Should You Start A Company http://ceoresource.com/blog Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:04:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 en Teleseminar Secrets by Alex Mandossian - A Review http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/11/25/teleseminar-secrets-by-alex-mandossian-a-review-2/ http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/11/25/teleseminar-secrets-by-alex-mandossian-a-review-2/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:58:27 +0000 Chief Dragon Slayer http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/11/25/teleseminar-secrets-by-alex-mandossian-a-review-2/

 

Aggravated, and turned off, by all the endless hype you see online by all the “Internet Marketing” gurus and “experts” who seem to fill your email box with outlandish claims of quick and easy money? 

Me, too.

There are so many who tell you how easy it is to make a fortune on the Internet - that you may think you are the only one left who hasn’t.  To hear them tell it - the hardest thing you will have to do is figure out all the ways to really spend that much money.

Hint:  It doesn’t work like that in real life.

How do I know?  I’ve spent the last three decades starting and operating four dozen of my own companies and working closely with 2,000 diverse client companies and entrepreneurs in almost every conceivable industry – learning each company’s detailed, inside moving parts and helping each of them slay their own multitude of dragons. 

Many of The Two Thousand clients have asked me if any of these marketing experts are worth the time and the money - and would they really help the start up company or entrepreneur-run company improve their marketing and sales results.

I’ve taken so many marketing and sales courses that I’ve lost track of how many.  However, this is my candid, unvarnished critique of one I took about a year ago: TeleSeminar Secrets by Alex Mandossian.

TeleSeminar Secrets by Alex Mandossian - A Review

This is a critique of TeleSeminar Secrets – an eight module training course produced, directed and starring Alex Mandossian.

I took Alex’s course last year and wanted to offer a reasonably objective review of his course and my analysis of its cost-effectiveness for other entrepreneurs and start up companies.

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]]> http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/11/25/teleseminar-secrets-by-alex-mandossian-a-review-2/feed/ Sales and Marketing: What Is Your Start Up Company’s Special Ingredient That Will Drive Sales and Marketing? http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/09/05/sales-and-marketing-what-is-your-start-up-companys-special-ingredient-that-will-drive-sales-and-marketing/ http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/09/05/sales-and-marketing-what-is-your-start-up-companys-special-ingredient-that-will-drive-sales-and-marketing/#comments Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:14:06 +0000 Chief Dragon Slayer http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/09/05/sales-and-marketing-what-is-your-start-up-companys-special-ingredient-that-will-drive-sales-and-marketing/ “What Is Your Start Up Company’s Special Ingredient?”

This is one of the key questions I ask my consulting clients who are starting a new business. What would your answer be to this question? Exactly why WILL prospective customers buy from you instead of continuing to do whatever it is they are currently doing?

Amazingly, most entrepreneurs have not even considered this issue - they rarely even have an answer after they’ve thought about it for a while.   Marginal “me too” improvements over existing solutions will rarely drive sales for a start up company.  This is true even in areas of interest and focus for your prospects.  Even great innovative improvements in areas that are not of interest and focus to your prospects will also rarely drive sales.

I call this your YSI:  Your Special Ingredient.  Sometimes this is called your USP - Your Unique Selling Proposition - a concept and theory that goes back to the 1940s.  Others refer to it with a variety of terms, like KSP - Key Selling Point.  No matter what the acronym, it is still the same basic question:  Why you and your company? (more…)

]]> http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/09/05/sales-and-marketing-what-is-your-start-up-companys-special-ingredient-that-will-drive-sales-and-marketing/feed/ Entrepreneurs - Are These Six Dragons Stopping You and Your Start Up Company? http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/07/31/entrepreneurs-are-these-six-dragons-stopping-you-and-your-start-up-company/ http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/07/31/entrepreneurs-are-these-six-dragons-stopping-you-and-your-start-up-company/#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:13:22 +0000 Chief Dragon Slayer http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/07/31/entrepreneurs-are-these-six-dragons-stopping-you-and-your-start-up-company/ What dragons are stopping you from taking the next step with your start up or emerging company? Are you stuck at a fork in the road on your way to success with your vision?

While individually working with over 2,000 entrepreneurs and start up company CEOs, I’ve noticed that, in many cases, one or more of a particular half-dozen deadly dragons can often stop a company in its tracks.

Which ones are blocking your personal path for your start up company right now?

