Comments for Dr. Earl R. Smith II

Comment on Lessons in Leadership – Part 1 – Motivational Maps by Making Best Better Team

Making Best Better Team — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:13:40 +0000

Your approach is quite unconventional but as I can see it is also one which gets results. As a leader you’re responsible for the whole team, when one member is under-performing, the whole teams suffers. Identifying the motivations of each member allows you to have a deeper understanding of these people. And the process you have taken also opened up the line of communication between team leader and member.

Comment on Corporate Talent – Coaching and Retaining the Best by business training consultant Dan

business training consultant Dan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:33:03 +0000

I love this story. It demonstrates the dramatic changes that can be achieved through expert coaching provided on a company-wide basis. As someone involved in business training I find we achieve our best results when we are able to tailor our material to the needs of the company and deliver it on a company-wide basis to re-energise, rejuvenate and generally detox the prevailing corporate culture.

Comment on What would you remind yourself of each day? by Stuart A. Kaplowitz, MFT

Stuart A. Kaplowitz, MFT — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:44:25 +0000

What a wonderful list and idea. If I may add one…..”encouragement is the key.” Every time I help someone else, I am actually helping myself grow as well.

Comment on When do you report self-sabotaging behavior? by Stuart A. Kaplowitz, MFT

Stuart A. Kaplowitz, MFT — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:27:39 +0000

The reality is that I believe we all sabotage ourselves sometimes. Why do we do this? Sometimes, I think it is because we are scared of what will happen if we continue on the path (in a relationship, in a job, etc.,). By not communicating our wants and needs (or cheating on our significant other, etc), we may sabotage it and end it. There are better ways though.

Comment on Lessons in Leadership – Part 1 – Motivational Maps by Leadership Development

Leadership Development — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:41:25 +0000

Excellent article! I have found that having self awareness is critical for a leader, especially learning about how one is perceived by those around him or her. Extending this to situational leadership is an excellent approach. I like the way you handled the lack of awareness of one of your clients about what motivates his staff. Thanks!

Comment on Angel’s Sins by registered investment advisor

registered investment advisor — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:31:24 +0000

Thank you for this post! I’ve read some articles on technology business incubators and venture capitalists but I haven’t read one that really talked about preventing pitfalls. Some of them discussed what went wrong but obviously, way too late.

Comment on Board Ethical Standards by Beth

Beth — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:01:01 +0000

I agree that board assessments are important and should be executed on a regular basis in order to assure that the obligations are fulfilled. I read a presentation made by Med Yones, a business advisor, covering the topic of BOD evaluation. It provides the reader with information about the duties, roles and liabilities of the BODs with the purpose of being able to complete an evaluation.
The presentation can be found at http://www.ceocoach.us/ceoseminars/ceoseminars_boardofdirectorsgovernancebestpractices.pdf

Comment on Angel Investing – The ‘Elevator Speech’ Antidote by Michael Evans

Michael Evans — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:02:50 +0000

Having given many investor pitches I found this article refreshingly honest and a great guide to making a good presentation. I have to admit to a number of the sins mentioned. I do however think it portrays us entrepreneurs as conmen and snake oil salesmen. It takes a lot for someone to take the risk of starting a company, speaking from my own experience, I endured 2 years of poverty and maxed out 5 credit cards before we finally got it off the ground – we took it all the way to an AIM floatation but then we fell prey to one of those CEOs you mentioned.
Back at square one, I am facing the situation Sean mentioned – I’m in CleanTech and the government is quite willing to throw grant money at me, however, State Aid rules restrict this to 60% so 40% still needs to be found from the private sector – if Angels aren’t prepared to take the risks and the 3Fs aren’t rich enough how are we going to develop these technologies that will get us all these CO2 emission reductions?

Comment on Angel Investing – The ‘Elevator Speech’ Antidote by Dr. Earl R. Smith II

Dr. Earl R. Smith II — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:34:52 +0000

Sean, Good question – most of the time successful entrepreneurs tap into the three Fs – friends family and fools. It is far better to bootstrap until you can validate the value proposition through the generation of customers. Such an approach also demonstrates the ability of the team to monetize that proposition. There is an article on my website titled Customers as Financiers. That is one example. If you go to angel investors too early in the process, you end up with a very low valuation – and that costs you significant equity in the company. Chief

Comment on Angel Investing – The ‘Elevator Speech’ Antidote by Sean Peel

Sean Peel — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:04:20 +0000

I found this insightful and thought provoking. It makes sense to me that as an investor you should be looking for substance not flash and that the company should be built around have people who have a record that shows they can get it done.

However, as someone who has just started a company to take IP out of a University so we can develop and ultimately commercialize it I am curious what you would advise a comapny several years away from having a product or revenues that needs to raise money.

In points 4, 5 & 6 you would appear to be advising investors to avoid situtations where the company doesn’t have a product, doesn’t have revenues and that maybe even in a situtation where they have to get through several rounds of funding based on achieveing key milestones.

Where should they go to raise money, are these not often the people who are advised to seek angel investors ?

Appreicate your thoughts

Sean