What Type of Entrepreneur Are You? Asset Fox, Bootstrap Tortoise or MBA Hare?
Discover the business archetype you tend to follow. Learning more about you will help you in your entrepreneurial journey.
So . . . You Want to Be an Entrepreneur?
Discover what it takes to successfully start a business and grow it to the point of harvest in our exclusive Acton article.
Download here.
How to Maximize ROI from Your Entrepreneurial Advisors
Entrepreneurial success often hinges on the effective utilization of professional advisors. This blog delineates a step-by-step process for entrepreneurs to vet, choose, manage, and measure the impact of their advisor relationships. Emphasizing the significance of finding the right fit and managing resources judiciously, it provides practical insights for optimizing the ROI from advisor engagements.
The Emotional Allure of “Launch”—and Its Risk
This blog examines the emotional appeal of start-up launches, highlighting the irresistible allure created by dramatic events and glamorous presentations. It emphasizes that launches should be viewed as deliberate trial-and-error experiments rather than mere press events or product releases. The post focuses on a common risk faced by entrepreneurs—allowing emotions to override common sense during significant launches. It advises on using emotions responsibly, acknowledging their role in inspiring key partners and contributors during the early phases of a business. However, it warns against letting emotions influence critical real-world decisions related to customers, products, and employees. The blog concludes by urging entrepreneurs to keep a clear focus on their original vision, even as their business evolves over time.
Let’s Ban the Word “Launch”
This blog challenges the prevalent obsession with the term "launch" in entrepreneurial spheres, highlighting its diminishing value in an era where manifesting ideas has become inexpensive. The post criticizes the romanticization of launches in Silicon Valley, pointing out the distortion caused by tech press fixation on ideas rather than the actual business. It raises concerns about the disconnect between press validation and genuine customer validation, adoption, and retention. Emphasizing the need for entrepreneurs to focus on serving customers effectively, the blog questions the true purpose of launches and encourages a strategic approach centered around solving problems and ensuring profitable outcomes.
How Successful Entrepreneurs Build Opportunity Funnels
In this blog post, entrepreneurs are urged to move beyond waiting for lucky breaks or relying solely on creative brainstorming. The emphasis is on cultivating opportunity funnels, a methodical approach to attract and evaluate potential opportunities. The post highlights the importance of continuously improving this process to enhance efficiency. Drawing parallels to a sales funnel, it emphasizes the need to screen out subpar opportunities to focus on the most promising candidates. The blog provides practical advice, encouraging entrepreneurs to ask crucial questions and establish tests to refine their opportunity funnels.
Even the Best Ideas Are Cheap, but Execution and Lessons Learned Are Priceless
This blog challenges the myth of the "brilliant idea" and emphasizes that successful businesses are built on effective execution rather than the concept itself. It critiques the start-up world's obsession with launches, highlighting the importance of ongoing validation, trial-and-error, and the ability to quickly adapt to maximize customer value and company profits. The emphasis is on the necessity of delivering a superior product or service efficiently and in a way that's challenging to replicate. The blog underscores the value of practical execution, testing, and the ability to swiftly discard ineffective ideas as key elements in building a sustainable business.
On the Importance of Entrepreneurial Storytelling
This blog underscores the significance of entrepreneurial storytelling, emphasizing that it goes beyond a simple timeline of events. It explores the elements that make up a compelling entrepreneurial story—key moments, lessons learned, pivots, motivation, frustrations, and successes. Using TOMS as an example, it illustrates how a well-crafted entrepreneurial story can turn an idea into a successful venture with global impact. The blog highlights the importance for every entrepreneur of becoming a storyteller, as a powerful tool for persuasion and a crucial aspect in attracting investment and winning customers.
Stop Wasting Your Time Trying to Be Happy
The blog challenges the conventional pursuit of happiness, emphasizing that true fulfillment comes from self-discovery, understanding one's strengths and weaknesses, and pursuing a purposeful life. It questions the false choice between sacrificing for success and savoring every moment, asserting that the key is aligning with one's true calling and embarking on an entrepreneurial journey with a focus on meaningful contributions.
Ask Yourself: US$50K for Life or US$1M for Ten Years?
This thought-provoking exploration poses a choice between a job one loves with a US$50K yearly income and a job disliked for a decade with a US$1M annual salary. The article delves into the perspectives of individuals on both sides, challenging readers to define their priorities and thresholds in work-related decisions.
