The advice I give to all entrepreneurs is “that in all things in life, choose your partners wisely”. But what does that mean? It really applies at all levels.
Early-stage teams don’t need to lose their momentum as we go into summer break. In fact, there are several things that you can do to help move your project forward. Consider tasking each team member with one of the following:
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on virtually every aspect of our lives. This is especially true of how we communicate with others. For the foreseeable future, much of our communications will happen over Zoom or other virtual platforms. So, as an entrepreneur, obviously this is going to change how you go about pitching your idea/company to others, whether that be investors, judges... you name it! Here are some tips to optimize (and nail) your virtual Zoom pitch:
As an “Air Force Brat” who attended eight different schools before high school, I learned at an early age to value the ability to stay connected with special friends. Early in my career, I was fortunate to have worked with many talented people. When I discovered LinkedIn and established my LinkedIn account, the first thing I did was search and connect with those special and talented people from my past. As time went on, I realized what a remarkable tool LinkedIn really is.
Every business competition is essentially a story telling competition. Pitching your idea involves telling a good story. “IN A GALAXY FAR AWAY AND LONG AGO”…… all good stories have a STRONG BEGINNING, a middle that has a logical flow, and a strong ending. The best openings are the ones that grab your listeners (judges, investors, etc.) early. If you can make an emotional connection with your audience, then you’re off to a good start as you have their attention. The story for business competition pitches must include all the elements of starting a business.
Many company leaders don’t fully appreciate the importance of innovation. I am often invited to speak about innovation at various civic and economic development organizations. The simple fact that I talk about is that you either innovate, or you die!
