The 3 Things Great Managers AND Employees Do ~ Consistently

When it all comes down to it, great managers get results.  How do you get results?  It's not planning, it's not charisma, it's not even passion.  All of those things are great but useless without these 3 things.

If you are not doing these 3 things, and doing them well, you are probably going nowhere fast.  That's a strong statement, let's see if you disagree... comments welcome!

1. Prioritize

If you just do whatever you think of, you are going to get behind.  You MUST prioritize those things you KNOW will get results above those things you THINK will get results.  And even those things you just think will get results, prioritize those too, to the ones you think will be most likely to get the results.

PRO TIP - Every morning, get on an exercise bike and open http://toodledo.com or http://trello.com  (2 good online tools). Prioritize tasks to ones you think are most important to get results.

2. Draft Quickly

 If you aren't getting things done quickly, you'll never even get through all the important things, let alone to those things you think will get results.  The best managers and employees create drafts of stuff (whatever it is) very quickly.  Then, they refine the draft later up until the point where the quality meets expectations, then stop.  They don't over-engineer, over-design, or over-think their work: it's done it's done.  Ship it.  This is a key to shipping, get to a draft and see if it's good enough.  Ship when it is.

PRO TIP - Writer's block?  Just write it in super simple plain English.  That usually reads better anyways.  Remember, emails should be 2 or 3 sentences MAX!  I like to send emails of 4 or 5 WORDS when I can.

3. Delegate / Get Help Fast

Overloaded managers need to learn this trick: find someone you trust and ask them to "own" part of your project.   This is not asking for group-work, this is asking them to "own it" and get it done.  I've blogged a lot about ownership, and for good reason... it's been a key to my personal success for years.  Not having it, but giving it out!

Not a manager?  This applies to you too.  Delegate ownership of your work if you are overloaded.  Even better, ASK FOR HELP FAST!  If you are blocked, even 1% blocked, asking for help to get unblocked will keep you moving, make your boss happy, and more importantly, teach you something that will probably prevent you from getting blocked again in the future.

PRO TIP - Develop skills that help you get unblocked.  For example, learn how to Draft Quickly!  Also, learn how to "make a simple website".

Harlan T. Beverly, PhD on a Business Trip to Mexico

5 Ways to Empower Employees

What is empowerment?  To empower is to give power to someone else, hence taking it away from yourself or someone else, and giving it to them.  In the context of a job, it usually means giving 'ownership' of a task or project to someone and then stepping back.  You will still have to do work, but you will only do work that the empowered one asks of you.  There  is plenty of research that shows the benefits to Morale, Productivity, and Results by empowering employees.  In fact, I've written about this before in my green & clean post, but this article will give you 5 methods to empower employees, that maybe you never thought of before.

1. Be Explicit
You can't empower someone without both letting that person know, they are in charge, and really also the entire organization.   Here's a great way to do it by email:  "Hello everyone, just want everyone to know that I'm stepping away from Project X and putting XXX in charge.  She/He's empowered to take all actions necessary to get the job done within the approved budget."

2. Set Boundaries
Empowerment can be daunting, especially when it's used infrequently, for the first time, or with new employees.  In these cases, it's best to set boundaries!  Set a budget, explain the goals very clearly, explain what all the resources available are, and be sure to include yourself in those available resources.

3. Help Prioritize
In any organization, there is usually a lot going on, so much so that many employees feel overwhelmed and not sure what to work on in any given moment.  You can help by being clear with each individual what their priorities should be.   If you have projects that just need "a little attention each day" set a specific amount of time you think would be appropriate.  In general, set a clear priority to all work/tasks and try not to change it.  Remember, something you are empowered to do, will naturally be a higher priority.

4. Be Supportive
Supporting means touching base and reminding the person who is empowered of their resources (including you).  The more junior the empowered person, the more you should touch base.

