Office Etiquette
by Rick Walker at Official Space
Office etiquette in the UK
For decades now the world has worked on a 9 to 5 basis, with employees working out of offices around the globe. No matter what kind of industry you work within, you’ll quickly notice that there’s a lot of office etiquette you need to abide by in order to make it in the world of office work.
First of all, what’s etiquette?
Advice from a Start-up Wife
by Karina Rook of Re-settle us
It’s kind of like announcing that you’re pregnant with triplets – the look on people’s faces when you tell them your partner quit his job and is now working from home. You can’t use the word ‘start-up’ because most non-tech people don’t really get it, so you say ‘entrepreneur’ or self-employed. Most people say encouraging things, many people ask you to describe the product/service (here comes the elevator pitch!) but almost no-one asks “Why?”.
What’s the Perfect Salary to Make you Happy?
A recent study says that as you earn more money, your day-to-day happiness increases. On average, the perfect salary for happiness is $75,000.
According to the Wall Street Journal’s Happiness Index, the top 5 jobs in which professionals are happy is:
- Aerospace Engineer at $65,000
- Software Quality Assurance Engineer at $86,000
- Security Manager at $87,000
- Software Development Manager at $93,000
- Program Manager at $94,000
Take your pick!
Starting Salaries & Freelance Rates are Rising
When it comes to hiring talented developers and designers, the cost is going up!
What makes a Successful Startup Team according to top VCs & Angels?
Here’s the next installment in WavePlay’s new Secret Sauce Series. Find out what top VCs and angels think makes for a successful startup team. Who should be onboard at the start? Do you need a technical founder? What experience do the founders need to have?
What Employees Want
What do employees really want out of their job? It’s probably not what you think, if you’re the CEO.
How do you Make a Good Impression in a Job Interview?
Whether you are raising money for your company or interviewing for a job, here is what you can do to make a good impression.
Have A Great Time Excelling On The Job and In Sports
Raj Gavurla
by Raj Gavurla of LiiiVEN, Inc.
Statistics show the majority of people aren’t enthralled with their work. Interpreting the statistics meaning forces me to come to the conclusion it’s difficult for them to have a great time because instead of excelling they reached a plateau which causes static thinking, worry, stress, or tiredness. One way to break anhedonia is by applying the following peak performance structure to improve your mindset, mood, and motivation.
Home Routine
Business Maturity
Raj Gavurla
by Raj Gavurla of LiiiVEN, Inc.
Mature businesses show there maturity through consistency. In other words they are reliable. It’s odd to receive calls from suppliers on behalf of well known organizations that cannot keep an appointment. What does this say about your company? It’s not appealing. People’s time is valuable. You should keep the appointment although you may not be interested because it’s your word, you’ll learn more, and establish trust.
Consistently Play At The Top of Your Game
Raj Gavurla
by Raj Gavurla of LiiiVEN, Inc.
It’s not rocket science. Customers and buyers want to do business with your organization because they know what is agreed upon will be delivered on time. Recently, I worked with a company and they had a hard time telling me a delivery date. The reason was because they didn’t know when their supplier would complete their part. They didn’t say they would check with the supplier and get back to me with a delivery date. Obviously, they’re not motivated.
Entrepreneurs Need To Work On?
Raj Gavurla
by Raj Gavurla of LiiiVEN, Inc.
When working with entrepreneurs and small business owners I see a drive and passion that is necessary for success. There are eight areas where consistent actions are needed to produce consistent results. As you develop and grow, the actions change because of your accomplishments and your business needs evolve. The one action, for those in startup mode or are in steady mode, not growth mode most often overlooked is the action to celebrate. Surprised?
Motivating Employees To Win, Grow, Evolve
Raj Gavurla
by Raj Gavurla
As an organization what do you do to motivate employees to win, grow, and evolve? This isn’t management motivating employees or employees motivating management. There should be three categories:
1. Motivation for project work to win, grow, evolve
2. Motivation to run the organization to win, grow, evolve
3. Motivation for clients to win, grow, evolve
When employees regardless of position have a customized metric panel (view) based on their position it is easier for them to be motivated to win, grow, and evolve. This metric panel changes only when a better input or idea is presented.
Do we have to give employees the same benefits as the founders?
