I tried to send thoughts via Twitter in real-time throughout 2008. This usually happened when something frustrated me, but not always. There is very little rhyme or reason to the list below, but all seemed important at the time, and some actually are pretty important, some, not so much.
Much of the “advice” is related to companies presenting to potential investors but there is some fashion advice included that must not be ignored, specifically that “jorts” are never a good idea.
Links below are to the original Twitter posts. The list is in ascending order with the most recent advice last.
- Other note to people presenting to investors – don’t say ‘our financial projections are conservative ‘ – why say that?
- Never tell a panel of prospective investors they need to sign an nda to learn more
- Denim on denim is never OK.
- VC pitch tip- never guarantee 100% penetration-its like throwing blood in the water
- Note-if you say no direct competitors you’re either missing them or there is no market
- Panel intros should not take up more than 10% of time for a panel
- Note – if your company summary is in a conf book do not label it “confidential do not distribute”
- Note to self – lesson learned last night – don’t play poker with a bunch of cops
- Very bad advice from the Council of PR Firms on “protecting speculative work in creative pitches”-why I disagree-http://tinyurl.com/6m2tcj
- Jorts are never a good idea
- Note to CNET , WSJ and many many others – don’t try and hit me with a survey when I leave your site – I am leaving because I am done reading
- PR folks – please resist the temptation to use today’s date to pitch your clients – lots of people lost friends and family on Sept. 11, 2001
- Pet peeve-people refer to YouTube videos. Repeat after me, YouTube is not the source, it is a delivery vehicle. Thank you. Please drive thru.
- Note to presenters. Don’t just turn off your phone. Leave it briefcase or with someone else. Don’t have it on your belt……ever!
- If you have 1 minute to intro your company why lead with ‘we are an early stage technology company?’. How bout what you do and who cares
- Note to presenters – louder does not make you better
- Use conversational language when presenting. Don’t talk like a cop and use forced words
- Provide an incentive to your customers to pay early
- Note to presenters-don’t bury the lead. Its one thing to provide context another to make me think you don’t want to say what you do.
- Close with descriptive statement about what you do and your ask……not ‘that’s about it…..’Practice through the end, like a golf swing‘
- Don’t ask for feedback on your presentation if you run into me in the bathroom. Just don’t.
- Received good business advice from a friend and mentor yesterday – “follow your happy.”
- Is asking for a “retweet” like saying your product is “cool?” If you say what you are selling is cool, it’s not.
- Good advice from Will Smith on Leno – “If you read everyday and run everyday, everything will be alright” – not an abso lute but good advice
- My monthly plea to stop using the term lay-off – it’s not like these people are going to get brought back after Christmas
- Note if your profile picture is a headshot of you in a tuxedo – you look like either a limo driver or a wedding DJ – just saying
- Note to people – if you are going to be interviewed on TV – take the freaking bluetooth earpiece off – also applies to restaurants -end rant
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