5. Don't Take it Back!
Yes, you should be measuring and tracking results, but when things aren't going how you think they should, RESIST the temptation to jump in and take over.  If you do, you've destroyed empowerment, and it's hard to get it back.  They'll always know that you could jump in at any time, and start to expect it if they fail.  You have to let them fail, if its going to fail.  This is the hardest, why?  Because you know you can do it, and probably better... but YOU MUST RESIST!  Just offer support, help prioritize, and get out of the way.  Long term, if there is a performance issue, you can address it later, for now, don't break the empowerment you gave, or it will kill your credibility.

Getting a Job in a Startup

Recently, I have noticed a few misconceptions and confusions about getting a job at a startup.

Dollhouse

A startup is not like a dollhouse!  It is not simply a smaller version of a house (e.g. like a dollhouse).  A startup is not a small version of a company.  There are usually no departments (it's almost always 1 person per role).  There is no such thing as "that's not my job", everyone does whatever is needed at a startup, and that can change week-by-week.   So, stop thinking you can apply to be the "strategic financial analyst" for a startup.  That job doesn't exist, be the CFO or Direct of Marketing instead... since those titles mean "you do everything".

That said, there are two phases where you can join a startup, the founding phase, and the funded phase.

Founding Phase 

In this phase, you are too early to get paid.  You won't.  There is no money.
However, you will be able to call yourself a "cofounder", and you will (or should) get stock.  A "founders share" which is somewhere between 10-20% or so.

The key here is believing and showing that for now, you can you do the whole thing!  What thing?
One of four roles:

1. Technical - you can build the prototype (yourself, no help)
2. Sales - closing deals, has a network in the industry and can get the sale. (especially important in B2B companies)
3. Marketing - All aspects of marketing, including "making the website look pretty" along with: target customer, research, brand, design, lead generation (especially in B2B), content, business cards, etc.  Also, Sales, in the case of B2C (because sales and marketing are basically the same thing in B2C direct startups)
4. Finance/Ops (rare) - this is not often needed, but sometimes a founder needs help with finance/ops.  You'll have to do it all: accounting, finance, planning, manufacturing, legal, etc. (FYI: the original idea person is the founder, the others are cofounders)

By the way, yes, you can work a side-job during this phase, but usually at least 1 of you needs to be "full-time" on it. (or you won't get hungry enough to make it actually launch)

Funded Phase 

During this phase, you get "hired", and have to "interview".  You have to"apply" to a job opening.  Good news is, you will get paid (usually less than market rates).  Bad news is, you will not get "much" stock (just a few stock options, like less than 1/4percent, maybe more if you are an executive).

How do you get a job in the funded phase?

1. Know your role: in this phase, it's still about what you can do for the company... it has to fit into a box of either: sales, marketing, tech, or ops.  And you have to be willing (and eager) to do anything "legal" to help the company succeed, including get coffee/etc.
2. Find the job: by networking for sure, but even more so, just by looking on LinkedIn or even craigslist.  Find the open position somehow!  Then apply to it.  By resume, usually, and even better by referral (hence the networking).  Make sure the referral has your resume too though, even startups use those.
3. Interview: yep. You'll have to do that.  We're looking for passion, excitement, and SHOW US how you "have done this job before".  That is critical.  Don't apply for a job at a startup that you've never done... we don't (usually) have time to train you.

Transitioning from Founding to Funded Phase

Not all the cofounders join the company in a "paid role" once you get funded.  Usually just 1 or 2 do, then more as the company grows.  Some cofounders never get a paying job out of it... and that's normal.  (hey you get to keep your stock though, at least whatever % you have vested).

Why Startup vs. Enterprise/Big Company

Simply because it is more fun.  Why?  Because you get to do more things!  Everyone is passionate. And most importantly, what you do matters (to the big picture of the company)!

So, get out there, apply already, and have fun doing it!

8 Startup Things I learned from Austin Game Conference 2016

This year I was delighted to be asked to put together a panel for the 2016 Austin Game Conference.  It was a revival of an old conference that has been sorely missed in Austin.    My Panel, "Why your game company can't get funded" was highly attended, and I think (hope) highly rated.  The slides are attached below.

However, one of the main reasons to participate in a conference isn't to "preach" but to "learn".  I learned a lot by going to this year's #AGC16, here are 8 things I learned about startups.

