The Startup Swami

Great Post and concept! Let the need create the jo...

2010-03-04T09:15:49.845-08:00

Great Post and concept!
Let the need create the job, just be there to sell omething when the time is right.

Matt, Congrats on the addition to your family! I ...

2010-02-23T20:45:37.460-08:00

Matt,

Congrats on the addition to your family! I admit that I just now got around to reading this post from a few weeks back because I've been...well, busy. Your topic is timely as I've found myself working just about seven days a week lately- being at the office long hours, taking work home, staying up late to do it, and then getting up early to get back to the office... I think you know the drill. I know I haven't been the best manager/employee lately, so since I didn't bring home any work tonight (shocker!), I just might try to get some sleep. Thank you for the reminder! Good luck adapting to your new routine!

When a company is a startup, sometimes it's hard t...

2010-02-21T05:15:40.249-08:00

When a company is a startup, sometimes it's hard to find waiting space; however, I absolutely enjoyed this comment:

"Hi - great to see you! We are using this space for a quick private meeting - can you do me a favor return at 2?"

I am personally learning a lot from your posts and the responses because I have had many, many interviewees show up early and even though I may have a waiting space, they are often in the middle of activity that is quite disruptive to our flow.

Even five minutes for me sometimes may be too early. My husband is always early and he would most likely agree w hwork. I prefer on time.

Rick Barrett's employee was a super example. She noticed an intimate business meeting, did not hang around, excused herself, made eye contact with the owner and returned. Awareness.

I have learned a lot from Andrew's comments too.

I'll follow your blog even if I don't hire you. You are bringing up great topics and encouraging community participation. Way to go!

I think you should write a book about being this ceo. Seriously. Get it all down because your content is good.

Happy Sunday everyone.

I personally have been waiting for a program like ...

2010-02-21T05:00:24.374-08:00

I personally have been waiting for a program like yours. I've seen others and I'm not even "LOOKING" voraciously due to other circumstances; however, without talking with you yet, I'm very excited to know about your product.

I can tell you right now. THERE IS A DEMAND. And I'd like to be able to be your customer. I am in touch with party throwers, shower givers, etc. all of the time.

I'd be happy to even promote your product, if I find it to be the best. I like your company name. It's very cool.

Congratulations, new dad. Just on Friday I heard t...

2010-02-21T04:56:04.574-08:00

Congratulations, new dad. Just on Friday I heard the same thing from my employees. No, not "Congratulations, new dad." But what you wrote. "Go to sleep!!!"

I appreciate your honesty and the truth of how much sleep is vital. I write this at 4:50am. I better get a bit of sleep before tomorrow. Working on several projects. I, too, have a 3 year old and 5 year old. I remember the early days, but it's still a challenge with a growing business.

I found your very cool software and would like to talk with you more about partnering with you. However, that is after we've both slept and had some coffee!

How's your wife holding up? She must be exhausted!

Yes, I think those questions will work. My favori...

2010-02-19T13:49:54.296-08:00

Yes, I think those questions will work.

My favorite technique for finding great people is to see what questions they ask me. You can learn a lot about their mindset and demeanor that way.

I've had some strange ones..

How many hours do your work?
Is that really a door you're using as a desk?
Do you provide free lunch?

..and those were just their first questions!

Matt, Once again I have to politely disagree, but ...

2010-02-19T12:30:24.131-08:00

Matt,
Once again I have to politely disagree, but - you can make accomodations:

1.) Employer: Things like this should be stated to the person coming to the interview beforehand by saying we don't have an office lobby so I would appreciate you waiting until your exact appointed interview time in your vehicle. Ask what they plan to drive that day and color of vehicle, so you can approach them.

2.) Employer: It's also bad office Fung Shui to not have a waiting room where people can read trade magazines, and the like to keep themselves busy while waiting for the interviewer to be ready. You need at least 1 chair, a magazine table, light, maybe a plant. While a receptionist may be going overboard with little or no funds in a startup company, a simple sign stating "Please, patiently wait until you are greeted for your appointment time" would suffice or something to that effect. Even post this sign on the outside door if it's at a home.
Have a bench ready for them to sit on if it's an outside posting in a home. Consider this for the applicants taking public transporation, getting dropped off, or a taxi. Remember they are looking for a job and could be broke at the time of the interview.

