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In Case You Missed It: Launch Links - Week of November 3, 2019

  • 11.8.2019

Some interesting links we found across the web this week:

5 Key Lessons on Building a Business That Super-Successful Female Founders Wished They’d Known When They Started
Starting a business can feel impossible, no matter what your prior experience. The blank slate of a new company may be exciting, but it is also when you have the most room to make a mistake—and at that stage, one mistake may be all you get. In this Inc.com article, three female founders share five lessons they learned, and how you can be at least a little more prepared for the emotional rollercoaster of running a .

5 Things Entrepreneurs Get Wrong At First – And How You Can Do Better
Speaking of mistakes, there are some practical things you may not think about when starting a business that, if you do, could save you a big headache later. This includes figuring out if your product name is available, delegating properly and creating a shared company vision. This article from Forbes discusses a few more small things you can do at the start to make sure that the one mistake you make isn’t one that ends your business.

Private Equity Fundraising in the US Hits All-Time High
Domestic have raised more capital in 2019 than in any prior year, with a total of more than $246 billion before the year is even over. This breaks 2017’s previous record of $238 billion. Is this a sign of a strong economy or an impending downturn? This article by Pitchbook analyzes what the high fundraising could mean, and what to expect for the rest of 2019.

Should Non-Compete Clauses Be Abolished?
If you’ve started hiring employees (and have done so both in California and elsewhere), you may have noticed that while non-compete clauses are fairly common in most states, California doesn’t allow them. Non-compete clauses have actually been around since at least the 1400s, with proponents touting the importance of protecting company trade secrets and opponents raising concerns about restricting upward mobility in the workforce. This HBSWK article, and the comments to it, discuss these arguments in more detail, giving employers something to think about when drafting employment agreements.

Why Good Listening Is a Critical Skill for Founders and Entrepreneurs
How many times have you been in a conversation and miss almost all of what the other person is saying because you’re so focused on what you’re going to say next? We all do it, and we all know it’s a bad habit. But how to break it? This article by Entrepreneur discusses both the importance of listening well and some practical tips that you can bring to your next interaction today. By engaging in 360-degree listening, you’ll develop better relationships and be a better leader in your company. 

Links compiled by Meghan Muncey.