Slack is often viewed as a powerful and efficient team communication tool—and it is. But there can be an easily overlooked consequence in our endless search for efficiency: Eventually, it often comes at the expense of one of our most valuable assets: Our relationships. As CEO, your relationship with your team is one of the primary drivers of your company’s culture. When your team feels known, supported, and appreciated, you’ll [...]

Many founders and CEOs embrace the idea of scaling their startup, but overlook something equally important: Scaling themselves. The truth is, a company can’t out-scale it’s leadership (or, if it does, it’s often not long before that leader burns out). As we’ll talk about below, what got you here won’t necessarily get you there. As a company grows, so too must its leadership. And in this article, I’d like to [...]

At Mindmaven, we believe the best things in life and business come from our relationships—our network—or from those we know and trust. Think back on the best opportunities you’ve encountered and there’s a good chance most if not all of them happened because someone in your network thought of you at the right time. Many of these opportunities come in the form of referrals—and if you’re in a service-based business, [...]

The Journey So Far The decision to work with an EA is a pivotal moment, but the journey there often isn’t easy. It’s a story we’ve heard many times that usually looks something like this: It starts with a core team, led by a scrappy DIY-type CEO determined to become an exceptional leader and build something great. But as the company becomes more successful, the pressures and responsibilities on the [...]

If you’re anything like most, you probably spend a lot of time writing: Blog posts, Slack messages, press releases, or—the biggest offender—emails. In fact, the average person (who isn’t leveraging Inbox Shadowing) spends an upwards of 11 hours a week on email alone. And if we spend so much time writing, would you agree it’s probably a good idea to ensure you’re sending the best message possible? In this short [...]

If you spend 30+ minutes meeting with someone, would you agree it’s generally a good idea to send a follow-up email? I’ve asked that question hundreds of times over my career, and the answer’s almost always a resounding “Yes!” But there’s a catch … Those same people who agree it’s important are also the first to admit that they actually do it less than half the time. Why the disconnect? [...]

After 10+ years working with some of Silicon Valley’s most brilliant CEOs, executives, VCs, leaders, and influencers, I’ve found there are two schools of thought when it comes to success: Grinders and Operators. Grinders are primarily driven by the belief that success comes to those who work hard and never give up; and to a degree, they’re right: Of course consistent hard work is necessary to succeed, and it is [...]

With 2018 officially behind us and 2019 unfolding before us, I hope you can look back on the past year with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Here at Mindmaven, it’s been an exciting year of learning and growth, and I imagine many of you can say the same. But as great as 2018 was, I’ve got my eyes set on making 2019 even better. If that resonates with you—and [...]

Check out our collection of game-changing relationship management tools, including: Networking apps, relationship management software, and personal CRMs—to give (and get) the most from your network this year. If you’re in a referral-based business—meaning 80%+ of your opportunities come from your network—the health of your relationships is generally a good indication of the health of your business. As a result, we at Mindmaven believe the best things in life come [...]