Category: StartUps

2018 in Review 2019 Plan

2018 review….2019 plan…  

2019 is my time to apply everything I’ve learned in my life – personally, professionally, and what I’ve learned from others.

I’ve been in transition for years now – 2018 isn’t that much different than 2017 or 2016 professionally.  Understanding who I am, what I’m good at, what I I see, how that helps, why it matters…It’s been an amazing, sometimes painful, journey.  I value friends more, I value myself more, I value connections more, I value chance encounters more, I value people more.  I value different looks, different perspectives, lots of tolerance, and listening – as well as hearing. 

I’m willing to change my stubbornness for the common good. I’m willing to sit still and just be.  While I’ve been insistent on being the first to admit when I’m wrong, I’m now willing to be wrong.  I’m willing to trust my instincts which makes them stronger.  I’m willing to ask more questions.  I’m willing to hear the answers and modify my thoughts accordingly. 

I’m ready to fly – truly fly.  Help people.  Help increase our chance of success.  Help grow.  Help nudge.  Lead.

1 Million Cups Recommendation

One Million Cups

One Million Cups – Highly Recommend for Every Entrepreneur!  163 communities across the US.

It’s an absolute must for entrepreneurs!  (click here to learn more) It’s such an amazing environment.  Entrepreneurs present who they are and what they need.  The audience helps them.  Different communities will have different attendance rates and different formats, but one thing remains true – it gives entrepreneurs a forum to get the help they need.  You can review a financing pitch, get help on introducing a new product, get help on how to expand, etc.  It’s free help without strings and contracts from qualified people.  I’ve learned something at every event that has helped me too.

I’ve become addicted actually – I love the spirit the audience offers.  One idea brings on another as only focused groups can do.  One by one we’re smart but together we’re amazing!!!

Being an entrepreneur is TOUGH – here’s something just for you when you need it.

karenwiley@appliedteamdynamics.com

Making the Impossible Feasible, then Successful

 

#entrepreneur, #coach, #consultant, #meetups, #network

 

The Fabric of Teamwork

Fabric of Teamwork

There is an invisible web, or fabric, that runs through every group of people and it is composed of human interactions, expectations, communication, processes and system automation.  It is the underlying reason that groups succeed or fail. The web/fabric is dynamic and moves as events trigger it – deadlines, new management, or change in personnel. 

But slow changes that creep in without anyone realizing it, can destroy it.  When expectations get out of concert with reality; when communication is not kept up with growth; when processes become obsolete but held on tightly as ‘we’ve always done it this way’; when a new system wasn’t truly integrated, or Day 2 items never materialized. Or hardest yet – when a young startup with new experts must learn to work together and create the fabric.

As you look to figure out what is going wrong with your group of people, you need to ensure you look at all aspects of them.  What is triggering them, where are the holes in their team fabric, where are the areas that have become rigid?

 Karenwiley@appliedteamdynamics.com

Making the impossible feasible, then successful

 

Ready to create your own brand and stand out?

I want to recommend Own Your Brand by David Billstrom.  He’s an executive coach and has outlined how to create your own brand on LinkedIn in simple, easy steps.  Going through his process transformed how I think about myself.  It allowed me to get away from my resume and present myself as I really am and how I want to be seen – an interesting person, a proven track record, and someone ready to take on the next challenge. 

Even if you think you are set in your current job, you should create your own personal brand – you never know what doors it could open up!

Karenwiley@appliedteamdynamics.com

Making the impossible feasible, then successful.

How can a project manager help a startup?

Startups are hot beds of chaos. The constraint of time vs resources vs scope (aka ToDo’s) is never more critical than in a small company. If entrepreneurs have reached 15 or 20 employees in their company, a few things have happened – they have financing, they are on the edge of finding, or have found, a ‘breakthrough’ product, and they’ve hired a few business people and experts.  The gift, and the curse, of financing is that now there’s more cash to get it all done but there are either banks with payments due or an investor in their board room sharing their profits. There are no specific ‘projects’ but there are very defined goals and very real constraints.

What if they had a resource to turn to, someone skilled at negotiating the time vs resources vs ToDo’s, skilled at helping teams work together toward a common goal, skilled at making the most of whatever software is handy, skilled at communication and skilled at efficiency? Here is Project Management for Startups. We figure out the who, what, when, why, and how, help with communication feedback loops (aka reporting), and help with just the right amount of process to create efficiency but not bureaucracy. We help breakthrough the current obstacle, streamline efforts, and create some stability. We help keep you moving forward and ensure your processes grow with you.