesson #92: Building Your Personal Brand
Lesson #104: Manage Expectations & Exceed Them
Lesson #114: "Driven to Win" vs. "Fear of Failure"
Lesson #122: Setting Key Milestones for Your Startup
Lesson #135: Why Big Companies Struggle with Innovation
Lesson #160: Don't Be Overly Infatuated With Your Own Startup Idea
Lesson #182: Doing the "Smoke and Mirrors" Dance
Lesson #184: Does Age Matter for Entrepreneurial Success?
Lesson #192: Combat Management By Committee & Analysis Paralysis
Lesson #193: The Best Medicine For Your Business -- A Fresh Set of Eyes!!
Lesson #201: What is An Entrepreneur? The Ultimate Definition
Lesson #215: Stop Cherry Coating Your True Opinion
Lesson #224: When to Take Off the Gloves With Competitors
Lesson #228: Beware of Joining a Family Business
Lesson #237: The Hockey Stick Principles of Growth
Lesson #257: The 9 Types of Leadership
Lesson #261: Leadership 101--Narrow Your Say-Do Gap
Lesson #263: Having Laser-Focus Increases Odds of Success
Lesson #275: Lessons From the Best VC Ever (John Doerr)
Lesson #276: Lessons from Two Unicorns (LendingTree & Blackboard)
Lesson #278: Entrepreneurs Mellow & Mature With Age
Lesson #297: Top 10 Warning Signs Your Startup Will Fail
Lesson #302: Business Lessons from the Great Conductors
Lesson #308: Want to Grow? Complete One Material Action Per Day!
Lesson #310: Want Startup Success? Keep It Simple Stupid!
Lesson #316: Decision Making Only as Good as Quality of Data Studied
Lesson #328: Creating a Symbiotic CEO and CFO Partnership
Lesson #3: The Importance of Timing & Luck for Your Startup
Lesson #8: Startups Require Flexibility to Optimize Business Model
Lesson #28: Expect the Unexpected -- Always Have a Cushion
Lesson #29: No Matter How Bad it Gets, Persistence Wins
Lesson #31: The Power of a Pivot -- Thinking Out of the Box
Lesson #39: The Art of Negotiation
Lesson #40: Focus! Focus! Focus! Build One Business at a Time.
Lesson #47: The Importance of Networking
Lesson #50: Do What You Love!! Passion Drives Success.
Lesson #71: Launch Fast! Fail Fast!
Lesson #85: Tap Into Your Local Startup Ecosystem
Lesson #86: Perception Often Outshines Reality
Lesson #87: The Art of Decision Making
Lesson #90: Proper Business Etiquette for Startups
Lesson #92: Building Your Personal Brand
Lesson #104: Manage Expectations & Exceed Them
Lesson #114: "Driven to Win" vs. "Fear of Failure"
Lesson #122: Setting Key Milestones for Your Startup
Lesson #135: Why Big Companies Struggle with Innovation
Lesson #160: Don't Be Overly Infatuated With Your Own Startup Idea
Lesson #182: Doing the "Smoke and Mirrors" Dance
Lesson #184: Does Age Matter for Entrepreneurial Success?
Lesson #192: Combat Management By Committee & Analysis Paralysis
Lesson #193: The Best Medicine For Your Business -- A Fresh Set of Eyes!!
Lesson #201: What is An Entrepreneur? The Ultimate Definition
Lesson #215: Stop Cherry Coating Your True Opinion
Lesson #224: When to Take Off the Gloves With Competitors
Lesson #228: Beware of Joining a Family Business
Lesson #237: The Hockey Stick Principles of Growth
Lesson #257: The 9 Types of Leadership
Lesson #261: Leadership 101--Narrow Your Say-Do Gap
Lesson #263: Having Laser-Focus Increases Odds of Success
Lesson #275: Lessons From the Best VC Ever (John Doerr)
Lesson #276: Lessons from Two Unicorns (LendingTree & Blackboard)
Lesson #278: Entrepreneurs Mellow & Mature With Age
Lesson #297: Top 10 Warning Signs Your Startup Will Fail
Lesson #302: Business Lessons from the Great Conductors
Lesson #308: Want to Grow? Complete One Material Action Per Day!
Lesson #310: Want Startup Success? Keep It Simple Stupid!
