2/6/2018 (15) Do You Recognize the Patterns that Lead to Success?

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Dr. Marshall Goldsmith 104 4 8

Do You Recognize the Patterns that

Lead to Success?
Published on February 6, 2018

Funding Innovation

Do you recognize the patterns that lead to success?

My friend Dan Levitan, venture capitalist and managing partner of Maveron does. He’s been
the successful backer of such companies as eBay, Zulily, and Allbirds. Personally, I find
what Dan does fascinating! He recognizes the patterns of incredibly driven, consumer-
centric entrepreneurs and it has lead to some amazing successes.

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Dan is one of my coaching clients, and when I started working with him, I had
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venture capital even is. Most of my clients are CEOs or “could-be” CEOs of very large
Dr. Marshall
organizations. Dan Goldsmith
has a lot to teach about venture capitalism, I’ve asked him
104 to share
4 his 8

knowledge with us in this interview. Think of it as the 101 of venture capitalism.

Marshall: What is venture capital? How does it work? How does your firm work?

Dan: Great questions!

Venture capital is pretty simple to explain. America is a country of innovation. And, that
innovation needs to be funded. Venture capitalists raise money from institutions and
individuals to create a pool of money. Then they spend their time looking for the best
entrepreneurs, who have the greatest and boldest ideas. They try to match them up with
areas of interest. For instance at Maveron, we’re looking for the best consumer-focused,
end-user consumer brands.

We try to find incredibly driven, consumer-centric

Follow entrepreneurs and bring to them the Write an artic

pattern recognition of having done this with many consumer brands over time. We then
package this up with not just advice, but with a network of consumer experts and money to
help accelerate an entrepreneur's dreams.

Ideally we catch them in obscurity and watch them go from there to ubiquity.

Marshall: A great example you use of a company that you did this with that is successful is
Starbucks.

Dan: I met Howard Schultz and the team at Starbucks when it had 100 stores and today I
think the number is something like 27,000! It is a true story of success, certainly.

Marshall: Yes, it’s a wonderful story. Thank you for this great 101 view of what a venture
capitalist does!

After one year, the first 100 leaders in Marshall’s ‘pay it forward’, 100
Coaches project have been selected (out of over 16,000 applicants). Learn more about
this amazing group of people who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the
world at www.marshallgoldsmith.com/Welcome. In 2018, 100 Aspiring Coaches will
be selected based on their potential to make a positive difference and pay it forward in
the future. Please apply at MarshallGoldsmith.com/application. We look forward to
receiving your applications!

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4 Comments

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Khairul Anwar 5h
Global Director | Design Thinking | Innovation Coach

Splendid!!
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Max Gawehn 31m

Datordemonterare på PJ Auktion.se

https://youtu.be/uYpZfLp8pa8
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