35 Things I Have Learned as an Award-Winning Startup CEO

Today is December 11, 2018. 35 years ago I was born on December 11, 1983. 

For my birthday, I want to share 35 things I have learned as an award-winning startup CEO. 

All of this I have learned from my customers, employees, boards, business partners and mentors. Thank you to all of you!

1.) Time management is your #1 priority. Guard your time and schedule with the highest priority. 

2.) When you are the CEO, everyone is always watching. Always watching -- You. Be on your best behavior at all times and in all places.  

3.) Be the kind of CEO/boss for which you would want to work. Be kind, be honest and always treat people the way you would want to be treated.  

4) As the CEO you have three responsibilities

I. Build up the team (El numero uno prioridad)

II. Strategy (develop and implement within the team)

III. Make big deals. Sell, sell and sell!

Other than these three things you should have someone else perform the duties/jobs needed for YOUR startup. 

4.) Be patient but expect flawless execution.  

5.) Awards are fun to win (Aqua-Yield has won a bunch) but if you want to have more fun, grow your company with more sales! Sales / Awards.

6.) If you can’t find passion in your project/product, then don’t do it. 

7.) As a startup CEO, you have to double down on your strengths and not allow your weaknesses to expose you.  If you are not adequate in a certain business function, do not let yourself become complacent. Work daily to make your weaknesses become strengths. If you need outside training or mentorship, go get it!  Learn and live that function. 

8.) Every month, gather your whole company for a monthly companywide meeting. Showcase what is working and what is not. Have your employees share the great things they are accomplishing. This will do wonders for your culture and company commitment.  

9.) In your spare time, read, read and well, read. The more information you consume about content that is relative to your business, the more ‘dangerous' you will become. In 2019 commit to reading a book a week. Yes, that’s 52 books. You will thank me later. (As a follow up to this post, look out for my next post showing my top 18 books from 2018.)

10.) Surround yourself with wise, intelligent, experienced and talented people. At Aqua-Yield our agronomic knowledge is one of the key differentiators that separate us from the pack. Our regional managers and research agronomists have over 250 years in experience. If I don’t have an answer for a farmer or dealer, I know the team will.

11.) Partner with large companies and institutions that want to make an impact with your startup. This past year we partnered with the University of Utah (You can learn more about it here)who wants to make an impact on rural America. The partnership with the University of Utah is one of the most key relationships to our Enterprise.

12.) This one is hard. . . When you have an employee or member of your team that is not growing with your company let them know they are not. Give them the opportunity to grow by establishing barometers, parameters, and goals. 

If they are unable to grow with the company, it is best for both of you to move on. This will be one of the hardest things you have to do as the steward of your startup.  

13.) Growing from a state to regional to national and eventually, international company is really difficult and challenging. But it is one of the most rewarding things you can be a part of. A global impact is forever rewarding. 

14.) Make sure that in all of your product offerings you are benefiting the end user economically or environmentally. Bonus points for your startup if you are doing both.  

15.) Every day make sure to go out of your way to tell a member of your team how great of a job they are doing. Tell them why you are grateful for the work they do. Make sure your team knows that you would do anything for them. Show them gratitude and appreciation and they will be motivated to contribute to the success of the company.  

16.) Video content is killer. You can’t produce enough video. Go all in on videos. In 2019, I am committing to making one new video per week. 

17.) Focus on the ideas that promise great things. Focus is everything for a startup. Everything else should only require minimal time exposure on your part. 

18.) Find the influencers in your market/industry and become friends/associates with them. You never know how that relationship(s) will pay off. 

19.) PR helps your startup company in numerous ways. Hire a PR expert and promote your startup and the difference you are making. I have had countless amounts of customers that have come from Aqua-Yield’s PR efforts.  

20.) Be the market leader, be the best at what you do. If you can't achieve greatness in your venture, do something where you can.

21.) When someone comes to buy your company listen to them. Make sure you totally understand their offer. Whatever the number is, know that another offer is around the corner. Keep building your company. It’s been said, "Offer opportunities are like bus stops". Just know another one will be coming soon. 

22.) Growth and impact are the only metrics that matter.

23.) A company only has two major functions. 

I. Revenue generations (Sales and Marketing)

II. Profit management (Finance and Operations) 

As a startup CEO, always be tirelessly working on these two functions.  

24.) Innovation is the foundation of growth. Always be fine-tuning your innovation and uniqueness. The growth will come with innovation. 

25.) Once a week go out of your way to take an employee to lunch. Get her/his perspective. You will be amazed by the impact their thoughts will have on your business. 

26.) Before making any drastic change to your company make sure to consult the upcoming decision with your top customers. You need to make sure the decision you are about to make will not have an effect on their livelihood. Your customers are the lifeblood if your startup. 

27.) Every workday implement a communication method that works for your company to have everyone in the know. Every business day at the Aqua-Yield hub we have a daily standup meeting at 9:45 AM. Everyone talks about what they are accomplishing and where they could use some help. We also end with a closing quote/thought. It has does wonders for our culture and communication!

28.) On a daily or weekly basis, ask yourself, “what am I doing?” And then make sure to ask a trusted advisor/associate (for me it is Dr. Landon Bunderson) the same. Make sure you are not stuck on a hamster wheel. 

29.) When venture capital money comes knocking, guard your equity and company like your firstborn child and go through a rigorous courting process. Be extremely careful with whom you do business and make sure any new partner has the same aligned vision as you do.

30.) Fire your worst customers. Don’t do business with people that are disrespectful or insulting to you or your organization. Even if they are one of your top customers, fire them. The psychological and emotional scars are not worth it for your team. 

31.) Choose your target markets wisely and be patient on the results that come from them. If you don’t have an MVP for a specific market and you are unable to create one, move on.  

32.) Get a mentor or personal board of directors. After one year with the right mentors, I effectively gained 10 years of perspective and experience. 

33.) On your way to work everyday pray for your business and employees. Pray for them to be successful and inspired. (I chose the word “pray” -whatever higher source in which you may believe or place credence…seek the best measure of support for your employees)

34.) Everyday commit to some sort of self-learning and self-improvement. Personally, I enjoy watching Grant Cardone (10x for life!) and Tom Bilyeu (Impact Theory) on YouTube. I watch one of them daily. 

35.) Make a commitment to taking care of yourself. Everyday start by either (or all) exercising, meditating or reading powerful inspiring literature.  If you don’t take care of yourself, then who will?

I hope one or all of these items from my list of 35 will leave a positive impact on you and your startup. This is my birthday gift to you!