How to Keep Your Team Motivated Through the Messy Middle

A team of people working together on a project with a laptop on a table illustrates how to keep your team motivated

What does it take to maintain your team’s drive during the challenging growth phase of your startup? How can you celebrate progress while staying grounded in reality? The startup journey entails creative internal marketing, strategic task prioritization, and meaningful celebration of milestones. Scott Belsky’s book The Messy Middle includes proven strategies that can help you build and sustain a resilient, focused team through your venture’s most demanding phases. Read more to get Belsky’s advice on how to keep your team motivated, especially during your business’s middle years.

How to Run a Business Model Test With Your Customer Base

Five professionals working in a conference room with a white board are running a business model test

What does it take to successfully run a business model test before scaling up? How can you position your product effectively in different types of markets? Understanding your sales approach and market positioning is crucial before expanding your business. The process involves testing your sales strategy with early adopters and determining how to shape public perception of your product based on your market type. Let’s explore the essential steps to validate your business model and create a winning positioning strategy that resonates with your target customers.

Tenacity in Business: What You Need to Endure the Long Haul

A man working at his desk at night with his sleeves rolled up illustrates tenacity in business

Why does building a successful business take so much longer than most people expect? What can keep you motivated when traditional success metrics don’t show immediate results? Growing a business requires patience, curiosity, and internal motivation. In The Messy Middle, Scott Belsky explores how entrepreneurs can maintain their tenacity through the long journey toward success, offering practical strategies to stay energized when external validation is scarce. Keep reading to discover how tenacity in business can transform your entrepreneurial journey.

When Is a Startup No Longer a Startup? 3 Signs You’ve Arrived

When is a startup no longer a startup? A professional team in an open office celebrates with champagne

When is a startup no longer a startup? What must a new business do to transition into a mature company? The journey from startup to established company entails specific changes in market approach and organizational structure. Steve Blank’s framework in The Four Steps to the Epiphany outlines three essential transitions that signal when a startup is ready to graduate into a larger enterprise. Read on to discover how to successfully navigate this crucial and exciting transformation.

How to Handle Success With Grace & Good Sense (Scott Belsky)

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What does it take to maintain humility when your startup succeeds? How can you avoid self-sabotage right before crossing the finish line? Knowing how to handle success is just as crucial as knowing how to build a business. Scott Belsky’s The Messy Middle provides insights on maintaining poise and good judgment when your venture approaches its final stages. Keep reading to discover practical strategies for managing success, staying humble, and preparing for your next chapter.

How to Identify Customer Needs Your Product Should Address

A young woman shopping in a grocery store, looking at products on a shelf, illustrates how to identify customer needs

How well do you know your customers’ needs? Are you meeting those needs better than your competitors? Knowing how to identify customer needs is crucial for any business. By understanding what your target market truly wants, you can create products and services that stand out from the competition. This process involves calculating the value of each need and crafting a compelling value proposition. Read more to learn the steps you can take to pinpoint and address your customers’ most pressing needs.

4 Entrepreneurial Habits to Find Business Success

An man showing good entrepreneurial habits by shaking a customer's hand in the store

What are good entrepreneurial habits you should start embracing? How do customers define a business’s success? Good financial habits are crucial, but of course, you need to have income before they’ll do you any good. One route to a steady income is to become an entrepreneur by starting your own business. To become a successful entrepreneur, here are the habits Brian Tracy recommends picking up.

3 Good Financial Habits According to Brian Tracy

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Why do you need good financial habits in your personal and professional lives? How can you prove to your boss that you’re worthy of a promotion? There are specific habits that lead to success in different areas of your life. In particular, Brian Tracy has stellar advice for financial success, including entrepreneurial habits and proving your worth as an employee. Continue reading to learn how to embrace three good financial habits.

Finding Capital for a New Business: Tackle the Necessary Evil

A blue ceramic piggy bank with "START-UP CAPITAL" written on the side illustrates capital for a new business

Are you struggling to find capital for a new business? Do you wonder how successful entrepreneurs secure their initial funding? Starting a venture often requires financial backing, and the process of obtaining it can be daunting. In How to Get Rich, Felix Dennis explains that entrepreneurs face various options, from personal connections to venture capitalists, each with its own set of advantages and risks. Read on to discover insider tips on securing capital and navigating the challenges of funding your startup.

How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis: Book Overview & Takeaways

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Are you dreaming of becoming wealthy? Do you have what it takes to turn that dream into reality? In his book How to Get Rich, Felix Dennis lets loose with his unconventional insights on building a fortune. A self-made millionaire, Dennis shares his advice on starting a business, avoiding common pitfalls, and living a fulfilling life as a wealthy individual. Keep reading to get a candid look at the challenges, sacrifices, and skills needed to achieve substantial wealth.