Stress stinks. I know because of the recent comments I’ve received from staff, family, and friends. “Zach, you should take a break, you don’t look so hot.” “Zach, you’ve got bags under your eyes and they’re red.” “Zach…” We’ve all been there. It’s not fun. Operating a small business requires a few key ingredients; something […]
Category: Entrepreneurship
On the Importance of Mentorship
“It’s a game changer, Jed. It’s already been a transformative experience.” “That’s fantastic to hear Zach!” He said, as a resounding smile appeared. In between rounds of Dominion (wow that’s a really fun game), and chit-chatting with family members, I found myself repeating the same sentences over and over again: “She’s helped me hone in […]
Talk Less, Write More
“If you just market to them differently at the top of the funnel, they’ll be more qualified when they get to the salesperson!” I said emphatically. Greg chimed in, “Yes! Exactly, just get the email series set up and provide value at every step of the process, and before you know it, they’re ready for […]
Building a $160k ARR Business
The world is changing. Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever started out a piece of writing with something that ambiguous and open-ended. Everyday new technological advances come along. There are autonomous cars, AI that tickets you for jaywalking, and myriad other interesting (and scary) enhancements to our way of life. There is an undeniable shift […]
One Year Later — Launching the Fundraising Report Card!
Back in October of 2015 I wrote an article titled Notes From Creating a New Product. In that post I shared my excitement about beginning to work with Greg Warner, the CEO of MarketSmart on a new software. Today I’m even more excited to share an update on our progress. If you’ve chatted with me in person, I’ve […]
Considerations for “Freemium”
You would be hard pressed to miss the meteoric rise in popularity of “freemium”. Start-ups and mature companies alike have employed the “free” to “premium” business model. Yet, making it work is another story. […]
One Year after Resigning from College
Without school in the equation I have managed to do a lot in the past twelve months. I’m very proud of how I have grown, matured, and adapted to my new situation. […]
The Power of Habits: Forming a Morning Routine
Habits and routines are fundamental aspects of daily productivity. Organizing your morning routine is one of the best ways to ensure that you spend your time efficiently and effectively throughout the day. […]
Take This Idea: Gig Economy Retirement Benefits
tl;dr
Problem: You cannot make a career out of the gig economy.
Solution: Aspects of full-time employment must be provided to contractors in innovative and different ways. […]
Building a Great Team is Hard
I am learning first-hand at MarketSmart what it takes to build a great team. A so-so team will not build a great company. It takes a united group of people to create something special. […]
Agile Modeling & Activity Diagrams
These people should be able to look at this presentation and suggest what tech stack options are in play, and how long it would feasibly take to develop. I started to engage in this modeling process when I created page mock-ups in Illustrator, but that simply was the tip of the iceberg. […]
Notes From Creating a New Product
I am in an extremely fortunate position to be working with an experienced entrepreneur in a real world setting. I am playing a major role in a project that could generate millions of dollars of revenue and be extremely beneficial for nonprofits. […]
5 Traits of Successful Companies
Many companies fail even when they have a clear vision, unwavering integrity, strong leadership, and meaningful value. It is the fifth trait of successful organizations that helps ensure prosperity in the long run. […]
A Case For Thank You Notes
Nine out of ten people could care less that the thank you card is on the verge of extinction. But for people my age, 18-30 years old, the thank you card is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal when looking for a job. […]
75+ Practical Resources, Tools and Books for Entrepreneurs (Curated List For 2015)
This post took weeks to compile. The list contains the best books, tools and practical resources for entrepreneurs and business owners. Whether you are a team of one, or a team of many this page will be a valuable resource. […]
Notes From My Failed Startup
We had no plan, no guide, no road-map. We were three college guys with an idea and that was about it. Looking back on it now, this is where we failed most. […]
GymNear – AngularJS Project Update
I ditched the idea of scraping the internet to create my own database of gyms and fitness centers. Instead I went with Google’s API. Google has a fantastic database with more information then I would have ever been able to successfully pull together. The issue Google faces is when it comes to displaying that information to the end user. […]
1 Tool to Increase Your Productivity
What makes Trello powerful is how you can customize it for any situation. Currently I use Trello at work in a small team setting. I use it at home as a personal organization tool. And I use it with others outside of work to collaborate on ideas. Trello is extremely versatile. […]
Should I go to College?
I am an outlier. Nearly all of my peers are enrolled in either a two or four year university. Most everyone I know is ecstatic about returning to campus in the coming weeks. Working full-time, commuting, and taking on more responsibility has made me feel older, wiser, and more experienced. But, at what cost? […]
YC Fellowship Application – Future Employee Benefits
I have replicated the YC fellowship application questions here on my blog. […]
My 3 Year Personal Growth Strategy
If you are serious about achieving your objectives it is imperative that you take the time to write out a plan. […]
Thinking About Goals Isn’t Enough
The most important thing is that you go a step beyond thinking about your goals and take the time to write them down. […]
Reading List for Young Entrepreneurs
Relaxing and taking time away from work presents the perfect opportunity to focus on personal development. For a few days you can forget about the client project you need to build and solely concentrate on yourself. For me, this means reading. […]
I Don’t Understand LinkedIn
As a tool for professional networking, LinkedIn falls short. Yet, as a platform for users to gain popularity, promote skills they may or may not actually have, and portray an online facade, LinkedIn works quite well. […]
Starting to Develop An AngularJS Side Project
I always plan on finding a fitness center near the hotel I am staying at. Unfortunately, that never happens. Scouring Google search results for “gyms near Reston, VA” always proves a waste of time. […]