15. Forecasting a higher sales number causes the sales reps to NOT be objective when talking about their pipeline. 14. You reap what you sow. But never forget: Keep sowing even when you begin reaping or there won’t be a next harvest! 13. Be in the Word of God daily, and God will send an […]
“I am not sure this is my purpose. I don’t think how I spend my time is consistent with my values,” Edgar said. (Edgar is not his real name.) “Maybe I should be working in marketplace ministry. Working in a corporation just doesn’t seem right. I’m unsettled, not at peace. And now I’m being offered a […]
This is the third in a three-part series on how I make investing decisions for follow-on investments. The first article described how I evaluate the entrepreneur. The second article described how I think about market timing. This third article analyzes sustainability. Deciding on putting additional money in a startup is a more difficult decision than […]
This is the second in a three-part series on how I make investing decisions for follow-on investments. The first article described how I evaluate the entrepreneur. This second article describes how I think about market timing. The third article analyzes sustainability. When the entrepreneur is asking for more money, I want to remember the reason […]
This is the first in a three-part series on how I make investing decisions for follow-on investments. This first article describes how I evaluate the entrepreneur. The second article describes how I think about market timing. The third article analyzes sustainability. Recently, I was asked to do some follow-on investments. These are companies I invested […]
Angel investing at its best is a really risky business. But risky does not lose money. Bad risks do. I’m losing money because I left my number one rule, my key discipline. Be all in. Over the years, whenever I’ve been involved in a business after I’ve invested, I’ve only lost money one time. Give […]
14. Personal growth comes from helping others succeed and grow, not simply working on yourself. Don’t make it about you! 13. Being too busy to listen to God is too busy, no matter the importance of other priorities. 12. Angel investors should only go deep in their areas of proficiency. Otherwise, they are a distraction […]
“I met with Tom, and he was so mean. It put me off,” my entrepreneur friend said. I know Tom (not his real name). He meets with entrepreneurs all the time. He is smart and experienced. And he has the patience, empathy, and spirit of a counselor. Tom is the kind of person that really […]
“What do you see as the responsibilities of a Chief Operating Officer?” he asked. “A COO’s mission is to execute on the company’s strategy,” I replied. This was a high-level question. I gave a high-level answer. We then slowly moved our discussion to some useful advice. The kind he could act on when he got […]
I am currently preparing a talk for the Atlanta Technology Angels. I’ll deliver it on April 16th at 5:30 p.m. at the Atlanta Tech Village. The title I’ve been assigned is “Paparelli’s Seven Criteria for an Angel Investment.” My audience will mostly be my fellow Atlanta angel investors. Whenever I give a talk, I like […]