1. Games need funding.  Not just game companies (which is what 3 of the 4 people on my panel talk about), but games themselves, small indy studios.  I'm so glad I had Mike Wilson of Gambitious on the panel to talk about how he supports indy games.  When I asked, almost the entire room was seeking funding for their game.  That's like over 200 people!  Cool!  Gambitious can help!

2. Companies that help games are fundable.  There were several companies at AGC who were "supporting games", and their business models are not hit-driven, since they make money when the game sells.  I had previously listed one such company here, but took it down due to their request to NOT say their pricing.  I'm disappointed at that, but have removed it to respect their wishes.  That said, I cannot recommend a company that is going to be obtuse about pricing... so I will not be recommending that company.

3. Companies around games, get acquired.  While at the show I stopped by the twitch booth, who was there?  Curse.  Apparently, Twitch bought Curse that week, really cool!

4. Big traction, even without great monetization, can lead to exits!  See the above point about Curse being bought by Twitch.  Twitch understands monetization, and Curse needed that help.  Smart buy Twitch, smart!

5. Huge ideas, get funding in a big way.  This was the first I was exposed to the company called MAGIC LEAP.  They are hiring in Austin, and I'm intrigued!  Some kind of stealth AR company, funded by Google, a $1B valuation.  Yep!  Big!

6. Great ideas need to be launched to become great.  I ran into an old friend, and they had to take a break from their startup.  As a result, their startup kinda stalled.  Fortunately, they are back at it, but it reminded me: unless and until you launch, you aren't really doing it.  So DO IT!  Launch!

7. Not every company should do a conference.  There were a large number of booths with no point.  Not hiring, not fundraising, and frankly, looking a little bored.  If you are going to do a conference, have a reason!

8. A conference is a startup too! This one was a reboot of an old conference, but to me it really did feel like home.  All the old-school folks, and a lot of the new folks too, all making new connections and renewing old ties.  The venue was great, the A/V worked, and everything (especially the opening night party) was great.  The only part that was missed (for me) was water for the speakers... Chris promises me they'll fix that next year!  All-in-all, a great start to a great conference, I hope it lasts for years to come!

Why your game company can’t get funding 2016 Austin Game Conference from Harlan Beverly

Speaking Opportunities Help Your Personal Brand

What do you want to be known for?  The guy or gal that never shows up? The friendliest person who never sparks controversy?  Or, maybe the most energized and opinionated person in the room?

Me, I have opinions.  The only way anyone will care about them though is if I show up.  And the best way to show up is for a speaking opportunity.  That's why I try to accept as many as I possibly can.

Do you have a unique brand to yourself? Do some volunteering, and let people know, You'd love to speak.  It will help your brand grow!

Recently l, I spoke at Sartup Grind Austin.  I got extreme.  I know, maybe too far?  It's okay, I will hopefully be remembered as a result!  Don't just have an opinion, have a FUCKING EXTREME opinion.  If nothing else, it will spark discussion.

A few "extreme points" I made:

1.) Austin is great because we genuinely want to see each other succeed.  We can celebrate successes of our peers and it motivates us more!

2.) California sucks because it is the opposite of Austin.  People there engage in success theatre, and then make Each other feel bad to get motivated.

3.) Just do something!  Stop making plans and instead, launch something already!  Lean Startup trains this, and my message, now part of my new book http://leanstartings.com is that you can learn to launch: my book teaches you how to build a webpage and collect money in about an hour.  No More Excuses!

So, get out there, show up, volunteer, have a message, and speak when invited. I do!

See me next at Austin Game Conference on Sept. 21st!  Game Funding Panel!

Our Need for Validation & Startup Passion

When I started my first company in 2004, I was unsure.  Unsure of myself, my idea, and my ability to execute.  That self-doubt can be crippling; it makes you hesitate to go all in, to really believe.  And if you don't believe, nobody else will.  You. Have to have the passion to show it.

That is one reason that finding an investor seemed so important to me on my first company.  I thought I needed their validation, even more than their money.  

Validation from a VC is the worst place to get that though!  I didn't learn that until my second company.  It is far far better to get validation of your idea from preorders or even better, from paying customers.

