Episode 2: David Meerman Scott (Part 1)

background test - Copy

Download | Subscribe

David Meerman Scott is an internationally acclaimed strategist whose books and blog are must-reads for professionals seeking to generate attention in ways that grow their business. David speaks on Real-Time Marketing & PR Strategy, Agile Selling, Spreading Ideas, Generating Attention, Growing Business, New Communications Strategies, Entrepreneurism, and Social Media. He’s spoken to business audiences on every continent, including recently in Antarctica. He is an advisor to several marketing and sales SaaS companies including Hubspot.

David was so gracious with his time that we got two episodes out of this interview, which covers these topics:

  • How and why getting fired from his corporate gig was a gift
  • How going on your own is less risky than working for a single corporate entity
  • Why job #1 is creating content assets no matter where you are in your career
  • How content marketing is largely free and gives you a huge advantage
  • Who you should hire (personnel and staff) to tell your story
  • Whether experienced business people from industry are better entrepreneurs than scrappy 20-somethings
  • Why you should say “no” to the wrong investor
  • Is a self-employed consultant a “real entrepreneur?”
  • How to setup with an advisory role at another company

 If you could go back in time and change something, would you?

“I wouldn’t have made any large changes at all. I love the place I’m in right now. All of the big changes I wouldn’t have done differently. There are some little things like the stupid name of my blog [WebInkNow.com]. I should have chosen a better name. I still have this stupid name 10 years later. The big decisions I wouldn’t change at all. I’d tell myself to have fun, enjoy it, and don’t stress so much.”

Episode 4: Eric Dobson, Angel Capital Group (Part 1)

background test - Copy

Download | Subscribe

Eric Dobson is the CEO of Angel Capital Group. Since growing two companies to more than $4M in investment as an entrepreneur, he now manages the portfolio of 25 companies in which ACG has already invested. Eric plans to increase ACG’s investments to one per month in 2014 as ACG activates its crowd funding initiatives.

We talked to Eric for so long that we had to make two episodes (here’s part 2). You don’t want to miss the incredible information Eric shared with us, including:

Specifically regarding working with investors, Eric tells us:

  • what to expect as a realistic time line to getting funded from pitch to check,
  • how important it is for founders to have skin in the game, and
  • whether or not to ask for money capital than you need.

How to Use and Share Wisdom

Eric says, “Wisdom should be hard won and freely given.” These two episodes are chock full!

 The Overwhelming Urge to Start!

Eric jumps right in by explaining to us how he, “got fed up with watching great commercial opportunities cross my desk [in academia.] I wanted to do something, so I started a company to follow some of those ideas.” That company turned into two companies, and two exits.

John and Ledge hear this story in every interview. The urge to start is so overwhelming that we just can’t help chasing down that idea and starting a company! Leave us a comment if you’ve ever felt that way and followed it. If you haven’t followed the feeling, why not?

As CEO of Angel Capital Group, Eric has made a full move from “the begging side of the table to the giving side.” He thinks “it’s much more fun on this side of the table.”

 If you could go back and change anything, what would it be?

“I definitely would have done at least a business minor [in college]. Computer science was a leg up in everything I have done in life and I believe a business minor would have done the same thing.”

Also…

“I over-valued my first company very badly [while raising money]. You can’t back track fast enough if you do that.” Doing so makes working with investors very difficult.

Don’t miss Part 2! You can contact Eric at eric at angelcapitalgr dot com or apply for funding today.