a business plan

Entrepreneurship. TV Interview. Nov 30th

Entrepreneurs need Untitled design(2)to  learn new traditional management skills to improve their ability to both attract funding and succeed. That is the message I delivered in a local TV interview discussing #entrepreneurship in Northern Virginia. The region is now called “Silicon Valley East” based on the surge of entrepreneurial ventures in the area.  Read More

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Gemini Business Group Now Focusing Exclusively on New Venture Development

3Starting September 15, 2015, Gemini Business Group, LLC will focus exclusively on addressing the needs of entrepreneurs and investors and offer a portfolio of new venture development and management support services that have been well received in the market.

The revised Gemini Business Group website provides an overview of the new directions we will be pursuing with clients in coming months.

Look for additional announcements in coming weeks on staff appointments , new developments, and updates on the Gemini Venture Partners Emerging Growth Fund.

I also encourage you to visit my blog www.paulbsilverman.com/blog and also sign up for the complimentary Entrepreneurship Today! e-mail updates which I am using to share new venture developments, management tips, insights on new venture financing trends such as equity crowdfunding, and other topics.

Your comments are always welcomed. Drop me a note anytime at paul@paulbsilverman.com.

Paul B. Silverman

Managing Partner

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Half of All New Ventures Fail Within 5 Years- What Is Driving This Sobering SBA Statistic?

A new press release was issued today announcing the publication of “8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manager and Grow a Successful Business”  and availability on Amazon (Print and Kindle).

8b3_copy(4)Here is a copy of the press release…

‘8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business’ Now Available On Amazon

Half of all new businesses fail within five years. SBA statistics show what drives all business failures: Management Competence (46%), Lack of Managerial Experience (30%), and Lack of Market Sector Experience (11%)-new book offers success solutions

July 15, 2015RESTON, Va.8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manage, and Grow a Successful Business” is now available on Amazon (US and global markets)- print and Kindle editions. Targeted to entrepreneurs, the book walks readers through the many steps needed to not only launch a business, but stay in business and succeed. The new book received positive pre-publication reviews from invited senior level reviewers

“SBA and other statistics confirm what I’ve seen so many times,” said author Paul B. Silverman. “You can have a great idea, market need, solid team, funding and maybe a customer or two, and then five years later you’re out of business. “Understanding the challenges, and helping you develop winning strategies and succeed in today’s explosive and exciting entrepreneurial arena is why this book is written,” said Silverman.

“8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manager and Grow a Successful Business” provides a step-by-step guide to all the key elements an entrepreneur needs to tackle to meet today’s challenges, understand and use Fortune 500 new venture ‘best practices’, profitably stay in business, and create value for shareholders. The book delves into the reasons why most businesses fail, how to prevent common pitfalls, and create winning strategies.“8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manage, and Grow a Successful Business” .…. READ PR AT PRESS RELEASE- 8 BUILDING BLOCKS

Here are some related links:

Reviews – I appreciated the support and comments of the pre-publication reviewers- reviews at What Readers are Saying

Link to new book page-  Book Page: * Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business

 Read Book Excerpts at http://paulbsilverman.com/books/excerpts/

Link to Amazon to order the book  Amazon Link; 8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manage, and Grow A Successful Business

Link to blog    paulbsilverman.com/blog/

Media Kit for Press at  Media Kit -8 Building Blocks-071515

Sign up for new Entrepreneurship Today! email updates on areas I am tracking such as crowdfunding, Reg A+, cybersecurity, healthcare, IOT, and analytics . The email updates will cover new venture developments, blog posts highlights, upcoming interviews with leading entrepreneurs, guest posts by investors and entrepreneurs, and new Entrepreneurial Management 2.0 techniques. More info and sign-up page at http://paulbsilverman.com/contact/ 

I am ramping up speaking engagements and plan on doing several interviews related to new venture development and entrepreneurship and glad to address any group where I can contribute and schedules work

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me anytime and I will be glad to help.

All the best,

Paul B. Silverman

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.

 

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New Book Release: “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business”

I am pleased to advise publication of “8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manager and Grow a Successful Business”  – book is now available on Amazon (Print and Kindle).

8b3_copy(4)Here is press release…

HALF OF ALL BUSINESSES FAIL WITHIN FIVE YEARS

New book offers solutions for success

Reston, VA, July 3, 2015 – “8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manage, and Grow a Successful Business” is available today on Amazon (US and global markets) and Kindle (July 8th). Targeted to entrepreneurs, the book walks readers through the many steps needed to not only launch a business, but stay in business and succeed.

