Some interesting links we found across the web this week:
5 Key Lessons on Building a Business That
Super-Successful Female Founders Wished They'd Known When They
Started
Starting a business can feel impossible, no matter what your prior
experience. The blank slate of a new company may be exciting, but
it is also when you have the most room to make a mistake—and
at that stage, one mistake may be all you get. In this
Inc.com article, three female founders share five lessons
they learned, and how you can be at least a little more prepared
for the emotional rollercoaster of running a startup.
5 Things Entrepreneurs Get Wrong At First
– And How You Can Do Better
Speaking of mistakes, there are some practical things you may not
think about when starting a business that, if you do, could save
you a big headache later. This includes figuring out if your
product name is available, delegating properly and creating a
shared company vision. This article from Forbes discusses
a few more small things you can do at the start to make sure that
the one mistake you make isn't one that ends your business.
Private Equity Fundraising in the US Hits
All-Time High
Domestic private equity funds have raised more capital in 2019 than
in any prior year, with a total of more than $246 billion before
the year is even over. This breaks 2017's previous record of
$238 billion. Is this a sign of a strong economy or an impending
downturn? This article by Pitchbook analyzes what the high
fundraising could mean, and what to expect for the rest of
2019.
Should Non-Compete Clauses Be
Abolished?
If you've started hiring employees (and have done so both in
California and elsewhere), you may have noticed that while
non-compete clauses are fairly common in most states, California
doesn't allow them. Non-compete clauses have actually been
around since at least the 1400s, with proponents touting the
importance of protecting company trade secrets and opponents
raising concerns about restricting upward mobility in the
workforce. This HBSWK article, and the comments to it,
discuss these arguments in more detail, giving employers something
to think about when drafting employment agreements.
Why Good Listening Is a Critical Skill for
Founders and Entrepreneurs
How many times have you been in a conversation and miss almost all
of what the other person is saying because you're so focused on
what you're going to say next? We all do it, and we all know
it's a bad habit. But how to break it? This article by
Entrepreneur discusses both the importance of listening
well and some practical tips that you can bring to your next
interaction today. By engaging in 360-degree listening, you'll
develop better relationships and be a better leader in your
company.
Links compiled by Meghan Muncey.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.