I guess that is why I love The Lean Startup by Eric Reis so much.  It gives you permission to make an MVP and get going fast, get validation of all your assumptions from real customers!

However, The Lean Startup fails a bit too. It doesn't tell you what it will be like, that you will hit bumps, and that you must persist (more than just pivot) but persist-pivot!   It also fails to tell you how to actually build that MVP and get it going!  

That's part of Europe I wrote my book: Lean Startings.  Through storytelling, you learn what it means to persist, to fail, and to succeed.  You also learn how to build that website, how to take preorders or orders, and ultimately how to fulfill and satisfy customers!  

 Please get my book; I wrote it for you!

http://leanstartings.com 

http://leanstartings.com

UT Austin Campus-wide Cofounder Speed Date 9/29 6 PM @ McCombs School of Business

UT Austin Campus-wide Cofounder Speed Date 9/29 6 PM @ McCombs

Being run by Dr. Harlan Beverly, McCombs lecturer of Lean Startup Essentials (MAN 338) at UT Austin (open to students campus-wide)

Join a Student Startup

-or- Find a Cofounder

  RSVP Required

bit.ly/utcofounder

• Who:   Any UT Austin full-time student interested in joining a student startup or finding a cofounder

• Where:   McCombs School of Business, CBA 3.304

• When:    Thursday, Sept. 29 from 6 PM – 9 PM

• What:    Students will meet in a speed-date format for five minutes each.  Students with a skill looking to join a startup (part of the RSVP process) will circle through the students with ideas looking for cofounders. Each student will be given a stack of 20 business cards with their name, email and EITHER their startup idea or their skill. Matches will be made at the option of the student.  Learn more at http://bit.ly/utcofounder  

Give a sh## = the secret to success!

Forgive my crass title, but so many people these days cuss to do harm.  I cuss to make points!  (Just ask my students at UT Austin).

The point?  Give a Shit!  Really!  If you do, you will:

1.) get the job

2.) get more responsibility

3.) get a raise

4.) get a promotion

5.) achieve your dreams

As soon as you stop giving a sh##, bad things happen.

Persistence is one of the keys to entrepreneurial success, and that means simply keep on giving a shit. 

Be relentless.

A formula to tell if your idea is good: for Engineers & logical thinkers.

Is your idea good?  This comes up in a ton of contexts, from entrepreneurship and startups to brainstorms and even into big companies and small projects.   Even if you are just coding up something, you are usually working from an idea.

Wouldn't it be nice to know if your idea is good, perhaps even BEFORE you've tried it?

The following logical flowchart is designed with that in mind.  Enjoy!

Step 1: Do you think your idea is good?
IF YES: Proceed to next step.
IF NO: STOP!  BAD IDEA!

Step 2: Do others think your idea is good?
IF YES: Proceed to next step.
IF NOT: STOP!  MEET with those others and talk through what's not good about it, improve it, then go back to Step 1!

Step 3: Will your idea take less than 1 day to build and test?
IF YES:  GOOD IDEA!  Build and test it!   It's almost always worth it to test an idea you think is good, and get the results of the test.
IF NO: Proceed to next step.

Step 4: Can you build a "fake version" of your idea in less than 1 day and test it?
IF YES:  GOOD IDEA!  Build and test it!   It's almost always worth it to test an idea you think is good, and get the results of the test.
IF NO: Proceed to next step.

Step 5: Can you build a "REAL or fake version" of your idea in less than 1 day and then test it in less than 1 week?
IF YES:  GOOD IDEA!  Build and test it!   It's almost always worth it to test an idea you think is good, and get the results of the test.  Sometimes the testing takes longer (like an A/B experiment requires time to gather data).  Still, worth it!
IF NO: Proceed.

Step 5: Is there a way to measure if your idea is good?
IF YES:  Proceed.
IF NO: Rethink the idea to include a way to measure if it's good or not, then go to Step 1.

Step 6: Work hard to see if you can build it faster in a way that can get you 'measurable results' if your idea is good or not....   and then build it and measure it.

That's it!

