If at first you don't succeed....

O.k.  I took a little break from blogging.
More or less September 20 was the date of the partner meeting that indicated that the business relationship was not healthy.  Things were not positive and I didn't want to blog all the negative details.  However, I am am going to get back to blogging and wanted to give a recap on the things I learned while being a part owner in a start-up business where I had gone full-time and the founders had not.

On Team Leadership:

• Create a shared purpose/effort.  (What are we trying to do?)
• Agree on a general path.  (How are we going to get there?)
• Communicate regularly.  (What is stopping/slowing us TODAY?)
• Give tools that are needed.  (Let me make us successful! I want to contribute! Just give me a little...)
• Allow progress to occur in whatever style.  (I am me!  I am free! I am happy!)
• Create metrics that provide you useful DATA and share it.  (I know we are on the right track because I see the data!)
• Include everyone...reward everyone.

Partnership Musts:

• Risk and ability to influence tempo of growth need to be coupled.
• Keep communication regular.  (reduces length of time of frustration)
• Seek understanding through questions.  (diffuses anger)
• Couple efforts and compensation.  (people want to be working towards success...)   

 Motivation Starters:

• Recognize other people's contributions.
• Help others contribute.
• Respect others.
• Care for other's well-being.

On Retail Interactions with customers:

• Have a united front!
• Don't threaten!  Suppliers are your friends.
• Check your facts before you tell prices!

 Soooooooooooooo that start-up partnership did not work out very well for me.
The environment was not healthy so I cut my losses and began looking for other opportunities.
The experience also highlighted that it would be useful to have some finance and accounting background.

I was able to find an opportunity to work on Commercialization and Innovation projects at the local university while working on my MBA.....today was my first day!

Here is an interesting link on Web Development Start-ups:  http://sixrevisions.com/project-management/web-developers-guide-to-getting-a-startup-up-and-running/