Lesson #316: Decision Making Only as Good as Quality of Data Studied
Lesson #328: Creating a Symbiotic CEO and CFO Partnership
Lesson #341: Don't Be the Smartest Guy in the Room
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses Entrepreneurial Mindsets for Success on ASBN
MARKETING
Lesson #6: Structuring Strategic Partnerships for Your Startup
Lesson #20: Setting Product & Pricing Strategy for Your Startup
Lesson #21: Setting a Sales & Marketing Plan for Your Startup
Lesson #22: How to Calculate ROI on Your Marketing Spend
Lesson #23: How to Design Effective Advertising Copy & Creatives
Lesson #24: How to Choose a Name for Your Startup
Lesson #44: The Importance of Blogging
Lesson #48: Trade Show Strategies for Startups
Lesson #52: Viral Marketing Via Social Media
Lesson #53: Search Engine Marketing Strategies
Lesson #54: Incorporate Video Into Your Marketing Efforts
Lesson #68: Mobile Apps & Location-Based Services
Lesson #69: The Marketing Power of Free Publicity
Lesson #72: The 10 Basics of Website Design
Lesson #74: Brand Building for Your Startup
Lesson #77: The Basics of Email Marketing
Lesson #79: Determining Customer Lifetime Value
Lesson #88: The Basics of Online Display Ads
Lesson #95: The Basics of Telemarketing
Lesson #99: The Basics of Direct Mail Marketing
Lesson #107: Social Media Analytics & ROI
Lesson #120: Plan Ahead for Proof-of-Concept Marketing
Lesson #131: How to Design a Logo & Tagline
Lesson #137: The Basic Drivers of E-commerce Growth
Lesson #142: The Power of Content Marketing--A Red Rocket Case Study
Lesson #158: Understand Your Brand Positioning (An Al Jazeera Case Study)
Lesson #162: The Benefits of Contributing Content to Other Sites (vs. Your Own Blog)
Lesson #169: Budget for Startup Marketing from Day One
Lesson #171: The Basics of B2B Marketing
Lesson #174: Growth Hacking--Marketing for Startups
Lesson #178: Predictive Social Analytics
Lesson #185: B2B Marketing Mix & Budget Benchmarks
Lesson #186: Marketing Automation Tools
Lesson #189: How to Price Your Software Technology
Lesson #191: Targeted Marketing Has Never Been Easier, Especially in Social Networks
Lesson #202: Writing a Book is Hard. Writing Your Second Book is Harder!!
Lesson #211: The Importance of First Impressions--A Red Rocket Case Study
Lesson #214: The Basics of Programmatic Advertising
Lesson #229: Marketing Tactics Evolve as You Scale--A Big Ass Case Study
Lesson #242: Top 50 Content Marketing Strategies
Lesson #244: Stop Selling the "What", Start Selling the "Why"
Lesson #252: Marketing ROI--The Metric That Matters Most
Lesson #254: Managing For Meteoric Growth--A Home Chef Case Study
Lesson #280: Tell a Story When Marketing Your Company
Lesson #282: Don’t Start Marketing Until You are Ready!
Lesson #283: Marketing Roles & Compensation
Lesson #287: Stop Using Overly Aggressive Marketing Tactics
Lesson #294: Marketing Attribution: What Is It and Why It Matters
Lesson #295: Top 5 Media Buys for First-Time Marketers
Lesson #298: Top 5 Trade Show Marketing Ideas
Lesson #299: The Search for Product-Market Fit (the Holy Grail)
Lesson #300: Top 10 Traits of High-Performing Marketing Teams
Lesson #307: Marketing Wisdom from Seth Godin
Lesson #313: The Top 5 Benefits of Marketing Personalization
Lesson #320: The Rise of Account Based Marketing
Lesson #321: Marketing is Still an Art (and a Science)
Lesson #325: Reset Marketing Campaigns as Market Conditions Change
VIDEO George Deeb Discusses Entrepreneurial Mindsets for Success on ASBN
MARKETING
Lesson #6: Structuring Strategic Partnerships for Your Startup
Lesson #20: Setting Product & Pricing Strategy for Your Startup
Lesson #21: Setting a Sales & Marketing Plan for Your Startup
Lesson #22: How to Calculate ROI on Your Marketing Spend
Lesson #23: How to Design Effective Advertising Copy & Creatives
Lesson #24: How to Choose a Name for Your Startup
Lesson #44: The Importance of Blogging
Lesson #48: Trade Show Strategies for Startups
Lesson #52: Viral Marketing Via Social Media
Lesson #53: Search Engine Marketing Strategies
Lesson #54: Incorporate Video Into Your Marketing Efforts
Lesson #68: Mobile Apps & Location-Based Services
Lesson #69: The Marketing Power of Free Publicity
Lesson #72: The 10 Basics of Website Design
Lesson #74: Brand Building for Your Startup
Lesson #77: The Basics of Email Marketing
Lesson #79: Determining Customer Lifetime Value
Lesson #88: The Basics of Online Display Ads
Lesson #95: The Basics of Telemarketing
Lesson #99: The Basics of Direct Mail Marketing
Lesson #107: Social Media Analytics & ROI
Lesson #120: Plan Ahead for Proof-of-Concept Marketing
Lesson #131: How to Design a Logo & Tagline
Lesson #137: The Basic Drivers of E-commerce Growth
Lesson #142: The Power of Content Marketing--A Red Rocket Case Study
Lesson #158: Understand Your Brand Positioning (An Al Jazeera Case Study)
Lesson #162: The Benefits of Contributing Content to Other Sites (vs. Your Own Blog)
Lesson #169: Budget for Startup Marketing from Day One
Lesson #171: The Basics of B2B Marketing
Lesson #174: Growth Hacking--Marketing for Startups
Lesson #178: Predictive Social Analytics
Lesson #185: B2B Marketing Mix & Budget Benchmarks
Lesson #186: Marketing Automation Tools
Lesson #189: How to Price Your Software Technology
Lesson #191: Targeted Marketing Has Never Been Easier, Especially in Social Networks
Lesson #202: Writing a Book is Hard. Writing Your Second Book is Harder!!
