Dr. Earl R. Smith II

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

“Change is a fundamental and unavoidable part of life. Sometimes there is more change and sometimes that change presents much more difficult challenges. During those times, companies need to adapt more quickly and more surely to new realities.” That’s how I started a recent article: Helping Companies Adapt to Changing Times – Part One – http://www.dr-smith.info/helping-companies-adapt-to-changing-times-%E2%80%93-part-one/. Let’s focus on the approaches to change management that worked. When you faced the need to orchestrate a major corporate change, what did you try? … what worked? … what came up short? Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

In a recent series of articles, I tried to define ‘investment grade’. I used the term to mean the characteristics of a company that make it attractive to investors. In part six of the series, I turned my attention to the initial presentation. (http://www.dr-smith.info/the-money-chase-what-does-investment-grade-mean-part-6/ ). I am collecting stories about these initial presentations – strategies that worked and ones that did not – and would be very interested in hearing from you about your experiences. How have you approached initial meetings with investors? What worked for you and what seemed to misfire? Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

I recently posted a discussion focused on the use of investment proceeds. The response was amazing. Lots of extensive and well thought out responses. I wanted to expand that discussion a bit by asking about what I consider to be the most important characteristic that a founding team can have – the ability to implement effectively and consistently. The first article in my ‘What does Investment Grade mean” focuses on this important issue. http://www.dr-smith.info/the-money-chase-what-does-investment-grade-mean-part-1/ . I would be very interested in your comments about the importance of implementation, how you develop the tendency and how founders can build teams that implement successfully. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

One of the biggest issues in any discussion with potential investors centers on the use of proceeds. Many entrepreneurs want to use the funds to pay their own salaries. Investors prefer that funds go towards other expenses – particularly those directly connected with revenue generation. Part 4 of my series on Investment Grade ( http://www.dr-smith.info/the-money-chase-what-does-investment-grade-mean-part-4/ ) focused on this very important issue. What is your take? What is the best approach to most effectively using the proceeds of an inward investment? Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

I work with a lot of companies that are seeking funding. Most are middle-market size and have successfully raised earlier rounds. Their challenge is to come to terms with the evolving criteria that investors have. Early-stage investors fund mainly on emotion – they believe in the idea or the team. But, as a company grows, investors more and more look at it as a going business. To help my clients come to terms with this, I wrote a series of articles. The first – The Money Chase: What Does Investment Grade Mean? Part 1: http://www.dr-smith.info/the-money-chase-what-does-investment-grade-mean-part-1/ focused on the first criteria that, in my experience, investors look to. Most advisers don’t start with implementation – most investors do. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

I have used management, board and leadership assessment programs for many years. The newer ones are totally anonymous and web-based. I written two articles that summaries the approach Assessment Programs – Important Governance Tools: http://www.dr-smith.info/assessment-programs-important-governance-tools/ and Board Assessment: Raising Touchy Issues: http://www.dr-smith.info/board-assessment-raising-touchy-issues/. Have you had any experiences with assessment program – good or bad? How did they work out? What benefits accrued? What unexpected problems arose? Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

A major part of my coaching engagements is focused on helping clients turn the possible into the probable. It is hard and sometimes very frustrating work. But when we succeed – when the light finally go on – the ‘eureka’ moment can be life changing. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

I have a great deal of sympathy for young entrepreneurs starting their first company; partially because I remember what it was like when I did exactly that but mostly because of the increasingly difficult and daunting challenges that start-ups face in the current economic climate. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

recently gave a talk to a group of entrepreneurs. Most of them were in one or the other stages of a fund-raising cycle. All of them were frustrated by a lack of progress. As the war stories started to come out, I realized that each of them suffered from the same malady; they could not see themselves through the eyes of the very people they were presenting to. So I wrote an article on the subject – Presentations from the Investor’s Perspective.  The response to the piece was so strong that I decided to see if it would be useful to others. Take a read, let me know what you think and add in any stories that you would like to contribute. All contributions are welcome. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

I do a lot of work with companies that have received funds from investors. One of the more shocking syndromes that I have seen is the negative impacts that some investors can have on their portfolio companies. This can take many forms. One particularly, the lack of performance metrics, is described in my article Lack of Accountability – The Core of Failure. But that is just one of many. I am writing a book about angel investors and would like to get your input on other ways that investors ‘shoot themselves in the foot’ and damage their portfolio companies. Read the rest of this entry »