3.) Employer: Un-business like settings give a semblence of disorganization. - A bad omen for any company:
I have refused a job because a company had no office to meet with people, and didn't have a simple room to greet people in. The interview was at a Barnes and Noble location for a tech position. I was put off, but that wasn't totally why. After the interview, the company was supposed to call me for a status meeting, but never even called. When I called, they didn't answer for this conference call. I had tested the software, sent the results to one of the owner's 30 email addresses, and called one of the owners 15 phone numbers looking for him. Total communication breakdown. I can't see how this business is going to be successful if they don't have good communication.

4.) Unsafe location: I have also been approached by some people for money while waiting out in the car for my interview time, and have also been mugged before while waiting for someone (Not during an interview thank goodness).

Locking the door doesn't help a brick to the window. I have had my car broken into at a job in Worcester. Other coworkers have had their car hijacked while waiting outside, and others have been arrested for loitering, stalking. This is simply unacceptable to expect this at a job interview, but in places like Boston, Worcester etc this happens. So you need to consider these things when making statements, as not all situations can accomodate this.

5.) Next time, simply politely ask the interviewee to wait outside until the meeting is over and that you will be "right with them". Give yourself some extra time so you can be sure you are available. There is no law saying you can't interview people after hours, right? Ask the other employess to stay if needed to interview the candidate, or ask the candidate to return the next day (or whatever) for the second part of the interview. This is totally a common practice, and will yield better results.

I usually look someplace for an About Us, but with...

2010-02-19T11:36:49.587-08:00

I usually look someplace for an About Us, but with home based tech startup businesses, I have been asked to interview for tech companies at:
Dunkin Donuts,
Starbucks,
Barnes and Noble, Borders etc.
I can even give the names of these companies if you wish.

I have gone to these addresses and they have been wrong, had street versus blvd on the web site, so I always ask the question.

Companies also branch off and change their locations and never update the site (Hughes/SRS did this) and had the old location as the address. What about Bose's campus consisting of multiple buildings?

So in my opinion, you should not get annoyed when asking "where are we meeting" because it's impolite in this day and age of forclosures, relocations etc. Like I always say: People do things differently in certain situations.

If you want to see a funny skit on impolite working conditions, you should rent dead like me and see the job the character georgia takes where she walks in the door and is pointed to a computer, and the owner won't speak to her. Quite hilarious.

Matt, nice post. Congrats on being a new dad. I ...

2010-02-05T12:48:57.732-08:00

Matt, nice post. Congrats on being a new dad. I have to tell you that being a father is far more rewarding than any business experience I've ever had.

I don't know you except for reading your blog, so this is a general comment I'd make to anyone: please do yourself a favor and prioritize your family and time with your daughter. Leave work early enough every day to spend time with her and have a relationship with her. She needs you far more than Punchbowl does. Do it for her and for yourself.

Pete

Or in the case of MyPunchbowl, does it even matter...

2010-01-14T14:08:15.404-08:00

Or in the case of MyPunchbowl, does it even matter that the umbrella has more functionality than he other umbrellas.

It would be nice if the umbrella had a mint inside of it that spit out cash.

The question, "how many employees do you have" is ...

2010-01-04T11:37:45.172-08:00

The question, "how many employees do you have" is truly a measure of success in many community-based businesses which achieve their size organically, rather than by the injection of venture-backed funding. I would guess that if you did qualify your answer to the question of what you do for a living to include the fact that you are venture-backed, you wouldn't get the follow-up question asking about how many employees you have.

A business which funds itself through the production of revenue is successfully contributing to its community and is likely to be thriving if it employs many in that community.

But aren't the great companies the ones that figur...

2010-01-01T12:57:17.223-08:00

But aren't the great companies the ones that figure out how to make it rain harder by coming up with an innovation that makes it rain harder? Did the demand exist before Apple entered with the iPhone? Same question for MSFT in the late eighties with home computing. Also, isn't another way of saying this, "enter big markets"? How big is mypunchbowl's market and why can mpb capture a piece of that market where others have failed?

Congrats to you and Jess on the upcoming baby! If...

2009-12-11T09:58:45.541-08:00

Congrats to you and Jess on the upcoming baby! If you thought running a company was time intensive watch out! Your new office manager came just in time for you to give up buying tp and switching to diapers!