Lesson #211: The Importance of First Impressions--A Red Rocket Case Study
Lesson #214: The Basics of Programmatic Advertising
Lesson #229: Marketing Tactics Evolve as You Scale--A Big Ass Case Study
Lesson #242: Top 50 Content Marketing Strategies
Lesson #244: Stop Selling the "What", Start Selling the "Why"
Lesson #252: Marketing ROI--The Metric That Matters Most
Lesson #254: Managing For Meteoric Growth--A Home Chef Case Study
Lesson #280: Tell a Story When Marketing Your Company
Lesson #282: Don’t Start Marketing Until You are Ready!
Lesson #283: Marketing Roles & Compensation
Lesson #287: Stop Using Overly Aggressive Marketing Tactics
Lesson #294: Marketing Attribution: What Is It and Why It Matters
Lesson #295: Top 5 Media Buys for First-Time Marketers
Lesson #298: Top 5 Trade Show Marketing Ideas
Lesson #299: The Search for Product-Market Fit (the Holy Grail)
Lesson #300: Top 10 Traits of High-Performing Marketing Teams
Lesson #307: Marketing Wisdom from Seth Godin
Lesson #313: The Top 5 Benefits of Marketing Personalization
Lesson #320: The Rise of Account Based Marketing
Lesson #321: Marketing is Still an Art (and a Science)
Lesson #325: Reset Marketing Campaigns as Market Conditions Change
Lesson #327: All Search Engine Traffic is Not Created Equal
Lesson #330: The Importance of Conversion Rate Optimization
Lesson #330: The Importance of Conversion Rate Optimization
Lessons in Marketing: Super Bowl 2012
Lessons in Marketing: Grammy Awards 2013
Chicago's Top Marketing Agencies for Startups
VIDEO: George Deeb Teaches "Branding & Marketing" for Startups
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses Maximizing ROI on your Marketing Investment
SALES
Lesson #21: Setting a Sales & Marketing Plan for Your Startup
Lesson #25: How to Structure Your Sales Team & Procedures
Lesson #26: Designing Sales Incentives to Motivate Your Sales Team
Lesson #98: Securing a Government Contract
Lesson #127: How to Screen Salesperson Candidates
Lesson #129: "Productize" Your Business for Maximum Efficiency
Lesson #130: Driving Sales Requires Driving Key Metrics
Lesson #141: How to Pitch Business Development Partners
Lesson #143: Upselling, Cross-Selling and Freemium Techniques
Lesson #144: Remove All Friction From Your Sales Process
Lesson #161: Create an "Everyone Sells" Culture
Lesson #187: The 1,024 Types of Salespeople. Hire the Right Ones!
Lesson #190: Selling Stories, Not Products
Lesson #194: Operations & Sales Must Be Tied to the Hip (Break Down Silos)
Lesson #198: Support Your Sales Teams
Lesson #208: Five Sales Pitfalls Today, That Can Hurt You Long Term
Lesson #209: Which Selling Technique is Best for Your Business?
Lesson #210: Need a Salesperson? Recruit Three!
Lesson #216: Provide Multiple "Wins" Throughout the Customer Lifecycle
Lesson #223: Ten Things You Need to Know When Responding to RFPs
Lesson #230: Evolve From Selling "Widgets" to "Wisdom"
Lesson #241: Successful Selling Only Begins With the Sale
Lesson #248: Sales Not Closing? Know When to Panic!
Lesson #256: 10 Universal Truths Every Salesperson Needs to Know
Lesson #265: Top 10 Traits of Good Sales Managers
Lesson #268: The Art of the Follow-Up
Lesson #270: Benchmarking SaaS Sales Team Metrics
Lesson #286: Want to Sell More? Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Lesson #301: Sales Enablement Tools Help Accelerate Sales
Lesson #315: Why We Turned Down a Chance to Double Sales
PODCAST: George Deeb Presents Startup Sales Strategies on Best Selling Podcast
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses How to Influence Customer Buying Decisions
SALES
Lesson #21: Setting a Sales & Marketing Plan for Your Startup
Lesson #25: How to Structure Your Sales Team & Procedures
Lesson #26: Designing Sales Incentives to Motivate Your Sales Team
Lesson #98: Securing a Government Contract
Lesson #127: How to Screen Salesperson Candidates
Lesson #129: "Productize" Your Business for Maximum Efficiency
Lesson #130: Driving Sales Requires Driving Key Metrics
Lesson #141: How to Pitch Business Development Partners
Lesson #143: Upselling, Cross-Selling and Freemium Techniques
Lesson #144: Remove All Friction From Your Sales Process
Lesson #161: Create an "Everyone Sells" Culture
Lesson #187: The 1,024 Types of Salespeople. Hire the Right Ones!
Lesson #190: Selling Stories, Not Products
Lesson #194: Operations & Sales Must Be Tied to the Hip (Break Down Silos)
Lesson #198: Support Your Sales Teams
Lesson #208: Five Sales Pitfalls Today, That Can Hurt You Long Term
Lesson #209: Which Selling Technique is Best for Your Business?
Lesson #210: Need a Salesperson? Recruit Three!
Lesson #216: Provide Multiple "Wins" Throughout the Customer Lifecycle
Lesson #223: Ten Things You Need to Know When Responding to RFPs
Lesson #230: Evolve From Selling "Widgets" to "Wisdom"
Lesson #241: Successful Selling Only Begins With the Sale
Lesson #248: Sales Not Closing? Know When to Panic!