9 Questions to Ask Before Getting an MBA
Explore the crucial considerations before pursuing an MBA with insights from the former CEO of Acton School of Business. From defining your end-goal to assessing the true costs and potential impact on relationships, these nine thought-provoking questions guide you in making informed decisions on your educational and professional journey.
The Entrepreneurial Journey,
a Podcast by Acton MBA at UFM
In this podcast you’ll go on fascinating exploration of the entire business cycle - from identifying opportunities to launching, growing, and ultimately reaping the rewards of a successful enterprise. Tune in and gain invaluable insights from a diverse range of accomplished entrepreneurs for various industries who share practical tips and lesions to help you chart your own path, whether you’re starting out or looking to scale your business. Don’t miss out on this engaging and informative podcast that is guaranteed to leave you inspired and ready to pursue your entrepreneurial calling.
“T2 Episodio 20, Edgar Soto”
En este episodio de The Entrepreneurial Journey de Acton MBA, Edgar Soto, graduado de Acton y fundador de Tía Ofilia, nos comunica cómo su transformación personal lo llevó a crear una empresa de alimentos orgánicos.
“T2 Episodio 19, Fernando Castillo, Silvia Mansilla, Marco Micheo y Luis Castillo”
En este episodio de The Entrepreneurial Journey, Hugo Díaz, director del Acton MBA en la Universidad Francisco Marroquín, modera un panel de alumni del programa que han enfrentado el reto de emprender dentro de empresas familiares.
“T2 Episodio 17, Gustavo Pivaral y Eduardo Cruz”
En este episodio, Eduardo Cruz y Gustavo Pivaral, ambos graduados del MBA de Acton, comparten cómo el programa transformó sus trayectorias empresariales, ayudándolos a enfrentar desafíos comerciales reales y hacer crecer sus emprendimientos.
“T2 Episodio 18, Luis Pedro López”
En este episodio del pódcast de Acton MBA, Hugo, el anfitrión, entrevista a Luis Pedro López, un graduado del Acton MBA, quien comparte su trayectoria como emprendedor en la industria de la energía. Luis Pedro explica cómo, tras finalizar el programa, decidió desarrollar la generación de energía renovable dentro de la empresa familiar, para después lanzar su propia compañía en el sector solar.
“T2 Episode 16, Fintech con Tito Ibargüen y Juan Mini”
En este episodio del pódcast hablamos sobre la revolución tecnofinanciera con dos invitados clave: Tito Ibargüen y Juan Mini, emprendedores e inversores que están transformando el ecosistema financiero en Guatemala. Descubre cómo la tecnología financiera…
“T2 Episode 15, Jimena Benítez, Marcel Roehrs & María José Jiménez”
This Acton MBA podcast episode features a discussion with Jimena Benitez, Marcel Roehrs, and María José Jiménez about the unique challenges and opportunities in the entrepreneurial landscape of Guatemala. The conversation delves into the essential…
“T2 Episode 14, Pablo Galindo & Alejandro Zelaya”
In this episode of the Acton MBA Open House podcast, Hugo Díaz, the director of the Acton MBA at Universidad Francisco Marroquín, hosts a discussion on what investors in Guatemala look for in start-ups. The…
“T2 Episode 13, Tony Koenigsknecht”
In this Acton MBA podcast episode, Tony Koenigsknecht shares insights from his journey as an entrepreneur, highlighting the significance of resilience and adaptability in building a successful business. He discusses the challenges and rewards of…
“T2 Episode 12, Alejandro Quinteros”
In this engaging podcast episode, Alejandro Quinteros shares his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his career post-Acton MBA. From managing major marketing roles to founding ventures, Alejandro discusses the lessons learned and…
Alumni Stories
Speaker Series with Jon Gray
Jon Gray’s career is a testament to entrepreneurial excellence. As one of the founding employees of HomeAway, he played a crucial role in the company’s growth from 2004 to 2017, leading it to a US$3.9…
An Architect’s Journey into Real Estate Tech Entrepreneurship by Gabriela Mena.
The Acton’s Speaker Series connects you with extraordinary entrepreneurs in a conversation about work and life. Learn about the entrepreneurial journey of Gabriela Mena, an Acton MBA alumnus! Gabriela is an accomplished entrepreneur, mom, and marathon runner who…