“Get the facts before the facts get you.” That is precisely what a business mentor said to me a few years ago, and it stuck ever since. Once this wise statement sank in, I never went into a decision without using research and analytics, and from that, I would develop a pretty good argument. Not only did it provide the confidence to move forward with the decision I had to make, but it made it tough for anyone to second guess it, and gave the decision more credence. The advice become a sort of mantra that I live by in my business, and a crucial piece of advice I pass along to my clients. [Read more…]
Small Business Video Library
Small Business Video Library
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Then these video resources must be worth millions!
Watch and learn new and important ways you can improve your business. Contact the Startup Connection team if you have any questions, comments, or just aren’t even sure where to begin.
Call Us Today. 914-632-6977
Email: bshlensky@startupconnection.net
About Startup Connection
We’re changing the way entrepreneurs succeed in the business world. We provide the right knowledge at the right time.
Rather than providing success tips, we deal with how to resolve the challenges of running a business. Bert Shlensky started Startup Connection because he believes clients need more hands-on help on the “how” instead of the “what” than is generally available for start ups. Watch this video to learn about our philosophy, and how Startup Connection can help your business succeed.
Passion and Reality
An entrepreneur needs to understand and express their passion. For an entrepreneur to succeed, they have to use this passion to overcome any obstacles or challenges that might come their way.
What about reality? Many entrepreneurs overlook key elements in running a successful business, often ignoring details and analysis. It’s no wonder so many small businesses fail.
In order to succeed, entrepreneurs must allow their passion to drive them, but have reality guide them to where they need to be. Let the expert team at Startup Connection help you through that process.
The Chicken and the Egg
People often ask an entrepreneur’s version of the old chicken or the egg puzzle: which comes first, the idea, planning, or financing? Which is more important? Watch this video to find out the answer.
Let Startup Connection help you get all your ducks (or chickens) in a row, so you can help your business grow and make more money.
Learn to Think Outside the Box
Businesses talk about creating an environment that encourages innovation, change, openness, and so on. They believe that getting employees motivated with some good ol’ “rah rah” enthusiasm will make their workers feel good and inspire them to be more productive and innovative. They couldn’t be more wrong.
We at Startup Connection believe in trying some simple, practical ideas and approaches that work to foster true productivity and innovation.
Do You Have a Marketing Plan?
Do you have a marketing plan? You don’t? Then you’d better get one. If you don’t have a road map for targeting the right product to the right people in the right way, keep your website on MySpace and start buying truckloads of lottery tickets.
Let the expert team at Startup Connection help you achieve the success you deserve. Contact us NOW for free help with YOUR business!
Expectations Are Critical to Business Success
Do you know what your customer expects from being your customer? If you answered “no,” then read on. But, even if you do, read on anyway.
Understand that you and your customer must be on the same page when it comes to expectations. What kind of clues are you giving in your marketing, store layout, or customer service protocol that lets the customer know the kind of shopping experience they will have.
One of the nuttiest traditions in the retail world has been coined, “Black Friday” – the day after Thanksgiving when many offices are closed and shoppers are ready to start their holiday and Christmas shopping. Over the years, it has truly turned mild-mannered people into a sleep-deprived and unruly mob with the goal of getting some slick deals on everything and anything.
The expectation that the shopper, on little or no sleep, hungry and cranky, perhaps still in their p.j.’s, is still willing to go through this outrageous experience all for the sake of a sale. They don’t expect, nor care about, pleasantries from shopkeepers; they will expect to be herded like sheep into lines outside the store only to be let in one at a time, all for their reward: 50% off a 32” flat screen. You think I’m exaggerating? I don’t think so.
On the other hand, take the expectations of a customer as they enter an expensive star restaurant? What are their expectations? Are you meeting or exceeding them? [Read more…]
Apple’s Lessons for all of us About Listening to Customers
It’s worth approximately 6,190 Mona Lisa paintings, and anytime it announces the release of a new product, the world pretty much stops. The anticipation creates such frenzy that customer’s camp out the night before to be the first to get one, and backorders can take weeks to satisfy.
Can you guess?
One word, Apple. [Read more…]
Innovation Is Not Easy
Everyone talks about creating an environment that encourages innovation, change, openness, new ideas, etc. In many cases this enthusiasm for innovation, however, ignores a number of powerful practices:
“If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it!
Another is,
“We have always done it this way.“
We at Startup Connection believe in trying simple ideas and approaches that work to foster innovation: [Read more…]
Experience and Expertise are Critical to Startup Success
In his book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell became famous for arguing,
“10,000 hours of practice is required to become a world-class expert.”
I am not sure it is 10,000 hours, but my experience indicates that experience and expertise are probably the most important factors in successful startups. That doesn’t mean you need expertise in everything, but it does mean you need to have some hook into the effort you are pursuing. In fact, one of the related facts of this approach is you frequently acquire skills in areas where they are lacking. Two examples that illustrate this are as follows: [Read more…]