Lesson #256: 10 Universal Truths Every Salesperson Needs to Know
Lesson #265: Top 10 Traits of Good Sales Managers
Lesson #268: The Art of the Follow-Up
Lesson #270: Benchmarking SaaS Sales Team Metrics
Lesson #286: Want to Sell More? Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Lesson #301: Sales Enablement Tools Help Accelerate Sales
Lesson #315: Why We Turned Down a Chance to Double Sales
PODCAST: George Deeb Presents Startup Sales Strategies on Best Selling Podcast
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses How to Influence Customer Buying Decisions
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses How to Find the Right Salesperson for Your Business
FINANCE
Lesson #61: Set Up Proper Accounting Controls
Lesson #67: Managing Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable
Lesson #78: How to Build a Budget
Lesson #105: Run a Sensitivity Analysis on Your Projections
Lesson #108: How to Determine Your Revenue Model
Lesson #113: State Tax Credits & Programs for Startups
Lesson #132: Design a Recurring Revenue Model
Lesson #133: How to Avoid Paying Taxes on Startup Investments
Lesson #136: Save Taxes with "Profits Interests" vs. "Stock Options"
Lesson #139: How to Calculate Equity Split Between Founders in Startups
Lesson #146: Pitfalls Around Earnouts (and Why They Rarely Payout)
Lesson #179: Reduce Customer Churn to Accelerate Revenues
Lesson #219: Stock Option & Incentive Plans for Startups
Lesson #266: Managing for Net Cash Flow vs. Net Profit
Lesson #273: Benchmarking SaaS Financial Metrics
Lesson #319: How to Pitch a Business Investment Case to Your CFO
FINANCE
Lesson #61: Set Up Proper Accounting Controls
Lesson #67: Managing Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable
Lesson #78: How to Build a Budget
Lesson #105: Run a Sensitivity Analysis on Your Projections
Lesson #108: How to Determine Your Revenue Model
Lesson #113: State Tax Credits & Programs for Startups
Lesson #132: Design a Recurring Revenue Model
Lesson #133: How to Avoid Paying Taxes on Startup Investments
Lesson #136: Save Taxes with "Profits Interests" vs. "Stock Options"
Lesson #139: How to Calculate Equity Split Between Founders in Startups
Lesson #146: Pitfalls Around Earnouts (and Why They Rarely Payout)
Lesson #179: Reduce Customer Churn to Accelerate Revenues
Lesson #219: Stock Option & Incentive Plans for Startups
Lesson #266: Managing for Net Cash Flow vs. Net Profit
Lesson #273: Benchmarking SaaS Financial Metrics
Lesson #319: How to Pitch a Business Investment Case to Your CFO
Lesson #334: Use Google Trends to Track Your Market Share and Success
VIDEO: George Deeb Teaches Financial Modeling
VIDEO: George Deeb Teaches Financial Modeling
FUND RAISING
Lesson #4: How to Raise Capital for Your Startup
Lesson #5: Finding Angel Investors for Your Startup
Lesson #10: How Best to Approach VC's or Angel Investors
Lesson #27: How VC's Define a Backable Management Team
Lesson #32: How to Value Your Startup Business
Lesson #49: How to Get a Loan, or Not!!
Lesson #66: Preparing for a Due Diligence Process
Lesson #97: Securing a Small Business Grant
Lesson #102: Protect Your Equity & Control Post Financings
Lesson #103: The Evolving Venture Capital Market
Lesson #109: Financing With Equity vs. Debt vs. Convertibles
Lesson #111: Crowdfunding Startups
Lesson #115: When to Trade Equity for Services
Lesson #116: Seed Investment Terms & Trends
Lesson #119: How to Screen Venture Capitalists
Lesson #123: Crowdfunding Details Starting to Emerge
Lesson #124: Vesting of Founder's Stock
Lesson #125: How to Bootstrap Your Startup
Lesson #126: What Startups Need to Secure a Bank Loan
Lesson #138: Why VC's Bias Technology Startups
Lesson #140: How to Build a Bridge to a 10x Return for VC's
Lesson #147: Avoid "The Death Zone" for Venture Capital
Lesson #148: How to Research Industry Valuation Multiples
Lesson #149: Can't Attract Venture Capital? Buy a Business with Private Equity!
Lesson #152: The Importance of a "Clean" Capitalization Table for Investors
Lesson #173: Corporate Venture Capital Funds, Accelerators & Incubators
Lesson #199: Seed Investment Terms Trending More Founder-Friendly
Lesson #206: The 4 M's of Evaluating Startups
Lesson #213: The Birth of Crowdfunding Agencies
Lesson #220: Venture Debt Financing, a Hybrid Between Debt and Equity
Lesson #226: What Exactly is Venture Capital?
Lesson #233: Key Red Flags for Startup Investors
Lesson #239: Manage Towards Valuation Step-Ups
Lesson #243: What is Your Digital Business REALLY Worth?
Lesson #255: Crowdfunding Works--Monies Raised, Jobs Created
Lesson #262: A Venture Capital Playbook Over Time
Lesson #264: Financing Mergers & Acquisitions
Lesson #277: Revenue Share Loans
Lesson #322: Need Venture Capital? Take Your Company Public in Canada!
