Dr. Earl R. Smith II

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

I recently gave a talk to a group of entrepreneurs. Most of them were in one or the other stages of a fundraising 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 »

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

I do a fair amount of work with teams preparing to present to sources of funding – mostly for follow-on rounds. Managing the initial meeting with a venture capitalist is an art that takes both skill and sensitivity. My lessons have been distilled in a recent article: Venture Capital – The First Meeting ( http://www.dr-smith.info/venture-capital-%E2%80%93-the-first-meeting/ ). I’m always interested in what others have learned about how to make the process work better. Take a read and let me know what you would add. Lessons learned and war stories are both welcome. Read the rest of this entry »

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

A big step on the road to getting funded is to understand what investors avoid and why. Getting an answer to the question, “Who They Do Not Invest In” can give you a leg up by helping you avoid falling into one of their ‘do not go there’ categories. I have written an article to help founders navigate the minefield: http://www.dr-smith.info/the-money-chase-who-they-do-not-invest-in/ . Take a read and let me know if you have any comments or additions. War stories will be warmly welcomed. Read the rest of this entry »

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

How often have you watched someone do something that not only made no sense but was clearly doing their interests harm and ended up wondering ‘why are they doing that?’ Now many people do you know who have self-sabotaging tendencies that they adopt because they see them as self-serving? And this is the important question, ‘how often have you caught yourself doing exactly the same thing only to pull up short – shake your head – and wonder. Certainly anti-humanism (the tendency to treat other people as other than human beings) is easier in this brave new virtual world. I’ve written about the cost of this new freedom to dehumanize (A Cost of Anti-Humanism: http://www.dr-smith.info/a-cost-of-anti-humanism/ ) What are your thought on this new freedom? Do you think it is a good thing? How do you respond when somebody treats you this way? what does it say about us as a society? Read the rest of this entry »

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

I’ve had a lot of responses to discussions I’ve started and wanted to give a holiday gift or sorts – something different. Every human life is a journey. That journey is more or less difficult depending on how well each of us understands the direction their life should go. After all, it’s not the compass that finds your true north – you need to find the compass that points to your true north. Short of that, every other compass will send you in the wrong direction. I recently published an article that you might find interesting – Life Coaching – The Propose of a Compass – http://www.dr-smith.info/life-coaching-the-propose-of-a-compass/ . I hope you enjoy it and find it useful. Please feel free to add your comments and personal stories. Read the rest of this entry »

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

I have been doing a lot of thinking about corporate governance lately. Two engagements brought an issue in mind that I would like your thoughts on. The issue is the wisdom – or lack thereof – in combining the roles of chairman and CEO. I’ve written an article on the subject – The Conflict that Keeps on Giving – http://www.dr-smith.info/the-conflict-that-keeps-on-giving/ . Take a read then let me know what experience you have had with this combination of roles. Did it work well? What problems came up? How did you and your team solve them? Would you recommend keeping the roles separate? I am interested in all comments. Read the rest of this entry »