Question: We’re a California startup with a few founders working full-time right now. We are planning on expanding. Do we have to offer any future full-time employees the same benefits as we set up for ourselves? Do they need to have the same healthcare plan fully paid by the company? Do they need to receive the same retirement plan contributions paid by the company? Thanks!
Brian Hassan
Answer by Brian Hassan, Managing Director of BayPoint Benefits
How do I deal with a demanding & uncooperative engineer when my whole startup depends on him?
Naomi Kokubo
by Naomi Kokubo, Editor of Founders Space
Good question for Founders Space.
I know this is difficult. I’ve been there before. But you have to take action now. First off, no one is indispensable. You may believe you can’t live without this engineer, but you can. You’ll be able to find someone else who can learn the code and get the job done. My advice is to clearly let this engineer know that his behavior is unacceptable, and he either needs to work with you or you’ll have to find someone to replace him.
Do you have any templates for employment and consulting agreements?
Naomi Kokubo
by Naomi Kokubo, Editor of Founders Space
Below is a link to the Employment & Consultant Documents provided by Orrick. Keep in mind, these do not replace having a good attorney, but they do provide a good starting point.
Go see Employment & Consultant Docs
Employee Offer Letter
What’s the best way to find a CTO for my startup?
Naomi Kokubo
by Naomi Kokubo, Editor of Founders Space
The best way is to tap into your network of friends and colleagues. It’s always better to start with someone you know well and have worked with in the past. That said, all too often you know people with similar backgrounds and skill sets to your own. So how do you find a co-founder with a complimentary skill set?
Our Changing Workplace
Fanny Tham
by Fanny Tham of CreativePeople@Work
There is no better time to say that we are in an Era of Change. From the comeback of Apple in the 90s to the evolution of Internet led by Facebook, our World is rapidly transforming. Ever year we witness changes that make impacts on the way we live, play and work. Here are ways on how our work will change in the next couple of years. In fact, for some, it already has.
1) Information Technology is still King
Are You a Great Leader or a Competent Manager?
Burton Goldfield
by Burton M. Goldfield, CEO of TriNet
The difference lies in the ability to inspire employees, especially during difficult times.
In an ideal world, the titles “manager” and “leader” would go hand in hand, but that’s not always the case. It’s no surprise that productivity and employee morale rely heavily on a manager’s leadership style. One wrong move (or even the perception of being wrong), may cause employees to lose trust in their managers’ abilities to guide their careers. The question is, what’s the difference between a competent manager and a truly great leader? It’s the ability to inspire employees during difficult times.
Do I need to have an engineer as a cofounder to launch a Web 2.0 startup?
Naomi Kokubo
by Naomi Kokubo, editor of Founders Space
No. But it’s a lot harder to succeed without one. If your website relies on key technology, it’s really difficult to get off the ground unless one of the founders understands the technology inside and out. If you’re relying on a contractor, employee or friend to help you out, it may wind up halfway done. The reason is that the effort required to build and launch a successful Web 2.0 startup is so great that no one but a dedicated founder typically lives up to the challenge.
Can entrepreneurs be made?
Naomi Kokubo
by Naomi Kokubo, editor of Founders Space
This is an age-old question. Nearly every VC out there has an opinion, and unfortunately, most of them are misguided. The majority of VCs believe you are born with it. But in reality, most people learn to become entrepreneurs.
In fact, all evidence points to the fact that you can make a successful entrepreneur with the right mix of education and guidance, and they do not come in any single mold. Graduating from Stanford and being under 20 is no guarantee of success. In fact, first-time entrepreneurs who are 40+ often have a higher rate of success, which makes sense, since they have a wealth of experience to draw upon.
Building the Right Tech Team
Nicole Valentine
by Nicole Valentine, VP of Prod/Technology at Figment.com
You have the idea. You have the vision. Now, you need the team to help you realize your goals. We all know that hiring the right people is necessary in any organization, but it’s even more crucial in a small technology startup. The hiring decisions you make will have long reaching effect on your business. This core team will not only shape the future success of your organization, but the culture of your company as well.
