8 Books I Couldn’t Put Down in 2019
Its like weightlifting for the brain. Last year, I decided to focus on leaders.
Tribe Vibes: Who is In Charge of What?
I have noticed a pattern in the 20 years I have been an entrepreneur, advisor, and CEO. Every time there is something wrong with a company, there is a recurring problem. Either someone is not doing their job, or they
The weFailure
Twenty years ago, on 11/19/99, I sold my first startup. It was a technology company selling something called “Java Beans.” My four co-founders and I had a life-changing experience when a company called BEA Systems acquired our company for over
Tribe Vibes: The Secret to Avoiding Micromanagement
Micromanagement is a killer. All founders have trouble getting out of the weeds. When the company is just a hand full of people, we are involved in everything. We choose the logo and initial tag lines. We choose the office
How Random Walks Can Make You A Better Manager
The next time you are in your office, wondering what you should do. Take a random walk through your company. You’ll be surprised by what you find.
Antifragile: Building A Company That Goes Beyond Resilience
Slipping on a banana and breaking your hip is fragile. Getting hit by a truck then getting up to walk to your hair appointment is resilient. But, getting one of your arms cut off then growing a new one the
How Ketchup Protected my Product Market Fit
Once, when meeting with the CEO of a new customer, I pulled out a bottle of ketchup and set it on the table. It was one of these … Once, when meeting with the CEO of a new customer, I pulled
Should Your Startup Be Hiring Specialists or Generalists?
Managers love to reward hyper-specialization. But is it better to hire for general problem-solving abilities?
5 Jobs to Master as CEO
It happens rather quickly. Your new investors sign a shareholder’s agreement, a subscription agreement, and a corporate charter. Usually, you create a new class of (preferred) shares. You receive a notification from your bank that the wires from investors have
9 Things CEOs Can Learn From a Trip to Disney World
The first time I went to Disney World if my memory serves me, was the summer of my freshman year in college. It was 1990, and it was part of an annual family pilgrimage to Florida to visit our extended
Empathy: What One Day of Ramadan Fasting can Teach
“…It’s both physical and spiritual. The essence is to try and feel what the poor feel without food and try to be a better person by reflecting on our actions and thoughts. Try to be nice to each other, avoid