News Release Implementation Plan

Phase 1

1. Outline base story
2. Identify key individuals in the story
3. Establish time frame for activities
4. Identify target media

Phase 2

1. Interview story makers
2. Write a short story (3 pages) as a follow-up to requests for more information from the media or readers/viewers
3. Write a focused news release(s)
4. Send news release(s) to media

Phase 3

1. Field inquiries from media regarding the release
2. Track response to release
3. Follow-up as needed

Phase 4

1. Summarize activities ... package the story, news release(s), tracking info, results, suggestions for follow-up

Red Flags ...

I have worked (in varying degrees, from light to heavy) with literally hundreds of new venture planning and startup teams, through my 20+ years at the University of Arizona, as a private consultant, and as a startup team member. 

I have a personal mental checklist that I use to evaluate the success probability of a new venture: can it move from the planning stage to a financially stable self-supporting business.  Some science here, some "gut feel", some "told you so" experience coming through ... but here are some of my "red flags": things startup team members say and what I really "hear".

They say: "We don't have any competition!"  ... I hear: "We haven't done our homework to see what else is really out there."

They say: "We the first to ever do this!" ... I hear: "So who cares?  If it's never been done before, maybe that's because there's really no need to do it."

They say: "Everyone is going to want one of our new gizmogadgets!" ... I hear: "Our family and close friends think our gizmogadget is really neat!"

They say: "We're going to build a much, much better gizmogadget and sell it for half as much as the competition!" ... I hear: "We have no idea how much it will really cost to make our gizmogadget or how much it will really cost to market it."

... and there are more!  Check back every now and then, and I'll update this post.

Financial Objectives

Here's a photo of a whiteboard from my old office at the University of Arizona that shows a representative example of setting some "financial objectives" for a business venture ...

Android Apps I've found most useful ...

OK, I admit it ... I'm an "Android Guy".  My tablets, my smartphone, even my Chromebooks all have Android apps.  I'm a (usually) happy camper.  Here are some of the apps I've found most useful ... no particular order ...

Google Keep (notes and lists), Memento (relational database), Squid (graphics and notes), Evernote (notes and articles filing, document scanning), File Commander (file management), Open Camera (photography), Google Drive (file storage and document scanning), Google Calendar (time management), HereWeGo (offline maps and navigation), Google Meet (video communications), Google Voice (text messaging, telephone), LinkedIn (personal networking), Gmail (email), LastPass (password management), Night Clock (soft night clock), ClockSync (time), OpenTable (dinner reservations), OurGroceries (shopping, to-do, packing lists), OfficeSuite (off-line word processing, spreadsheet, pdf), Google Slides (off-line presentations), Google Docs (on- and off-line word processing), Chambers Thesaurus (offline thesaurus), Chambers Dictionary (offline dictionary), Amazon Music (off- and on-line music), Speedtest (internet performance measurement), Easy Voice Recorder (audio recording), Google Photos (photography storage), Amazon Kindle (books and materials), Touch RPN (RPN calculator), Blogger (blogging), AP News (news), Google News (news), Amazon (shopping) ... [- Jim]

Minor updates: 25ja09

The M's of Operations