Lesson #324: A Guide to Small Business Loans
Lesson #337: The 14 Characteristics of a Fundable Startup CEO
Chicago Venture Capital Firms & Angel Networks
Chicago Family Investment Offices
Chicago Private Equity Firms
Raleigh-Durham Venture Capital Firms & Angel Investor Networks
Raleigh-Durham Private Equity Firms
VIDEO: George Deeb Teaches How to Pitch VC's
VIDEO: George Deeb Teaches Fundraising for Startups
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses How VC's Evaluate Startups with Nick Moran
VIDEO: George Deeb Presents Advice on Approaching Investors at Startup Summit
Chicago Venture Capital Firms & Angel Networks
Chicago Family Investment Offices
Chicago Private Equity Firms
Raleigh-Durham Venture Capital Firms & Angel Investor Networks
Raleigh-Durham Private Equity Firms
VIDEO: George Deeb Teaches Fundraising for Startups
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses How VC's Evaluate Startups with Nick Moran
VIDEO: George Deeb Presents Advice on Approaching Investors at Startup Summit
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses if Investors Bet on You or Your Idea (on ASBN)
HUMAN RESOURCES
Lesson #2: Building The Right Team for Your Startup
Lesson #9: Spreading Equity to Key Employees & Partners
Lesson #13: Creating the Right Culture for Your Startup
Lesson #14: The Role of a Startup CEO
Lesson #15: Hands-On vs. Hands-Off Management of Startups
Lesson #16: The Plusses & Minuses of Virtual Employees
Lesson #18: The Right Work-Life Balance for a Startup
Lesson #30: When to Hire Employees vs. Contractors vs. Crowdsources
Lesson #34: How Best to Recruit Employees For Your Startup
Lesson #35: How to Read Resumes & Screen Employee Candidates
Lesson #42: Is Working With Family Members a Good Idea?
Lesson #51: No Public Displays of Rejection
Lesson #55: Creating a Healthy Office Environment
Lesson #58: How to Determine Employee Compensation
Lesson #59: Determining Employee Benefits for Your Startup
Lesson #60: Importance of Employee Handbooks
Lesson #75: How to Implement Layoffs
Lesson #76: How to Implement an Employee Change
Lesson #83: Startup Roles & Responsibilities
Lesson #93: Make Your Employees Feel Appreciated
Lesson #106: Succession Planning
Lesson #127: How to Screen Salesperson Candidates
Lesson #153: Healthcare Benefits Decisions for Startups (Post Obamacare)
Lesson #156: How to Find a Co-Founder for Your Startup
Lesson #157: Consider Sharing Part-Time Executives Between Startups
Lesson #159: Never Stop Recruiting (Even If No Current Openings)
Lesson #163: Should a Startup Offer Employee Benefits
Lesson #165: The 4 Types of Entrepreneurs. Which Type Are You?
Lesson #166: Is Entrepreneurship Learned, or Wired Into Your DNA?
Lesson #175: In-House Teams or Outsourced Services for Startups?
Lesson #181: Should You Quit Your Full-Time Job Before Launching a Startup?
Lesson #188: When Picking a Startup to Join, Focus on the Company (Not the Role)
Lesson #196: The CEO's Role Must Evolve Between Early Stage and Growth Stage Companies
Lesson #210: Need a Salesperson? Recruit Three!
Lesson #217: Millennials Wreaking Havoc on Employers, or Vice Versa??!!
Lesson #219: Stock Option & Incentive Plans for Startups
Lesson #222: Measuring Your Company's Culture Can Pay Big Dividends
Lesson #247: The Key Drivers of Company Culture
Lesson #249: Executive Compensation Benchmarks for Growth-Stage Companies
Lesson #250: Personality Testing On The Rise, But Why?
Lesson #254: Managing For Meteoric Growth--A Home Chef Case Study
Lesson #259: With Human Talent, You Get What You Pay For
Lesson #269: Want Hard Workers? It Starts With You!
Lesson #274: Do You Need a RE-Founder for Your Business?
Lesson #281: Avoid Internally Shuffling People Into Wrong Roles
Lesson #283: Marketing Roles & Compensation
Lesson #285: How to Recruit & Retain Rockstar Talent
Lesson #291: Properly Classify 1099 Contractors vs. W-2 Employees to Avoid Legal Troubles
Lesson #292: Should You Clone Yourself When Hiring?
Lesson #293: Don’t Be Afraid of Hiring Former CEOs as Employees
Lesson #305: The Pluses and Minuses of Virtual Teams
Lesson #309: The Risks of Candidates Climbing Back Down the Corporate Ladder
Lesson #311: It's Time to Rethink the Pyramid-Shaped Org Chart
Lesson #317: The Best Employees Have These "31 Flavors"
Lesson #318: A New Workforce Optimization Algorithm
HUMAN RESOURCES
Lesson #2: Building The Right Team for Your Startup
Lesson #9: Spreading Equity to Key Employees & Partners
Lesson #13: Creating the Right Culture for Your Startup
Lesson #14: The Role of a Startup CEO
Lesson #15: Hands-On vs. Hands-Off Management of Startups
Lesson #16: The Plusses & Minuses of Virtual Employees
Lesson #18: The Right Work-Life Balance for a Startup
Lesson #30: When to Hire Employees vs. Contractors vs. Crowdsources
Lesson #34: How Best to Recruit Employees For Your Startup
Lesson #35: How to Read Resumes & Screen Employee Candidates
Lesson #42: Is Working With Family Members a Good Idea?