“SBA and other statistics confirm what I’ve seen so many times,” said author Paul B. Silverman. “You can have a great idea, market need, solid team, funding and maybe a customer or two, and then five years later you’re out of business.”

8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manager and Grow a Successful Business” provides a step-by-step guide to all the key elements an entrepreneur needs to tackle to meet today’s challenges, profitably stay in business, and create value for shareholders. The book delves into the reasons why most businesses fail, how to prevent common pitfalls, and winning strategies…. READ PR AT PRESS RELEASE- 8 BUILDING BLOCKS

Here are some related links:

Reviews – I appreciated the support and comments of the pre-publication reviewers- reviews at http://paulbsilverman.com/books/reviews/

Link to new book page-  Book Page: * Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business  

 Read Book Excerpts at http://paulbsilverman.com/books/excerpts/

Link to Amazon to order the book  Amazon Link; 8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manage, and Grow A Successful Business

Link to blog a paulbsillverman.com/blog/

Sign up for new Entrepreneurship Today! email updates on areas I am tracking such as crowdfunding, Reg A+, cybersecurity, healthcare, IOT, and analytics . The email updates will cover new venture developments, blog posts highlights, upcoming interviews with leading entrepreneurs, guest posts by investors and entrepreneurs, and new Entrepreneurial Management 2.0 techniques. More info and sign-up page at http://paulbsilverman.com/contact/ 

I am ramping up speaking engagements and plan on doing several interviews related to new venture development and entrepreneurship and glad to address any group where I can contribute and schedules work

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me anytime and I will be glad to help.

All the best,

Paul B. Silverman

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.

 

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Comments On Richard Branson Post TED Talk

Commented on excellent Richard Branson TED talk How To Hack Into Happiness good messages here.

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.

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NEW FACEBOOK PAGE

New Facebook Page – will focus on #entrepreneurship, #predictive analytics, #new ventures, #healthcare

More to follow. Check out http://tinyurl.com/m8t5z4g

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.

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Comments on Business Models at “For Entrepreneurs”

Excellent summary by David Skok on new business models we now see in the entrepreneurial arena. If you are interested in understanding the variety of business models we now see in the market this is a good place to start. I contributed comments on Data Intensity Models or “DIM” which I am looking at for new ventures- very exciting area using analytics. Check out David Skok’s site and my comments at  http://www.forentrepreneurs.com/business-models/    Copy of my comments below:

David
Excellent summary on business models – good work. Glad to
contribute here. I am focusing on a related models in the new venture arena looking at how companies create value based on their customer and ‘community of interest’ data. The Data Intensity Model (“DIM”) goes beyond lead generation models to increase revenue and looks at the value created by understanding customer needs using analytics. Mint.com is the widely quoted example here but other directions are emerging. Sounds far out but the DIM model may shape how you manage your wardrobe- check out http://paulbsilverman.com/2012… Obvious opportunities in finance arena similar to Mint.com but major opportunity I foresee is in healthcare arena. Check out my post/exchange about new business models on Accenture blog http://paulbsilverman.com/2013…. The excellent contribution you are making to educate entrepreneurs is I am sure appreciated by all.

Paul B. Silverman

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.

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Failure Is Often A Key Driver for Success: Check out “Failing Forward — 3 Tips for Failing Your Way to Success”

Most entrepreneurs are familiar with the story of Thomas Edison’s invention of the light bulb. To outsiders, looks like a waste of time and effort- we see about 10,000 failures and one success. Thomas Edison saw it differently in his widely quoted views on success and failure: “I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

I agree with Thomas Edison and always define failures as “Learning Experiences” — this works for me.

I recommend checking out “Failing Forward — 3 Tips for Failing Your Way to Success” – an excellent perspective on success and failure from Marshall Graham, Managing Partner at Indian River Advisor, LLC. Excellent insights here for all entrepreneurs.

 

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.

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Posted “Emerging Business Models Driven By Predictive Analytics” in Business Model Innovation Forum

Agreed to serve as a member of the Business Model Innovation Forum. Good discussion here on all aspects of business models and where we are heading. I posted following comments today as an initial contribution – more information in the Forum at www.businessmodelhub.com. I am pleased to share a copy of my posted comments:

Emerging Business Models Driven By Predictive Analytics

I am pleased to contribute to the Forum and look forward to discussions with other members.

