Connect to Your Audience When and Where They Need You

Last week we talked about these facts in terms of mobile technology in our world today: 95% of all text messages are read and read within 90 seconds of receipt 65% of all email is opened on a mobile device versus a desktop or laptop Mobile is now the first screen worldwide – eclipsing screen…

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3 Questions to Ask at Your Strategy Off-Site

Ask them, or there may not be many off-sites in your company’s future Well, it’s almost that time of year again. It’s time for the annual leadership off-site, during which you will likely think, ink and drink too much. If you are like many, you’ll leave the safe confines of your office to hang your…

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Cryptocurrencies and Their Effect on Future Startups

“Virtual currencies, perhaps most notably Bitcoin, have captured the imagination of some, struck fear among others, and confused the heck out of the rest of us.” (Thomas Carper, US-Senator) The market capitalization for the approximately 800 existing cryptocurrencies has recently exceeded 100 billion. The Central Banks of Germany and China have been exploring the possibility…

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Do You Have the Right Stuff for a Growth Business?

As an angel investor, I get approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who can talk endlessly about their latest great idea, and little else. While I recognize that every new venture starts with an idea, a successful business of lasting value is all about people and execution. Every investor is looking for someone who can turn…

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Will Tech Kill Your Job?

Stop me if you’ve heard this story before. “My job as a (newspaper publisher telephone installer, stockbroker, travel agent, retail store manager) is safe as this economy continues to grow.” Yup. Thought so. We are in a decade of creative destruction that will affect most everybody. And the prime motivators of this massive destruction are the…

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Two Letters That Disruptors Use Better Than the Rest of Us

Guess what letters disrupters use better than the rest of us. Since the average attention span is 8 seconds, I’ll cut to the chase: the letters are “N” and “O.” Put together, they create the most powerful word in the disrupter’s vocabulary: “NO.” Billionaire Warren Buffet famously said, “The difference between successful people and really…

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Small Business in a Time of Technophobia

If there’s one thing that absolutely will not stop, it’s the inexorable march of technology and innovation. Unfortunately, too many small business owners either don’t understand or are plain ignorant of this fact. According to the first ever CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small Business Survey, only about 36 percent of respondents use a business website to communicate news…

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What More Payment Processing Options Means for E-Commerce Startups

I see many of the changes in the online payments industry impacting what businesses will have to consider when they add or manage their payment processing systems. This is especially the case for startup founders like myself. The information presented below is based on findings from the customers who use our payment processing platform, and is focused…

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Why Small Businesses Need to Embrace AR and VR Now

When you go to buy a new smartphone these days, oftentimes they come with virtual reality headsets. While they are fun to play around with and there are some neat games available, you might find yourself wondering what the practical real-world application for them might be. The truth is developers are just starting to dip…

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