Lesson #51: No Public Displays of Rejection
Lesson #55: Creating a Healthy Office Environment
Lesson #58: How to Determine Employee Compensation
Lesson #59: Determining Employee Benefits for Your Startup
Lesson #60: Importance of Employee Handbooks
Lesson #75: How to Implement Layoffs
Lesson #76: How to Implement an Employee Change
Lesson #83: Startup Roles & Responsibilities
Lesson #93: Make Your Employees Feel Appreciated
Lesson #106: Succession Planning
Lesson #127: How to Screen Salesperson Candidates
Lesson #153: Healthcare Benefits Decisions for Startups (Post Obamacare)
Lesson #156: How to Find a Co-Founder for Your Startup
Lesson #157: Consider Sharing Part-Time Executives Between Startups
Lesson #159: Never Stop Recruiting (Even If No Current Openings)
Lesson #163: Should a Startup Offer Employee Benefits
Lesson #165: The 4 Types of Entrepreneurs. Which Type Are You?
Lesson #166: Is Entrepreneurship Learned, or Wired Into Your DNA?
Lesson #175: In-House Teams or Outsourced Services for Startups?
Lesson #181: Should You Quit Your Full-Time Job Before Launching a Startup?
Lesson #188: When Picking a Startup to Join, Focus on the Company (Not the Role)
Lesson #196: The CEO's Role Must Evolve Between Early Stage and Growth Stage Companies
Lesson #210: Need a Salesperson? Recruit Three!
Lesson #217: Millennials Wreaking Havoc on Employers, or Vice Versa??!!
Lesson #219: Stock Option & Incentive Plans for Startups
Lesson #222: Measuring Your Company's Culture Can Pay Big Dividends
Lesson #247: The Key Drivers of Company Culture
Lesson #249: Executive Compensation Benchmarks for Growth-Stage Companies
Lesson #250: Personality Testing On The Rise, But Why?
Lesson #254: Managing For Meteoric Growth--A Home Chef Case Study
Lesson #259: With Human Talent, You Get What You Pay For
Lesson #269: Want Hard Workers? It Starts With You!
Lesson #274: Do You Need a RE-Founder for Your Business?
Lesson #281: Avoid Internally Shuffling People Into Wrong Roles
Lesson #283: Marketing Roles & Compensation
Lesson #285: How to Recruit & Retain Rockstar Talent
Lesson #291: Properly Classify 1099 Contractors vs. W-2 Employees to Avoid Legal Troubles
Lesson #292: Should You Clone Yourself When Hiring?
Lesson #293: Don’t Be Afraid of Hiring Former CEOs as Employees
Lesson #305: The Pluses and Minuses of Virtual Teams
Lesson #309: The Risks of Candidates Climbing Back Down the Corporate Ladder
Lesson #311: It's Time to Rethink the Pyramid-Shaped Org Chart
Lesson #317: The Best Employees Have These "31 Flavors"
Lesson #318: A New Workforce Optimization Algorithm
Lesson #340: The Top 4 Things to Study When Hiring New Employees
VIDEO: George Deeb Teaches Startups How to Build Team and Advisors
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses Recruitment Strategies
OPERATIONS & ADMINISTRATION
Lesson #33: The Importance of Customer Service
Lesson #41: Security Considerations for Your Startup
Lesson #56: Frequent Legal Questions of Startups
Lesson #62: Insurance Protection for Startups
Lesson #70: Protect Your Intellectual Property
Lesson #73: Consumer Usability Testing
Lesson #80: Pitfalls to Avoid When "Reeling in the Whale"
Lesson #82: Project Management & Prioritization
Lesson #129: "Productize" Your Business for Maximum Efficiency
Lesson #134: Where to Best Locate Your Startup
Lesson #183: The Top 12 Reasons to Protect Your Trademarks
Lesson #194: Operations & Sales Must Be Tied to the Hip (Break Down Silos)
Lesson #205: Setting Up Your Back-Office Functions
Lesson #236: E-commerce Fulfillment Strategies
Lesson #240: Document Your Processes, Before They Walk Out the Door!!
Lesson #254: Managing for Meteoric Growth--A Home Chef Case Study
Lesson #267: Score One for Brick and Mortar Retail--An EZContacts.com Disaster Case Study
Lesson #290: Too Many Meetings Suffocate Morale & Productivity
Customer Service Case Study: Had Your Identity Stolen? Hope Thief Didn't Buy Verizon!!
Customer Service Case Study: A Nightmare at Disneyland!!
Customer Service Case Study: BCBS are Criminals!!
Customer Service Case Study: My Wacky Website Weekend!!
TECHNOLOGY AND R&D
Lesson #36: Picking the Best Technology for Your Web Startup
Lesson #117: Legal Considerations When Using Open Source Software
Lesson #150: Responsive Web Design for Multiple Devices
Lesson #155: Best E-commerce Platforms for Small Business
Lesson #172: Don't Finalize Your Tech Development Plan, Until You Involve Marketing
Lesson #189: How to Price Your Software Technology
Lesson #197: R&D and Sales Must Be Tied at the Hip (Break Down Silos Part 2)
Lesson #232: Do You Own the Copyright to Your Own Technology?
