Thanks Kli for sending this. Great read to think about, and review multiple times.
SweatStart Example
March 12, 2009 – 9:55 pm
I’m still trying to define what a “SweatStart” is and isn’t and how this blog can help others with their own “SweatStart”. I’ll write more on it later, but one blog post that comes to my mind is from Guy re: PowerPoint presentations titled The 102030 Rule.
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2005/12/the_102030_rule.html
I’ll expand on this more, but just wanted to get the thought out and begin the discipline of daily posts until I can spend the time required to write a solid one once or twice a week.
Wrr
SweatStart
March 8, 2009 – 8:30 pm
Ok, so you want to be a SweatInvestor…where do you start?
There are many ways. One of the ideas I’m starting to solidfy is the idea of The Deck. A 5 to 15 slide deck that “productizes” a bite size peice of the value you have to offer someone. A deck that you could link to or send to anyone that needs your help (i.e., doesn’t require your time, scales) or that you could send and then present over the phone or in person between 30-90 minutes (i.e., when you see an opportunity that is worth investing your time). More on this in a bit.
I’m working on one for Sales and one for determining what your deck could be, given what you have to offfer. My brother is working on one that he has coined “B_aa_S”, which stands for Blogging-as-a-Service…he may set out to help established professionals in the fields he finds interesting set up blogs that contribute to their bottom line and industry throught leadership. His goal would be to produtize his skills (i.e., improve himself), to help others while proving to them his worth to their business, and potentially to set up a side income if he starts charging for special services that result from it (e.g., the actual setting up and maintaining of the blog). More on that later too.
Walter
Under Construction; Getting Closer!
March 8, 2009 – 3:40 pm
Hey folks…I’ve switched website hosting providers and formats…and will slowly relaunch www.sweatinvestor.com. If you’ve found your way here, give feedback on site, idea, etc…Come back soon!
Walter
Hello world!
March 8, 2009 – 12:04 pm
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
Facebook, LinkedIn and Wodpress
February 2, 2009 – 8:02 pm
I seem never to find the time to get SweatInvestor’s infrastructure pulled together. The good news is both Facebook and LinkedIn seem to be progressing quickly as platforms that might provide the bulk of that infrastructure. I’m still toying with what needs to be in version 1.0, knowing that the more features I envision the longer things take to come together. I’m about to land, so more on this topic later.
Welcome 2009 et al
January 2, 2009 – 8:31 am
In bound from HNL to SFO I choose to start out the new year with the simple cheer, “Welcome 2009 et al!”
May we all profit by investing our sweat when we encounter either opportunity or challenge on the road ahead…
wrr
Watercooler-inc Launches TVLoop.com
December 12, 2008 – 11:23 pm
I joined Watercooler-inc after initially investing my sweat. We just launched our new site that takes content from our network of over 700 applications that live within the 5 major social networks (e.g., Facebook, Myspace, etc) and makes its available anywhere at TVLoop.com or via widgets like the one below.
Get This Quote - Find more at TVLoop
If you are a TV fan, please check it out and let me know what you think!
WRR
Great PodCast on Angel Investing w/ Ron Conway
June 13, 2008 – 5:30 am
Described and linked to below is a great podcast on the topic of Angel investing.
Listening closely you get a great feeling for the process and numbers game of professional angel investing, Ron Conway style. He gives stats on deal flow, success rates, etc. In particular, he describes why the angel model is definitely a “hits business.”
As I work to further refine the description, approach and implementation of SweatInvestor.com, this podcast gave a lot of interesting concepts and dynamics to consider. Overall, SweatInvestor.com is positioned to be complimentary.
URL: http://edcorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=1902
Description: experienced angel investors, Ron Conway, Founder of Angel Investors LP, and Mike Maples, Founder of Maples Investments, provide a rare look into the ins and outs of angel investing. Conway and Maples discuss how angel investors assess opportunities, provide assistance to entrepreneurs and transition start-ups to larger venture investments or exit. In addition, Conway and Maples provide advice to entrepreneurs about finding one’s passion and developing that passion into new ventures, including insight into how much money to raise and how to manage that money after it is in the bank.
The Win-Win-Win
May 27, 2008 – 8:57 pm
SweatInvestor(TM) aims to selectively network a group of domain experts who possess unique combinations of domain expertise, credibility and network to benefit each other’s current and/or future endeavors, specifically targeting those endeavors with an upside potential.
A core underlining concept is that each intro only works if its a WIN / WIN / WIN. What this means, is that introductions are made only if its clear that all 3 parties (the two parties being introduced and the party giving the introduction) eventually benefit from the intro.
If one person gains nothing, and their time is wasted, it obviously was not a WIN / WIN / WIN. In deciding if one should make an introduction, exploring the, “how can I make this a WIN / WIN / WIN?” is essential. If there is no way, the introduction should not be made. At best, the discussion should turn to, “here are the things you need to first accomplish or sort out before I can make the introduction, otherwise, its not a WIN / WIN / WIN which benefits no one.
Although its not possible to have all directly benefit in the short term, each has to get a value out of the potential meeting, even if thats just to build out their SweatInvestor(TM) network or scorecard (success cases) or to set up a relationship where SweatInvestment will be passed back sometime in the future if needed.
The intros can be of various formats, which include a request for a 30 minute phone call or an in-person discussion over breakfast, lunch or dinner where high level domain specific topics are discussed. In this example, about 1/3 of the time is used for a quick overview of background, then 1/3 in Q&A and then 1/3 in high level strategic expert feedback.
Proper management of time and adhering to the “program” or “format” that each SweatInvestor offers is key. People that abuse the format (e.g., try to get more than 30 minutes out of a 30 minute call) will most likely have a door closed in the future rather than open for more help and further referrals. Once we have the rating system implemented, this will be designed into it.
There are many more elements of the WIN / WIN / WIN and also ways to maximize it in practice. I may update this post or create new ones in the future. At this time I’m just exploring a few ideas and getting into the habit of blogging.
If you have any suggestions, comments, additional points to make, etc please comment or send an email to contact@sweatinvestor.com and I’ll respond. Thanks - W