I know maybe you were thinking there is some algorithm to "actually" tell you if your idea is good or not... newsflash, it cannot exist.  What can exist though is a new kind of thinking: think measurement first!  If you can't tell if your idea is good or not (by some measure) then why even ask the question?

No go out there and Measure!

Solving the full problem by focusing on the target market

Got an idea for a startup? Great!  Now, tell me, what problem does it solve?

Well, if you are having trouble articulating that, or, if you want to improve your chances of succeeding... Read on!

So many ideas solve nobody's problem.  And so many ideas solve a problem only partly; or barely.

If you want to succeed in: your Kickstarter, your indiegogo, your launch, your business - you need to be thinking - what is the full problem!

Here are 3 tips to help you think about the problem you are solving.

1. Target market!  -  really try to narrow down on whom is the target market!  Gender, age, and psychographics!   As specific as possible.  Remember, nothing can solve everyone's problem, but something can solve someone's problem completely and make them very happy!

2. Think solve problem, not your idea.  Probably your great idea helps solve the problem, but most likely you can add 2 or 3 components (even if it's just documentation) to really completely solve the problem.

3. Cut out anything that is not truly necessary to solve the problem for the specific target market you have in mind!

Now, get out and solve something!

Defining Entrepreneurship and Startup

This is a call for a more universally agreed  on definition of entrepreneurship, startup and small business.

My proposal is simple:

Startup - a new business of any kind (big, small, or entrepeurial)

Entrepreneurship - the study of "novel" businesses which has the opportunity to "grow big"

Entrepreneur - a person who has founded or cofounded a "novel" startup which could or did "grow big".

Small Business - a private non-novel business, with a known risk/reward profile based on prior businesses of that type.

Discuss...

The Lean Startup Toilet Bowl Trap of Getting Nowhere Slowly

Progress.  That's a nice word.  "We're making progress...", says the workers cutting the road through the forest.   Then, a wise leader climbs a tree and says "but you're going the wrong way!"

That's all fine and good, and a good lean startup does this often.  It's called "Pivot" and it's central to the Lean Startup concept.  But what happens when you just keep pivoting?  Aren't you chasing your tail?  Suddenly, you have a road to nowhere, or worse, a road that goes in circles.

This is a TRAP!  Your "lean startup" just got into a slowly dieing spiral of doom.  Your dream is getting flushed in the toilet because you keep climbing that tree and realizing that you're going the wrong way!

Here's an example of the Lean Startup in the Toilet Bowl Trap:

1. You build a website and collect some preorders (yeah, progress!)
2. You ship the preorders and get feedback from customers that they love/hate certain features (yeah, progress!)
3. You fix the product based on the feedback, and nobody buys it (yeah, progress!)
4. You PIVOT to a new product and collect some preorders (yeah, progress!)
5. Jump to step #2, repeat, all the way to the toilet's flush.

So, how do you get out of this toilet bowl trap?

First, remember, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results.

You have to do something different!

In many cases, the problem is not 'your product' or 'your idea', but the marketing instead!

Instead of constantly pivoting on "product" you might need to pivot on some of the other 4 P's of Marketing:

1. Place: Maybe your lack of orders is because it's not available where the customers are... and particularly where the customers are that are in the buying mood for what you offer!
2. Price: Maybe your lack of orders is related to the pricing or pricing structure of your product.  Maybe you need to sell it in parts, or with different options.  It could even be too low!
3. Promotion: Maybe your lack of orders is related to how you are attracting customers.  Sure, you're getting a lot of 'views', but are those customers: the right ones, in the right mood (buying), with the right goals, with the right problems, with enough education about your solution, etc.?  Or Maybe, your just not reaching your right audience, or just not 'appealing' enough to their needs (messaging).

So, avoid the Toilet Bowl Trap: run Lean Startup Experiments on more than just 'the product'...

Enjoy!

Effort and Leadership - 3 Tips to Motivate your Employees

I am very proud to be able to train in ATA Martial Arts with Chief Master Niblock at his school here in Austin, Texas (Round Rock).  Today, like many other days, Chief Master Niblock gave us not only a great physical workout, but also great lessons in life and character.

