“That Idea Won’t Work” -- Try to avoid giving unsolicited negative feedback to someone you just met at a networking event. It’s not your job to give this person feedback, especially when they didn’t ask. It’s arrogant and unwelcome. Instead of saying, “that won’t work and here’s why…” ask them questions so you can better understand. If you’re still not sold, then simply smile and wish them well.

Andrew Thomas

Article: 10 Communication Skills of Extremely Successful Leaders

Successful companies result from more than a good idea at the right time. If you look behind the best companies in the world, you'll see a great leader. This is why investors commonly say they invest in the founder more than the idea itself. As a founder or CEO, it is your responsibility to lead and inspire your team to execute on an idea and create results. Consistent, effective communication … Read More

Article: 10 Ways to Survive the Dip

I had never experienced anything quite like it before. When we first launched our product, orders came flying in and we received coverage from some of the top tech outlets in a matter of days. It seemed like it wouldn't end. Yet only a few months later, the media stopped calling and customer orders turned into fulfillment issues. The honeymoon was over. Those are the hard moments when the negat … Read More

Watch Celebrity Interviews -- Go to YouTube and search for a person you admire, celebrity or otherwise, and include the word “interview.” Then watch the videos in the days leading up to the event and just before it. Take cues from their confidence and presentation. You’ll adopt the visualization for yourself and sub-consciously have more confidence.

Andrew Thomas

You have poorly defined requirements -- The success of your app is more dependent on the pre-production stage than the actual coding process. App development fails because the scope and product requirements are not flushed out in detail. Avoid this by investing the time upfront to write out every user experience, process and requirement of your app before you start. Have your engineer, designer and product manager sign off.

Andrew Thomas

Article: Science Says Do This 1 Thing If You Want to Perform at Your Best

Running a business can feel like a never-ending battle. You're constantly fighting and putting out fires. Crazy demands are made on your time, mind and stamina. It's not easy, and to succeed, you need to find your competitive edge. Spare time is in short supply, so you need to maximize personal performance with a minimal time investment. You need a practice called biohacking. A few years ago … Read More

Article: 7 Big Mistakes You Can’t Make While Meeting Someone for the First Time

According to research cited in the Harvard Business Review, it takes less than 150 milliseconds for someone to form a first impression. Human nature is such that we process verbal and non-verbal cues immediately - and use that intelligence to decide on the spot if someone is a likable person. First impressions are difficult to unwind, which is why it's so important to get them right off the bat … Read More

Educate Others -- Brands are using Snapchat to educate their viewers on a given topic. Mark Suster of Upfront Ventures is a great example: He shares long-form stories explaining topics related to startups and venture capital. I learn valuable lessons that I can incorporate as a founder, and I now subscribe to his blog weekly.

Andrew Thomas

Article: I’m Just an Introvert Living in an Extrovert’s World

Like so many of my fellow introverts, my archetypal image of a successful founder was a charismatic extrovert -- that tireless someone who's constantly meeting new people and radiating energy. It's a daunting standard. It's easy to look at highly extroverted founders and think you can't measure up. But if you take a step back, you'll see that many of the inherent traits of an introvert align pe … Read More

Article: 6 Traits of The Strongest Leaders

True leaders aren't born, they're made. They build confidence and strength through intention - learning the traits that leaders must possess in order to succeed. Being a great leader involves doing the hard things that most people don't want to do - and therefore won't. The results are worth it. As a strong leader, you'll be able to attract the talent and funding you need to realize your vis … Read More