Towards Paperless Contracts: EchoSign CEO Jason Lemkin (Part 4)

SM: Many times I do not think VCs have any class.

JL: I think people misunderstand VCs. They are financiers. >>>

Redesign That: Online Personal Finance (Part 2)

By guest authors Charles W. Bush and Kathy Hwang of 3Strand Innovation, a brand, design and business consultancy.

Last week, we proposed that money management websites (e.g. Quicken) could use a serious design overhaul. To start that design process, we’ll take a sweep of the market landscape. This week we’re reviewing three popular websites: Mint, Wesabe and Yodlee. Please let us know about your own experiences, too. Do you use these sites? How would you like them to be redesigned? >>>

Anneke Seley on Sales 2.0 (Part 3)

From Chapter 2 of ‘Sales 2.0: Improve Business Results Using Innovative Sales Practices and Technology’ by guest authors Anneke Seley and Brent Holloway.

SALES 1.0 TO SALES 2.0: CHANGING MINDSET 
The difference between Sales 1.0 and the new imperative of Sales 2.0 is more than just the definition of a sales process, the update of hiring profiles, and the implementation of some new technology. Jeff Weinberger, who oversees Cisco WebEx’s Sales 2.0 initiative, underlines the importance of mindset in moving from the old world of Sales 1.0 and embracing the new imperatives of Sales 2.0. Jeff explains, “Sales 2.0 leaders think differently about building and structuring sales organizations. Making the shift from Sales 1.0 to Sales 2.0 won’t be sustainable in your organization unless your leadership has begun to change its mindset and commits to the change.”  >>>

Towards Paperless Contracts: EchoSign CEO Jason Lemkin (Part 3)

SM: What were you doing while all of the drama was going on with BabyCenter?

JL: I briefly worked with one of my co-founders of EchoSign at a small consulting firm. We were then helping other 1.0 companies work on some issues, and we helped some with the BabyCenter issues. We then got recruited by some VCs to join a company called NanoGram, which was a technology platform play. >>>

Forbes Column 2009: Open Source Means Business

600,000 unemployed. So how do we channel the vast unemployed pool of highly skilled technical people around us?

Here’s a column that offers some possible answers: Open Source Means Business.

If you know (I’m sure you know) engineers who are out of work and contemplating their options, do present this as one.

If you can, to those for whom ‘you’ are a meaningful friend, colleague, confidante or mentor, steer them along the direction of Brian, Rod and John – the three heroes of this story. Hopefully, they can inspire some shoestring entrepreneurship…

Towards Paperless Contracts: EchoSign CEO Jason Lemkin (Part 2)

SM: Let’s talk about your time at BabyCenter. When did you get involved?

JL: I joined the company about a year after it was founded. I had gotten to know them as a lawyer. >>>

More Strategy Roundtables For Entrepreneurs

Here are some more Online Strategy Roundtables for entrepreneurs to discuss their business issues with me.

During this 60-minute session, entrepreneurs are invited to pitch me their ideas in a 3-minute presentation. I will review the material in real-time and provide feedback on each pitch, as well as address specific strategy questions from the entrepreneur. Afterward, I will take questions about strategy from other participants. The session is open to 1000 people but only the first five to sign up have the opportunity to pitch and discuss their business.

To register, click here: >>>

Silver Lining In The Financial Crisis

Remember my earlier story: Silver Lining In The Financial Crisis?

Well, here is an interesting story in the NYT this week: Wall St. Pay Is Cyclical. >>>