[paraphrased] "You have students or employees who don't give 100% effort, but have you looked in the mirror.  YOU, the leader, need to be giving 100%, or  you can't expect it from your students." said Chief Master Niblock.  "It has to be every day.  Nobody wants an employee who only gives 100% on Mondays, so you have to give 100% every day if you expect it in return."

I was inspired, as I often am when getting to train with such an awesome instructor.  We all need our mentors and people to look up to, and Chief Master Niblock is that to me.   Without further ado, I give you 3 tips to motivate your employees, inspired by Chief Master Niblock.

1. Lead from the Front  -  You need to be giving 100% effort every day, not just on Mondays!  You cannot and should not expect more from your employees (even in a Startup) than what you are willing to give yourself.  And you need to give this effort "from the front" so that everyone can see you.
2. You set the Tone - If you are down, or having a bad day, it's likely they will too.  Somehow, you've got to find silver linings, shiny day's ahead.  Positivity is contagious too... you just have to set the tone.
3. Be Fanatical about your Vision - Especially for a startup, you have to be absolutely focused on your vision and achieving it.  This means saying 'no' to all the distractions that come up, and saying 'yes' to anything that might move your vision forward.  Every day, you need to share your vision with the team, loudly, proudly, and with that Positivity.  Your vision will become contagious too.  Suddenly people will start making decisions in an empowered way that will move forward your cause, not just "work for work's sake".

Harlan Beverly Training in ATA Martial Arts

Bonus Tip for Investors/Board Members - This tip is for board members and investors...  you need to make sure you consider the Agency Problem.  You cannot expect your startup Management Teams to put forward 100% effort if they are not incentivized to do so.  That means believing in their vision/mission, and making it worthwhile if they succeed.  The trickle down effect of an improperly incentivized management can lead to an entire organization that's not giving 100% or is giving it to the wrong things.

7 Key Lessons Entrepreneurs Should Learn from CES 2016

I just got back from my 10th year of CES the biggest consumer electronics show in the USA.  Here are the things entrepreneurs messed up heartily!

1. Lesson one

Be prepared for success. At least a dozen startups in Eureka park (the startup area of CES) had run out of fliers and business cards by day 3.  Seriously?  There are investors walking around as well as buyers and distribution and you have no card for them?  (P.s. See our website is not an answer). Kinko s is an answer.

2. Lesson two

Not everyone is important. In fact most of the joes walking around cannot help you.  So, what do you do?  You have to ask people about them before you tell them all about you.  If you learn they are a reporter, great! Share the vision.   If you learn they run a recipe website (like me) maybe you don't need to share your founding story, just tell me what you do and be polite.

3. Lesson three

For goodness sakes make it easy for people tonl figure out what you do!  I should not have to read your entire wall and your brochure before I it out.   Make it a one line statement, big and bold and in front of me.  This will help a lot with 1 and 2 above by the way...  The important people will find you. Others who figure you out may not need that flier you ran out of.  And for goodness sakes don't make it a goal to hand out fliers!

4. Lesson four

Have a goal!  Many of the 200'or so startups I spoke to had no goal for the show, none.   "We're just here showing our stuff off" is not a goal.  Get Press, sales, investment, leads, those are goals.

5. Lesson five

Let people know your goal and do stuff that will help you get that goal.   An hourly giveaway is not going to attract investors.  A party?  Hah!   How about setup meetings in advance?  How about have a "investor area" of your booth to chat with any that come

by?

6. Lesson six

Do not drink on the job.   It's sloppy and shows a lack of selfcontrol.  If you drink, do so after the meetings and don't overdo it... CES is a long show, and being late to open just looks really really bad!

7. Lesson seven

Don't hire or bring show workers who know nothing about your products or services.  Especially don't leave them alone.  "Im sorry, nobody is here who can answer that" is not a good answer.  You just lost a huge sale, forever.

So, was CES a good show for me?  Yes!  I leave CES 2016 feeling great about technology!  The future gets cooler every year, and it is no surprise nor secret that it's startups leading the charge!