Summer Break? Not for Entrepreneurs!
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Yes, the summer is in full swing. Kids are off to camp and it is really, really hot outside. Globaly the summer months are always a slow down for businesses. People take vacations, it’s a great time for the beach, BBQ’s, and even weddings! (My younger brother is even getting married this summer!)
In Israel it is also a time when friends and family come to visit since Israel seems to be a popular vacation spot for Jews.
But is it true for entrepreneurs? For StartUp companies?
The honest truth is that if you are an entrepreneur and involved in a startup you don’t get to take vacations like everyone else. Sure there may be some distractions and that’s ok, you need to have some down time or you will burn yourself out, it is also a good time to spend more times with your kids then you get to during the year, but if you have a startup then you are on call 24/6. You owe it to your investors, partners and customers to continue to give your very best.
Now is the time to plan your fall season marketing campaigns and fundraising initiatives. Time to set-up meetings with potential clients. Want to relax a bit? That’s great, but take a good business book with you that can help reinvigorate you with good ideas. I know its hot outside and I know all your friends are taking off and having a good time, but you are not like them. You are not about the monthly paycheck. You are an entrepreneur! You are changing the world and making it a better place! Success is not easy, but it feels a lot better than a vacation.
Work now, rest with success.
Enjoy your summer.
Ideago, StartUp Lab for Anglos in Israel
By · CommentsToday I announced that I am leaving my executive position at Qoof (although I am still the Founder/Chairman). In the video below I explain why and announce that I am launching the first StartUp lab focused on the Anglo market in Israel.
You can check it out at www.ideago.com. Would love your thoughts!
Does it Matter Now?
By · CommentsThis is a guest post by a friend of mine Avi Zuber, Co-Founder of DeskElf. Welcome him aboard in the comments!
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A business is another way of saying “idea in motion”. You think of a great idea that will help the world, make you rich, or both. You figure out the best way to bring that idea to fruition and put in the effort to make it happen. And then you pray.
Along with the idea comes a goal. The only problem with ideas, if you’re on an entrepreneurial mind set, is they’re very hard to keep anchored. They fly in the sky like a kite, growing as they go. It’s a difficult task to figure out what to truly focus on and what is simply fluffy clouds.
My business partner and I have this question all the time (I’ll admit, he is much better at answering it correctly), “Is it really important? If so, is it important now?”. Do you need to spend time perfecting your website, or is it good enough to get your point across? Do you need new business cards or can you stick with the old ones (assuming the information is still accurate) for now? Is your logo really outdated or did you just get bored with it?
These questions are all relevant if you have better things to do. We all have a limited amount of time in our 25 hour work days. Decide if it’s a pressing matter before deciding to do it. If it’s truly important, you won’t forget to do it.
Please use the comments section to discuss your thoughts.
Must view video of The case of Rabbi Shalom Rubashkin
By · CommentsIf the case wasn’t so serious I would write more about how amazing the video production is and the marketing strategy behind the campaign, but at this time my thoughts and prayers are with Rabbi Shalom Rubashkin and his family.
Visit: JusticeForShalom.org
My friend and colleague Dov Gordon is sharing his $149 training video on “How to Win Your Hearts’ – by Reading Their Minds” for only a week or two. Below I explain why. If you’re in a rush, just go get it now: http://dovgordon.net/am/read-minds-free.php
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If you’re past the honeymoon stage in your business, you know that taking shortcuts have a nasty way of blowing up in your face. Eventually.
BUT there are always a few people who seem to effortlessly zero in on the key points in any meeting, negotiation, management crises or opportunity. They get more done, faster – both alone and through others.
Warren Buffett is an extreme example. In 1991, his multi-billion dollar investment in Salomon Brothers was at the edge of disaster. The government was *this close* to effectively shutting them down.
Buffett had to choose a new CEO, making what he considered the most important hire of his life. And he did. In 15 minutes. He met the guy for 15 minutes and decided to hire him. And it was a fantastic choice.
Astounding, no?
Was it luck? No. Nor was it a kind of reckless shortcut in which he “hoped” it would work out.