I look forward to all the new kid birthday party and family oriented invites and ecards!

Also looking forward to the annual report and another great year for you and Punchbowl in an otherwise tough economy! Keep up the great work.

;) Stephen Inoue

Yes I agree, most business people don't realize ho...

2009-12-05T07:52:52.818-08:00

Yes I agree, most business people don't realize how important customer service is. That, in reality is what makes a good Company. Just not there anymore. Every Company that deals with the Consumer, should make a perfect form for the Customer's feedback, in order that every question is answered, and every comment is read, and always by a human and not FAQs.

The form should be easy as Pie to access, and taken very serious. That's my opinion.

I love this post. I run a software company, Maysof...

2009-11-13T12:06:38.912-08:00

I love this post. I run a software company, Maysoft.com and I always joke that I have to do all the jobs not assigned to anyone else!

My favorite start up word is "perseverance" - and ...

2009-11-11T20:47:56.708-08:00

My favorite start up word is "perseverance" - and it's even more effective when you spell it right!

There's gonna be good times and rocky times, the question is are you willing to persevere and be successful no matter what it takes, or are you going to throw in the towel? =)

My two cents.
Brian

A few people have mentioned that to me (both in pe...

2009-11-09T04:32:21.613-08:00

A few people have mentioned that to me (both in person and over email). I agree that is something I could have done. Next time I probably will say something like you suggested. However, in the moment I was surprised and taken aback -- and didn't think on my feet quickly enough. The point of this post was that interviewees should not show up that early in any scenario. We all hear lots of interview advice about preparing questions etc, but this is a piece of advice that is rarely dispensed.

Thanks for your comment.

I find it interesting that you didn't tell the can...

2009-11-08T21:50:15.340-08:00

I find it interesting that you didn't tell the candidate to come back at the appointed time as you mentioned.

"Hi - great to see you! We are using this space for a quick private meeting - can you do me a favor return at 2?"

I'd love to know what kept you from doing that.

In general I agree! But it's out of control how ma...

2009-10-14T12:36:06.324-07:00

In general I agree! But it's out of control how many links there are on a typical home page these days, with designs that makes links hard to see (or you have to hover to see if it's even a link.) So sometimes when someone chooses to email you that question they might be giving you tiny but useful feedback about your site design.

Thanks... I've been burned by a number of About/Co...

2009-10-14T08:09:10.122-07:00

Thanks...
I've been burned by a number of About/Contact Us links where they just place an email and phone and not a physical address because they are working out of their mother's basement.

Still due diligence states I should have traveled there first...

Robert

You may be swimming against the tide as job-seeker...

2009-10-06T13:17:24.090-07:00

You may be swimming against the tide as job-seekers are typically advised to arrive early to not only show their interest but to allow them to acclimate to the environment before the interview. On top of that, with jobs scarce, a person's eagerness may prompt them to arrive earlier than usual. If you're a small shop - and I know this sounds weird - hang a sign on the door indicating a meeting in progress and that the office will re-open at a designated time. If the person still tries to enter the office, it tells you a bit about that person even before the interview.

Matt - Good point. I agree "late" is not accepta...

2009-10-06T07:01:15.791-07:00

Matt -

Good point. I agree "late" is not acceptable.

I have run into the same situation with an "early arriver".

Noticing that my team was in a meeting, the candidate was polite enough to apologize with a brief wave and a smile. She left the office and returned at the scheduled time.

(I did hire her)

Rick Barrett
Colonial Life
Territory Recruiter
Northern New England

Rick Barrett -
LinkedIn.com

. . . or you could use the reception area for rec...

2009-10-05T03:02:29.795-07:00

. . . or you could use the reception area for reception and the meeting room for meetings.

I like this point a lot! It's not that hard to ha...

2009-10-04T23:04:58.080-07:00

I like this point a lot! It's not that hard to hack. If you're in South Bay, hang out in the car. If you're interviewing in SF, just do some laps around the block. But in both cases, make sure you know WHERE in the building they are. Sucks to arrive early but walk into the office late. Also, I'd say about 5 minutes early is standard.

I've heard this litany every time I've started som...

2009-09-30T22:11:48.691-07:00

I've heard this litany every time I've started something new. Interestingly, the louder the chorus, the bigger the prize.