VIDEO: George Deeb Teaches Product Development for Startups
Chicago's Top Web & Mobile Design and Development Agencies
CASE STUDIES
Lesson #84: Lady Gaga--An Entrepreneurial Case Study
Lesson #89: Startup Lessons from Scrabble
Lesson #91: My Entrepreneurial Heroes
Lesson #94: Netflix--A User Experience Meltdown
Lesson #154: Entrepreneurial Lessons from Breaking Bad
Lesson #177: Entrepreneurial Lessons from the Game of Monopoly
Lessons in Leadership: Michigan Football
Lessons in Leadership: Mount Everest
Lessons in Leadership: The Race for the South Pole
Lessons in Leadership: Tim Tebow
Lessons in Leadership: Joe Paterno
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: StyleSeek Case Study
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Emerson Spartz
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: My Son's Kindergarten Class
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Pebble's $10MM Raise Via Kickstarter
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Moneyball (Big Data in Baseball)
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Skylanders (Upselling on Steroids)
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Rocket Internet (Copy Catting)
Business Lessons from NBC's "The Sound of Music Live"
OTHER
Lesson #46: 23 Motivational Quotes for Entrepreneurs
Lesson #57: Required Reading for Startup Entrepreneurs
Lesson #101: The Plusses & Minuses of Entrepreneurship
Lesson #203: Top Startup Blogs and Bloggers
Lesson #204: Startup Accelerators by Industry
Lesson #288: How to Build a Startup Ecosystem
Lesson #304: Top 4 Ecommerce Trends of 2018
Lesson #306: Startup Ecosystems Accelerate Success--Why Bigtincan Relocated from Australia
Lesson #314: The Only Winners in Ecommerce? Amazon, Google and Facebook!
Lesson #326: Kids Can Be Entrepreneurs Too!! (Pay Attention School Administrators)
VIDEO: George Deeb Presents "The Birth of the Startup Excubator" at Techweek Chicago 2014
VIDEO: George Deeb Evangelizes Tech Coding for Core K-12 Curriculum
VIDEO: George Deeb Talks Startup Marketing, Hot Chicago Startups & Coding in Schools with Tasty Trade
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses Startup Incubators and Accelerators on ASBN
PODCAST: George Deeb Discusses Entrepreneurial Lessons with Local SEO Today
Chicago's Startup Accelerators, Incubators & Co-Working Spaces
Chicago's Best Lawyers for Startups
Raleigh-Durham's Best Lawyers for Startups
Reflections After a Year in Raleigh-Durham
My Life's Annoyances Which May Stimulate Startup Ideas
Howard Tullman's Acceptance Speech at Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame
Lessons From the Lost Decade: Alternative Investing
Nostradeebus: Predictions for the Next Decade
Key Digital Investment Themes in 2012
Digital Trends for 2013
Great Stories of Survival--Motivational Reading for Startup Entrepreneurs
Is Anybody Else Worried About Our Future?
[BRACKETOLOGY] Elon Musk Voted Best CEO
A Successful Career--But My Best is Yet to Come!
North Carolina Venture Capital Trends (2015-2019)
VIDEO: George Deeb Teaches Startups How to Build Team and Advisors
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses Recruitment Strategies
OPERATIONS & ADMINISTRATION
Lesson #33: The Importance of Customer Service
Lesson #41: Security Considerations for Your Startup
Lesson #56: Frequent Legal Questions of Startups
Lesson #62: Insurance Protection for Startups
Lesson #70: Protect Your Intellectual Property
Lesson #73: Consumer Usability Testing
Lesson #80: Pitfalls to Avoid When "Reeling in the Whale"
Lesson #82: Project Management & Prioritization
Lesson #129: "Productize" Your Business for Maximum Efficiency
Lesson #134: Where to Best Locate Your Startup
Lesson #183: The Top 12 Reasons to Protect Your Trademarks
Lesson #194: Operations & Sales Must Be Tied to the Hip (Break Down Silos)
Lesson #205: Setting Up Your Back-Office Functions
Lesson #236: E-commerce Fulfillment Strategies
Lesson #240: Document Your Processes, Before They Walk Out the Door!!
Lesson #254: Managing for Meteoric Growth--A Home Chef Case Study
Lesson #267: Score One for Brick and Mortar Retail--An EZContacts.com Disaster Case Study
Lesson #290: Too Many Meetings Suffocate Morale & Productivity
Customer Service Case Study: Had Your Identity Stolen? Hope Thief Didn't Buy Verizon!!
Customer Service Case Study: A Nightmare at Disneyland!!
Customer Service Case Study: BCBS are Criminals!!
Customer Service Case Study: My Wacky Website Weekend!!
TECHNOLOGY AND R&D
Lesson #36: Picking the Best Technology for Your Web Startup
Lesson #117: Legal Considerations When Using Open Source Software
Lesson #150: Responsive Web Design for Multiple Devices
Lesson #155: Best E-commerce Platforms for Small Business
Lesson #172: Don't Finalize Your Tech Development Plan, Until You Involve Marketing
Lesson #189: How to Price Your Software Technology
Lesson #197: R&D and Sales Must Be Tied at the Hip (Break Down Silos Part 2)
Lesson #232: Do You Own the Copyright to Your Own Technology?