Buffett has systematically trained his mind to see subtle things in every day situations that almost everyone else misses. He can “see the unseen.”
Not in a mystical way. In a practical way.
The good news is that you and I can learn these skills. Maybe not to the level of Warren Buffett, but certainly to the level that you know in your heart you were meant to achieve.
My friend and colleague Dov Gordon has put together a free online video course for entrepreneurs and small business owners that teaches you just that. It’s only available for another week or so and I recommend you go get it now.
The course is called “The Simple Secrets of Gordian-Knot Management.”
You get it in four parts:
Chapter 1: ”How to Strike at the Root, While Everyone Hacks at the Leaves.” This is short, just 14 minutes. But it will change the way you think. (Available now. No registration required. http://dovgordon.net/am/read-minds-free.php.)
Chapter 2: “How to Win Your Customers’ Hearts – by Reading Their Minds.” (Available now at the same link. Free registration required because he usually sells this for $149. Naturally, Dov protects it behind digital walls. But this week you can walk in without paying.)
Chapter 3: ”Time Alchemy.” A big picture perspective you’ve never seen before. (Available in a few days.)
Chapter 4: ”The Critical 10% of Management Skills that Make You Look Brilliant 90% of the Time.” (Coming soon.)
I don’t often promote other people’s material. However, I’ve seen Dov’s work. I’ve known him for a long time and have always been impressed with his clear thinking and unique ability to teach it to others.
And it won’t cost you anything.
WHY is Dov giving this all away for free this week and next? Because he wants to introduce himself. He knows that some will want to continue with him in a paid program.
So do this:
1. Go register for the $149 training while it’s still free:
2. Watch your email so you know when chapters 3 and 4 will be released.
Passover for the Entrepreneur – Freedom!
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First off I want to apologies to all my readers as I know I have not been posting very often during the last few months. I hope all that will change in the coming months. The thing is I want to post quality articles and that sometimes takes time I don’t have, but I do love sharing my thoughts on building a business with entrepreneurs here in Israel so hopefully I will pick it up.
Freedom means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. The first grade answer to what freedom has to do with Passover is that we were slaves in Egypt and then G-D took us out and we became free. But what does “free” really mean? We were free for a little bit and then G-D gave us a huge amount of laws that we would now have to follow.
Freedom does not mean being free to do whatever you want, freedom means that you are not a slave to your desires or to our ingrown animal instincts. We can raise ourselves above our desires and only then we will be free.
But what does freedom mean to an entrepreneur? Again the first grade answer is that we become so successful that we can do whatever we want. But is that what freedom is all about? As stated above it’s not.
Being a Free entrepreneur means you running your business and not your business running you. Sometimes we get so caught up with our business that everything in our lives are dictated by the next meeting or by the next email or the next project.
But Passover comes to remind us that we should be in control of our business and not our business in control of us. Passover is the perfect time to take a week off, not check your email (so much) and to postpone any meetings until after the Chag. Let us remember what it really means to be free.
Wishing everyone a Chag Samayach!
Nachum Kligman
Israpreneur
Breaking News: Jerusalem Post Purchases Israpreneur
By · CommentsI am very excited to announce that The Jerusalem Post has purchased our blog, Israpreneur. According to our agreement I will not be able to disclose the purchase amount, but it is in the seven figure mark. I will continue to write for the blog and posts will be integrated into the Jerusalem Post website.
It makes perfect sense for Jpost as they will get high quality writing from the view of an entrepreneur on the ground in Israel and it makes sense for me as it gives me wider circulation. It’s also great for the readers as we will be producing more quality content including a weekly video show. There are a lof exciting things coming down the pipe.
Happy Purim Everyone! 
I am very excited to announce that my company, Qoof, is a Red Herring Global 100 winner. When starting a company you often dream about being recognized amongst the other big companies if the world. This award is the most prestigious one we have won to date since we were up against thousands of other private Hi-Tech companies around the world who have won awards in their location over the past three years. The Red Herring Global 100 is a huge achievement for our company and I again want to commend the awesome job our team has been and continues to do. We won’t stop till the top 
Mazel Tov to the other three Israeli companies that also won!