  1. The Indecision Dragon – Closely related to the Overchoice Dragon, this brute keeps whispering “What if this and what if that…” which keeps you from making key decisions and making progress. Yogi Berra, the New York Yankee philosopher, said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” What are the top dozen genuine pivot points for your company right this minute? What do you need to know today to make a decision on each - and cross each one off the list as completed? What do you finally need to know to get past that fork in the road? Remember: No decision IS a decision – one that can affect all future decisions, choices, direction and timetables. Don’t lose by default.

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]]> http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/07/31/entrepreneurs-are-these-six-dragons-stopping-you-and-your-start-up-company/feed/ Entrepreneurs: The Two Top Priorities For Your Start Up Company And Business Plan http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/26/entrepreneurs-the-two-top-priorities-for-your-start-up-company-and-business-plan/ http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/26/entrepreneurs-the-two-top-priorities-for-your-start-up-company-and-business-plan/#comments Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:04:06 +0000 Chief Dragon Slayer http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/26/entrepreneurs-the-two-top-priorities-for-your-start-up-company-and-business-plan/ As an entrepreneur with your business plan in hand, what are the two top priorities you have on every day’s action list as you start up your start up company?

Starting and running a company can be overwhelming. Endless new action items seem to appear magically on your To Do List as you day develops - with all of them either whispering or screaming to be your top priority. And, when the day is done, it often seems that one or more of those unanticipated priorities won - and the most important action items you originally had on your list when you walked into your office this morning did not get done - again.

So, how is an entrepreneur to decide on their priorities - especially when there is so much that needs to be done? The answer is surprisingly easy. (more…)

]]> http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/26/entrepreneurs-the-two-top-priorities-for-your-start-up-company-and-business-plan/feed/ Business Plans: The Second Biggest Mistake Entrepreneurs Make With Their Business Plan For Their Start Up Company http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/06/business-plans-the-second-biggest-mistake-entrepreneurs-make-with-their-business-plan-for-their-start-up-company/ http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/06/business-plans-the-second-biggest-mistake-entrepreneurs-make-with-their-business-plan-for-their-start-up-company/#comments Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:55:57 +0000 Chief Dragon Slayer http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/06/business-plans-the-second-biggest-mistake-entrepreneurs-make-with-their-business-plan-for-their-start-up-company/ This one mistake is so critical that it jeopardizes the immediate survivability of your start up company - even before you get started.

What is the second biggest mistake?

Many cost-sensitive entrepreneurs depend on number crunchers, bean counters and newly minted MBAs for their projections - just to save a few dollars.

New start up CEOs doom their new company by pinching pennies in the wrong place. Instead, what they need are pivotal insights from experienced consultants who can provide the guidance the entrepreneur needs for producing a realistic, genuinely implementable business plan.

Your business plan is not some academic document - instead, it is your crucial road map to successful implementation of your vision for your new company.

The most important part of any business plan is the detailed financial projections that are the basis for the entire business model of every new start up company. There are four sets of underlying assumptions that drive all the projections: (more…)

]]> http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/06/business-plans-the-second-biggest-mistake-entrepreneurs-make-with-their-business-plan-for-their-start-up-company/feed/ Finding Start Up Investors The Wrong Way: What Can Happen If You Don’t Properly Raise Investor Funds For Your Start Up http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/02/finding-start-up-investors-the-wrong-way-what-can-happen-if-you-dont-properly-raise-investor-funds-for-your-start-up/ http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/02/finding-start-up-investors-the-wrong-way-what-can-happen-if-you-dont-properly-raise-investor-funds-for-your-start-up/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:12:43 +0000 Chief Dragon Slayer http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/02/finding-start-up-investors-the-wrong-way-what-can-happen-if-you-dont-properly-raise-investor-funds-for-your-start-up/ When you want to raise investment funding from private or angel investors, you have GOT to do it the right way - or you could end up with both the federal SEC and 50 state securities boards coming after you - like what happened last month in Pennsylvania.

The risk of major penalties to you and your company are just too great to do this wrong. Look at what happened in this one case: (more…)

]]> http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/04/02/finding-start-up-investors-the-wrong-way-what-can-happen-if-you-dont-properly-raise-investor-funds-for-your-start-up/feed/ Affiliate Marketing and JV Partners: Start Up Company University Affiliate Program Now Open For Qualified Partners http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/31/affiliate-marketing-and-jv-partners-start-up-company-university-affiliate-program-now-open-for-qualified-partners/ http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/31/affiliate-marketing-and-jv-partners-start-up-company-university-affiliate-program-now-open-for-qualified-partners/#comments Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:28:07 +0000 Chief Dragon Slayer http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/31/affiliate-marketing-and-jv-partners-start-up-company-university-affiliate-program-now-open-for-qualified-partners/ Want to help entrepreneurs and start up CEOs succeed - while you earn MAJOR affiliate commissions and JV fees at the same time?