Two areas related to business models in my view should be discussed. First, predictive analytics which is reshaping traditional business models and changing the competitive landscape. These new tools analyze millions of “information records”, develop “rules” to explain the outcomes with major improvement in speed and accuracy. Note information records may include traditional databases, as well as unstructured “text analytics” from news feeds, messaging, maybe doctors notes related to an electronic health record (EHR). Seamless analysis of both traditional structured and unstructured data is a powerful new direction and where we are heading.What we are seeing are new services emerging, creating new markets, many driven by entrepreneurial firms. New clinical diagnostic services to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce costs- results show dramatic improvement. Technology Assisted Review or TAR, using advanced analytics in the legal arena to assist in identifying relevant and priviliged documents reviewing millions of documents for class action and other major legal cases. Continuous Audit, Continuous Monitoring or “CA/CM” using real time analytics in Fortune 1000 companies to identify problem, possibly fraudulent transactions pre-audit saving time and money and reducing exposure.

I have been involved in these and can cite many others. Key point- we are creating new business models here- some based on outcomes, others based on client savings maybe linked to longitudinal or total costs. So today what looks like a traditional software product, services, or solutions business may be competing with “transaction based” players, oftentimes entrepreneurial firms using creative business models and pricing structures.

Secondly, while we often focus on the internal, company- centric elements of the business model which are essential, lets keep in mind that external factors play a major role in shaping a firm’s business model and strategy. In 2013, I made this point in comments on an excellent business planning post by Accenture. You can see my comments and the Accenture link at http://tinyurl.com/ozugkl9

Bottom line here- we can expect to see many new, creative business models emerging which “push the envelope” demanding that management acquire new business planning and analysis skills. “Business as usual” will not be a successful strategy. Many of these new emerging business models in my view will be driven by agile entrepreneurial firms creating both new investment and value creation opportunities as well as challenges for traditional players,

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.

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Comments -“War and Peace” on the subway: How your iPhone is saving literature. Salon

Interesting article on how e-book market is changing. Posted comments discussing some entrepreneurship and strategy insights here

check out Salon article at

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/14/war_and_peace_on_the_

subway_how_your_iphone_is_saving_literature/

Here is a copy of my posted comments…

Interesting article. From an entrepreneurial perspective, maybe we are seeing a new opportunity emerging here. Authors and publishers think “chapters”. Why? Because we always did it that way. Write a book, say 40,000 words. Maybe 2,000 words for front and back copy so we have about 38,000 words book content. Assume you plan to have 15 chapters, each chapter will have 2,533 words. Assuming about 250 words/page, each chapter will be about 10 pages and total page count will be about 160 pages- a reasonable book structure.

But the market may be sending us a message. Forget “chapters” which are ” product driven” and arbitrary based on the above calculation.

Maybe we should consider a “market driven” strategy to address the growing market for “snippet of information readers” who are using Smartphones. Suppose we define a new book structure whereby books are divided into ” bite size” information packets- maybe call each of these “brevis”, Latin for tiny. And we set the length of each brevis at what a reader can read in say 4 minutes, maybe 1,000 words, and that is standardized. We create a new class of books structured in brevis, not chapters, which meets market needs.

I am not sure I will see a “brevis” book soon, but I shared the above to make several points. First, recognize the difference between product or technology driven strategy vs. market driven. When markets send messages on issue and opportunities, smart players listen and respond quickly. E-books changed the book industry- Barnes and Noble responded; Borders became a business school case study.

Secondly, thinking “counterintuitively” is an important skill to develop. Thinking Intuitively, you would expect readers would use e-readers not smartphones- larger, easier to read screens, and other features provide advantages. So what we are seeing here is counterintuitive, not what we would expect. Identifying and analyzing the “How’s and Whys” here is a powerful skill worth honing. Finally, be prepared to fail. I am not sure the “brevis” book will be a success but going through the planning process, understanding the market nuances, understanding what are user needs today and how are they changing- these are the real benefits. At the time of the D-Day invasion, a turning point in World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower commented that ” The Planning Process is Everything; The Plan is Nothing”. I use this philosophy often and firmly agree- great things can be accomplished through detailed planning, exploring “what-ifs”, and postulating market driven business strategies that oftentimes can shake up markets or create new ones. There will be failures but many benefits will also be realized.

So I will continue to think about the Brevis book, get feedback and criticism ( probably lots of it) from colleagues and friends, which will reshape my thinking I am sure. That is how we make progress.

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.

 

 

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