Below if the official Press Release:
Qoof, The Video Commerce Company, Wins Prestigious Red Herring Global 100 Award
January 19, 2010, Laguna Niguel, California – Red Herring on Friday announced its Global 100 award in recognition of the leading private companies from North America, Europe, and Asia, celebrating these startups’ innovations and technologies across their respective industries.
Red Herring’s Global 100 list has become a mark of distinction for identifying promising new companies and entrepreneurs. Red Herring editors were among the first to recognize that companies such as Google, Yahoo, Skype, Netscape, Salesforce.com, YouTube, and eBay would change the way we live and work.
“Choosing the best out of the previous three years was by no means a small feat,” said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. “After rigorous contemplation and discussion, we narrowed down our list from 1,200 potential companies to 200 finalists. Trying to get it down to 100 companies was a task upon itself. The top 100 companies who were chosen should be extremely proud, the competition was difficult.”
Red Herring’s editorial staff evaluated the companies on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, technology innovation, management quality, strategy, and market penetration. This assessment of potential is complemented by a review of the track record and standing of startups relative to their sector peers, allowing Red Herring to see past the “buzz” and make the list an invaluable instrument of discovery and advocacy for the greatest business opportunities from around the world.
“This is a huge honor for us and shows off the hard work and quality of the entire Qoof team”, says Richard Kligman, Qoof’s Founder. “While this reward recognizes the team and the powerful technology behind our platform, the real reward for us is the ROI we are bringing our clients.” 
“Video Commerce is an arrow that has just been shot in the air”, states Jonathan Stefansky, Qoof’s CEO. “2010 will be a break out year for Video Commerce and Qoof has been the leading video commerce platform since we coined the term back in 2006. We look forward to releasing new technologies in the coming months which will continue our fast paced growth.
About Red Herring
Red Herring is a global media company uniting the world’s best high-technology innovators, venture investors, and business decision-makers in a variety of forums: a leading innovation magazine, an online daily technology news service, technology newsletters, and major events for technology leaders around the globe. Red Herring provides an insider’s view of the global innovation ecosystem, featuring unparalleled insights on the emerging technologies driving the economy.
For more information contact Anam Alpenia at: aalpenia@redherring.com
About Qoof Ltd.
Qoof is revolutionizing the way companies use video, transforming a branding tool into a fully interactive commerce experience. They are taking the world of rich media advertising, to the next level. Qoof’s unique platform and technology merges video and commerce with analytical reporting and multivariate testing to optimize performance driving higher click throughs and conversions. Given the dominant role that video will play in the future of web advertising, Qoof is well positioned to head that transformation with its industry leading solution.
For more information visit us at http://qoof.com or follow us at http://twitter.com/qoof
Thinking outside of the Box
By · CommentsIt drives me crazy when I see businesses in Israel conduct business like everyone else. Meaning just doing what everyone else is doing. There is a severe lack of creativity and of “metooisms”. What’s meetooisms? Metooisms is creating a business like someone else because they are already doing it. I was thinking about this rescently when I heard that yet another candy store is opening up in Bet Shemesh.
Now I wish the owners success, but do we really need a new candy store? There is already two of them in Ramat Bet Shemesh and a big one in the industrial area. So does that mean they can’t succeed? Of course not, they can succeed if they decide to think out of the box! Make themselves stand out. Be different!
One idea I had is to be in touch with all the schools in the neighborhood and offer big lollipops with a ribbon around it for teachers to give out to kids who learn the best each week or for when finishing a book of the Torah or many other reasons. Or even smaller treats to hand out. Just make sure that each ribbon has the name of your store and these 2 words “10% Off”.
Now you will stick out! Now you are creating incentives for kids to do well and the schools/teachers are happy with the free gift to give out and you get parents that now have two good reasons to come into your store. The first is because they feel appreciation for the free gift and second because they now have a 10% off coupon to use.
So will the new store do this? Unfortunately I doubt it. It’s hard to break out of the box of Metooisims.
