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Feb28
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I've read any number of books in my life, but the most practical book for entrepreneurs and executives that I've ever read is Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People.  I put off reading the book for 42 years because the title held no appeal for me. I had no interest in learning how to manipulate people into seeing things my way.
As I read the book, however, I realized that the book isn't about how to manipulate people, but really how to be a better person. The point isn't to learn how to fool people--no Jedi mind tricks--the point is to learn to be the kind of person with whom you'd like to do business. In the coming weeks, I will post some observations about dealing with people inspired by the book but applied to today's entrepreneur.
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Feb27
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On a day like today (February 27, 2007) when the markets drop about four percent, one wonders what the impact on private companies will be.First off, I don't want to sound dire because one rational answer to the question is...
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Feb22
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Today I gave a presentation to Funding Universe subscribers describing the valuation of a startup across stages of development.The theme comes from a metaphor I heard Ron Poelman use in a speech: valuations of early stage businesses come down to...
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Feb21
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Just a few random items from my inbox:Tomorrow I will be presenting a webinar on business valuation for Funding Universe. If you would like to participate and you are not a Funding Universe Angel Ready subscriber, you can pay a...
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Feb19
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Recognizing that I am a little late to the Podcast party, I'm beginning to get the hang of it.Recently, I've started listening to the Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders series hosted by the Stanford Technology Ventures Program. Each week, a speaker makes...
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Feb17
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Guy, your post got me thinking about how I am a jackass. (Personally, given the difficult personality traits reportedly exhibited by actual jackasses or donkeys, I prefer the animal reference to the crude anatomical reference with little metaphoric meaning, beyond the vague, yet sharp insult.) I appreciate your calling me on my counterproductive and anti-social behaviors. I'm trying to do better. Thanks!
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Feb15
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I just got back from the MountainWest Capital Network Entrepreneur of the Year Award luncheon honoring Kirk Benson, the CEO of Headwaters, Inc. (NYSE: HDHW). After a thoughtful introduction from Dan McPhun, Mr. Benson gave a great speech, crediting his...
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Feb14
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Over the last year or so, I have become acquainted with Benjamin Kuo in Southern California. He publishes a number of venture-oriented web-sites and e-mail newsletters that I think are first rate, including his flagship publication, SocalTech. In fact, Thorpe...
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Feb12
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Occassionally, as I hear people talk about negotiating a venture capital transaction or an M&A deal, I hear bravado about taking it to the other side. I also see these deals fall apart. The intended outcome of most of the...
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Grow Utah Ventures' new issue of Launch Magazine has hit the web. You've almost certainly heard, but I encourage you to take a few minutes to read the latest issue on-line.The technology used to display the magazine is awesome. It...
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Feb10
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This week Venture Wire reported that Sequoia Capital took a Google, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) stake worth $504 million, more than either of the co-founders, Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, who each received $326 million of Google stock.Since the deal closed,...
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Feb 8
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Today I attended the Wayne Brown Institute's Investors Choice venture capital conference, which is sponsored by Thorpe Capital Group. I served on the selection committee for the event so I have had as many as three exposures to all of...
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Feb 7
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Brad Feld, whom I respect as one of the truly great early-stage venture capitalists in the country, wrote recently about his wish that folks wouldn't shake his hand.Fred joins Donald Trump in what I view as being a small, but...
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Feb 6
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The MountainWest Capital Network, the real deal network in Utah, will be awarding its annual Entrepreneur of the Year award to Headwaters, Inc.'s (NYSE: HW) CEO Kirk Benson on February 15 at noon at the Little America Hotel.The Salt Lake...
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Feb 2
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This year, I've been invited to serve as a judge for the Stoel Rives Innovation Awards.The following is taken from the Stoel Rives site:Entry Deadline Entries can be submitted beginning Thursday, January 11, 2007. The official entry deadline is February...
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Feb 1
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Indemnification: When a business owner sells a business to a new buyer, the seller makes a host of representations about the condition of the business and then provides an indemnification or guarantee that the representations are accurate.The indemnification may take...
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