By Howard Tullman
Getting a business off the ground is difficult enough. Don’t commit the mistake of making it more complicated, too.
[Editor’s Note – These are business principles that every writer should know.]
Category Archives: angel investor
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF STARTUPS
Filed under angel, angel investor, Business, Education
KILLER SHILLER
John Jonelis
At Loop Lonagan’s urging, I’m walking his 85 pound bull terrier Clamps down the hard Chicago winter pavement. I don’t mind because it’s an opportunity to road test my two knee replacements. That’s right; I’m the happy product of the wonders of modern orthopedic carpentry! And I enjoy the best physical therapy known to man because I own the company!
Old Donatas Ludditis flanks my other side to make sure I don’t slip on a stray patch of ice. Despite my upbeat attitude, I hold Clamp’s heavy leather leash with some trepidation. In my condition, I seriously doubt my ability to control such a large and volatile animal. Continue reading
Filed under angel, angel investor, Biography, Business, Characters, Conflict, Education, High Tech, loop lonagan, Story, vc, venture capital
PAVLOVIAN PT
Loop Lonagan
Ever’body’s gettin’ new knees, new hips, and what not. It’s an epidemic of elective surgery. And I’m talkin’ big money. An investor definitely wants in on a trend like this, but what’s da best play?
Take Jonelis, my good friend and boss. Da guy up ‘n’ gets two brand new knees—AT DA SAME TIME! Seems crazy, don’t it? What’s he s’posed to use fer legs?
So right away I gotta play bigshot. I invite John to my penthouse fer da whole rest ‘n’ recovery thing. Yeah, you guessed it—I wanna play Da Good Samaritan over Christmas. I figure they’s gonna carry him in on a stretcher ‘n’ I’ll be da hero that arranges fer all sorts o’ people t’ help out while he’s bedridden. Shows how much I know. Continue reading
Filed under angel, angel investor, Business, Characters, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, loop lonagan, Startup Companies, Startups, vc, venture capital
THE VENTURE CANOE
John Jonelis
Citizens often refer to their country as the ship of state. In like manner, investors picture big corporations as sleek cruise liners or enormous freighters. The thinking goes like this: The bigger the hull, the more seaworthy the ship and the more stable the ride. And that’s true—most of the time. Continue reading
Filed under angel, angel investor, Business, Death, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Startup Companies, Startups, vc, venture capital
DON’T ASK WHY—ASK WHY NOT
by Howard Tullman
How the First Apprentice Winner Became an Entrepreneur
(No, The Donald Didn’t Help):
Bill Rancic readily admits he wasn’t the smartest guy on the show. But in his subsequent career, he has become very smart about getting the most out of the people around him. Continue reading
RAW TALENT
by John Jonelis
Ever want to be a Shark on the popular reality TV show? Wish you controlled a billion dollar investment account? Wonder what it’s like? I’m here at Chicago’s 1871 incubator doing it. Emotions run high. Hey, mine are running away with me. That guy on the end keeps grabbing all the deals! Continue reading
HOW TO TREAT THE OLD MAN
By John Jonelis
Here’s the right way to treat your old man: For Father’s Day, take him where you’ll boat 402 hard-fighting northern pike, the trophy of a lifetime, and as many fat walleye as you want—all in four days. That’s 4 minutes per fish—not counting walleye! Maybe the Old Man’s memory isn’t showing signs of improvement lately, but he’ll remember this trip the rest of his days. It’s a glimpse of paradise. Continue reading
Filed under angel, angel investor, Characters, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, mark t wayne, Relationships, Startup Companies, Startups, Story, vc, venture capital
KIDNAPPED
By Mark T. Wayne
Weeks have passed since my last conscious memory. Weeks, I say! A man can lose his hat and perhaps even his pants, but to lose several weeks is inexcusable. Think what mischief might transpire over such a span of time! Continue reading
The Gamemaker's Father 