Start Up Company University, in anticipation of its product launch for Funding Foreplay, is seeking qualified affiliate marketing and JV partners to accelerate exposure and sales of the company’s new line of products and services.

The University offers these kinds of commissions and fees to qualified and participating affiliates and JV partners:

With those kinds of payouts, how many sales and how much total commissions are waiting to be immediately tapped by you from your client base or lists?

(more…)

]]> http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/31/affiliate-marketing-and-jv-partners-start-up-company-university-affiliate-program-now-open-for-qualified-partners/feed/ Business Plan and Reg D Private Placement Memorandum (PPM): Free Samples for Start Up CEOs and Entrepreneurs http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/26/business-plan-and-reg-d-private-placement-memorandum-ppm-free-samples-for-start-up-ceos-and-entrepreneurs/ http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/26/business-plan-and-reg-d-private-placement-memorandum-ppm-free-samples-for-start-up-ceos-and-entrepreneurs/#comments Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:41:20 +0000 Chief Dragon Slayer http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/26/business-plan-and-reg-d-private-placement-memorandum-ppm-free-samples-for-start-up-ceos-and-entrepreneurs/ I’ve just added two new widgets here at my blog that will let you immediately download both a Sample Comprehensive Business Plan and a Reg D 506 Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) - for free. The PPM also includes a Prospective Investor Questionnaire and Investor Subscription Agreement.

These two free downloads are very basic, and are not the business plan or PPM that are included and analyzed in detail in Funding Foreplay - but they will show you the fundamental components of what you need for two of the twelve total documents you are required for successfully raising investment capital from venture capital and angel investors. Each document is about 40 pages long and can be immediately downloaded.

For a much more comprehensive business plan and PPM, including samples of all dozen necessary documents you will need, check out Funding Foreplay at www.FundingForeplay.com.

If you need help with financial projections and your business plan or business planning, check out my services and prices at www.ChiefDragonSlayer.com.

If you need personal, one on one coaching and mentoring, please check out my services at www.StartUpCompanyMentoring.com for details and pricing.

Wishing you STELLAR success with YOUR start up,

Robert Lee Goodman

]]> http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/26/business-plan-and-reg-d-private-placement-memorandum-ppm-free-samples-for-start-up-ceos-and-entrepreneurs/feed/ Business Plans and Entrepreneur Mentoring: Recent Business Plans for Start Up Company Clients and CEOs http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/23/business-plans-and-entrepreneur-mentoring-recent-business-plans-for-start-up-company-clients-and-ceos/ http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/23/business-plans-and-entrepreneur-mentoring-recent-business-plans-for-start-up-company-clients-and-ceos/#comments Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:38:52 +0000 Chief Dragon Slayer http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/23/business-plans-and-entrepreneur-mentoring-recent-business-plans-for-start-up-company-clients-and-ceos/ This post will give you some idea of the very extensive range of start up industries in which I have consulted and provided business plans, business planning, consulting and mentoring.

One of the many great things about my profession is working with so many bright entrepreneurs and CEOs in so many interesting businesses - and providing them with pivotal help to accelerate the success of their vision. (more…)

]]> http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/23/business-plans-and-entrepreneur-mentoring-recent-business-plans-for-start-up-company-clients-and-ceos/feed/ Entrepreneurs - What It’s Really Like To Be Start Up Junkies - According to Reality TV? http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/19/entrepreneurs-what-its-really-like-to-be-start-up-junkies-according-to-reality-tv/ http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/19/entrepreneurs-what-its-really-like-to-be-start-up-junkies-according-to-reality-tv/#comments Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:38:34 +0000 Chief Dragon Slayer http://ceoresource.com/blog/2008/03/19/entrepreneurs-what-its-really-like-to-be-start-up-junkies-according-to-reality-tv/ As a serial entrepreneur, I find reality TV a complete, contrived waste of time. I’ve never watched American Idol, Survivor, Amazing Race, The Apprentice, etc. Even the commercials showed me more than I ever wanted to know.

However…

There is finally one reality show that I not only watch - but one that I strongly recommend every entrepreneur and start up company CEO should watch religiously.

The show, Start-Up Junkies, on the MOJO Network really does show what it is like to run a new company.

Frank Lloyd Wright once said TV is chewing gum for the mind. He must have been talking about reality TV. However, Start-Up Junkies is a feast for anyone even thinking about starting a company. (more…)

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