VIDEO: George Deeb Teaches Product Development for Startups
Chicago's Top Web & Mobile Design and Development Agencies
CASE STUDIES
Lesson #84: Lady Gaga--An Entrepreneurial Case Study
Lesson #89: Startup Lessons from Scrabble
Lesson #91: My Entrepreneurial Heroes
Lesson #94: Netflix--A User Experience Meltdown
Lesson #154: Entrepreneurial Lessons from Breaking Bad
Lesson #177: Entrepreneurial Lessons from the Game of Monopoly
Lessons in Leadership: Michigan Football
Lessons in Leadership: Mount Everest
Lessons in Leadership: The Race for the South Pole
Lessons in Leadership: Tim Tebow
Lessons in Leadership: Joe Paterno
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: StyleSeek Case Study
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Emerson Spartz
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: My Son's Kindergarten Class
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Pebble's $10MM Raise Via Kickstarter
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Moneyball (Big Data in Baseball)
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Skylanders (Upselling on Steroids)
Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Rocket Internet (Copy Catting)
Business Lessons from NBC's "The Sound of Music Live"
OTHER
Lesson #46: 23 Motivational Quotes for Entrepreneurs
Lesson #57: Required Reading for Startup Entrepreneurs
Lesson #101: The Plusses & Minuses of Entrepreneurship
Lesson #203: Top Startup Blogs and Bloggers
Lesson #204: Startup Accelerators by Industry
Lesson #288: How to Build a Startup Ecosystem
Lesson #304: Top 4 Ecommerce Trends of 2018
Lesson #306: Startup Ecosystems Accelerate Success--Why Bigtincan Relocated from Australia
Lesson #314: The Only Winners in Ecommerce? Amazon, Google and Facebook!
Lesson #326: Kids Can Be Entrepreneurs Too!! (Pay Attention School Administrators)
VIDEO: George Deeb Presents "The Birth of the Startup Excubator" at Techweek Chicago 2014
VIDEO: George Deeb Evangelizes Tech Coding for Core K-12 Curriculum
VIDEO: George Deeb Talks Startup Marketing, Hot Chicago Startups & Coding in Schools with Tasty Trade
VIDEO: George Deeb Discusses Startup Incubators and Accelerators on ASBN
PODCAST: George Deeb Discusses Entrepreneurial Lessons with Local SEO Today
Chicago's Startup Accelerators, Incubators & Co-Working Spaces
Raleigh-Durham's Best Lawyers for Startups
Reflections After a Year in Raleigh-Durham
Howard Tullman's Acceptance Speech at Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame
Lessons From the Lost Decade: Alternative Investing
Nostradeebus: Predictions for the Next Decade
Key Digital Investment Themes in 2012
Digital Trends for 2013
Great Stories of Survival--Motivational Reading for Startup Entrepreneurs
Is Anybody Else Worried About Our Future?
[BRACKETOLOGY] Elon Musk Voted Best CEO
A Successful Career--But My Best is Yet to Come!
North Carolina Venture Capital Trends (2015-2019)
Happy 10th Anniversary Red Rocket Blog!!
BEST STARTUPS
Best Startups of 2012
Best Startups of 2013
Best Startups of 2014
Best Startups of 2015
Best Startups of 2016
Best Startups of 2017
Best Startups of 2018
Best Startups of 2019
BEST STARTUPS
Best Startups of 2012
Best Startups of 2013
Best Startups of 2015
Best Startups of 2016
Best Startups of 2017
Best Startups of 2018
Best Startups of 2019
GUEST POSTS FROM OTHER AUTHORS
How to Think About Startup Models & Strategies (by Guy Turner)
The New Reality of Venture Capital (by Joe Dwyer)
Busting the Lean-Startup Myth (by Howard Tullman)
Thoughts on Chicago's Growing Tech Scene, and How to Improve It Over Time (by Jeff Carter)
Your Startup is Not About You!! (by Mark Achler)
Top 50 Content Marketing Strategies (by Andy Crestodina)
What is Your Digital Business REALLY Worth? (by Jock Purtle)
Benchmarking SaaS Sales Team Metrics (by David Skok)
How to Recruit & Retain Rockstar Talent (by Jeff Hyman)
How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Marketing (by Michael Brenner)
How to Think About Startup Models & Strategies (by Guy Turner)
The New Reality of Venture Capital (by Joe Dwyer)
Busting the Lean-Startup Myth (by Howard Tullman)
Thoughts on Chicago's Growing Tech Scene, and How to Improve It Over Time (by Jeff Carter)
Your Startup is Not About You!! (by Mark Achler)
Top 50 Content Marketing Strategies (by Andy Crestodina)
What is Your Digital Business REALLY Worth? (by Jock Purtle)
Benchmarking SaaS Sales Team Metrics (by David Skok)
How to Recruit & Retain Rockstar Talent (by Jeff Hyman)
How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Marketing (by Michael Brenner)
The 14 Characteristics of a Fundable Startup CEO (by David Gardner)
For future posts, please follow me at: www.twitter.com/georgedeeb
For future posts, please follow me at: www.twitter.com/georgedeeb
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