Posts Tagged about vcplan
Exit Plan for this Blog
Practice what we believe.
Years ago, in business school, I participated in the mentor program. A local business person would meet with the student and talk about whatever was on their mind. The idea was that the student would learn from the experience about running a business.
I met Cliff Marquart in the meet-and-greet. I asked him what he did: I buy companies, turn them around, and sell them for a profit. Very succinct (and as we will see later in Pitch, a very good Pitch). I said that I wanted to learn that.
Cliff and I only met a couple of times. In our first meeting, I reiterated his statement; and that I wanted to learn how he did that. His reply, I will never forget: Before you buy, before you get involved and devote your life to it, determine your exit plan. You must have an exit plan.
I do have an exit plan for this blog.
1. Produce material for a book. Publishing a book might mean I keep this blog and address more questions; however, when the book gets published will be the decision time on what to do next with this blog. FYI, I am seeking stories from you, the audience, on how you met some of the elements or did not meet them. We can change the names if you like.
2. Discover the next part of my career. By providing information and serving investors and entrepreneurs I hope to increase my understanding and gain some wisdom. Through continuous growth, I hope we open new doors, to realize the maximum of our potential. When I discover that next phase, l will decide what to do next with this blog.
Have an exit plan. The exit plan for this blog is a book and/or the next phase of a career.
Focus this Blog!
Focus is the best gift one can give to their customers and audience; but can be the most challenging and elusive of tasks. Entrepreneurs love to say they have focus and then talk about the fifty different things they want to do with their widget company. It is an easy way for investors trip up the entrepreneur. It is painful for the entrepreneur to focus.
Its a little easier for investors to focus: it is THEIR money.
Here, your time is your money. To focus this blog I offer the following (and request this of the audience) idea. In ranking order, let us focus this blog on:
1. Elements of the VCPlan. Those concepts from the Multi-Point Lists that investors, and entrepreneurs use to evaluate each other, how it is done, and how it is best to meet those expectations. This includes concepts that are not included, and why.
2. Those issues or tenants of wisdom that influence investors, and entrepreneurs directly in their pursuit of excellence in the Elements of the VCPlan.
3. Other ideas that are only one or two degrees away from the issues or elements.
Finally, on people:
4. Highlight people with entrepreneurial spirit seeking positions; and what is the best way for them in an entrepreneurial way to get a position using the Elements of the VCPlan. Whether the job seeker wants to find employment or start a company is up to them.
Focus on Elements that investors use to evaluate entereprial companies, the issues and related ideas that affect those elements, and entreprenurial spirited people seeking a new position in life. This includes both the what, the how, and why of all three. This blog should help one understand how to identify the best potential investments as well as how entrepreneurs can develop their companies and show them in the best possible light.