Your First Engineers are Your Engine Makers
Employee Retention: How to keep the keepers and maintain optimal turnover levels
Burton Goldfield
by Burton M. Goldfield, CEO of TriNet
Introduction:
For many of the world’s most admired companies, the ability to attract and retain talented employees was the single-most reliable predictor of excellence, according to Fortune magazine. And it may be the single-most important challenge of this decade. Why care about retention? Retention is a business issue and losing one or two key people can have a significant impact on your longevity or profitability. In the following white paper, we outline how managers can determine whom to keep, how to treat those who leave and what to do to retain those necessary to the organization.
Is it legal for my company to pay its employees without giving a pay stub along with the check?
Ethan Stone
by Ethan Stone, Stone Business Law
First, a quick but important clarification: I’m not your lawyer and this answer doesn’t establish a lawyer-client relationship. I’m giving a generic answer to a generic question to educate the users of this site. The information below is general in nature and should not be understood as a substitute for personal legal advice.
The answer to this question depends on state law. In California, and many other states, the answer is no.
California Law requires an “itemized statement” including the following:
- gross wages earned
Winning Mental Pyramid
Raj Gavurla
by Raj Gavurla of LiiiVEN, Inc.
Practical Leading Edge Research and Process Entrepreneurs
Use To Win, Grow, Evolve
Fig. 1 Winning Mental Pyramid
inner-motivation.com
Here’s how it works:
Relationship Between Motivation and Inspiration
Motivation has a relationship with inspiration and your motivation controls your attitude.
This is the top line in your business or what is your motivation?
Attitude
Your attitude controls your mindset. It’s important to have a positive attitude.
How do I surive with truly the next great idea?
QUESTION:
So let’s say I have an amazing idea for disruptive and game changing product. Let’s say it could be bigger than Facebook.
How do I bring the idea to market without being crushed by competitors, investors, and other capable people who are more opportunistic than honorable?
What steps can I take to ensure that I retain control of an idea that may be the next big thing?
ANSWER:
Antone Johnson
Advancements In Humanness, Medicine & Technology
Raj Gavurla
by Raj Gavurla of LiiiVEN, Inc.
To raise the standard of work and living it’s clear to me there must be continual advancements in humanness, medicine, and technology. What is your action plan to win, make more money, and grow to make lives better?
We need to create more jobs to stimulate the economy. This means increasing intelligence through education, access, transparency, and the assembling of delivery models to reach people faster and on demand. By striving for talent acquisition and winning their services through advancements in humanness we’ll not only lead an economic rise, our families and youth will grow stronger locally and abroad. Entrepreneurship and government (the people) investing in research in addition to collaboration with other countries can excite people towards a better living, if you will.
Finding Sharpshooters & Building an Amazing Team
Eran Eyal
by Eran Eyal of Springleap.com and Evly.com
One of the key learnings I have had as a founder is finding incredible talent and setting them up for success rather than failure.
There are 2 types of mentalities regarding giving colleagues opportunity:
1. Give people opportunity and let them sink or swim
2. Give people opportunity they are suited to when they can handle it
The former is a recipe for failure.
I have seen this, time and time again, in startups and even established businesses that display a high burn-out rate amongst the employees or a high dropout rate.
What’s the best way to find a biz dev person who will work on commission?
QUESTION:
I started a web design and internet marketing firm in 2009 and have come to the point where I would like to grow the business so I decided that I need to hire someone whose job would be to acquire new clients. What are the best steps to find and get this person on board with the fact that I would like them to be paid on performance/commission, since I can’t afford to pay a salary yet?
ANSWER:
Naomi Kokubo
by Naomi Kokubo, Cofounder of Founders Space
What’s a typical vesting schedule for employee stock options?
QUESTION:
It is my understanding that the standard vesting period for the senior-level people is 4 years. During that 4 year vesting period, is it normal to do a 100% vest after the fourth year or are some investors ok with cliff vesting?
ANSWER:
Naomi Kokubo
by Naomi Kokubo, Cofounder of Founders Space
Here is a typical four-year stock option vesting schedule for employees:
- In startups, most employees have their shares vest in exactly the same way, whether they are senior executives or entry level employees.
Where can I find good website designers/developers?
QUESTION:
Where can I find good website designers/developers?
ANSWER:
Naomi Kokubo
by Naomi Kokubo, Cofounder of Founders Space
This is a question we get all the time. Find a great designer and/or developer for Web 2.0 sites isn’t easy. There are lots of good people out there, but they tend to be either too expensive or already employed. And if you want someone to work for equity or on the cheap, it can be difficult.
