20 years as CEO: I knew what I wanted

Looking back on my chair and looking at the digital white color of Google Doc (this article is about to type), I am wondering how many times I actually pronounce (in my head or loudly), “If only someone told me it before“As a establishment CEOThe

The “countless” answer would be a perfect exaggeration, yet there were several numbers.

Two decades ago, when my friend and I struggled to get tickets at Dave Mathews Band Concert, this idea hit me in the brain. If I can easily help get tickets to live events (sports, concerts, drama performances – do you name it)? And so, in 2005, I decided to start a business with only $ 100 in my pocket.

Today, time to vomit over the past 20 years Event ticket center (Etc), “pages” of my work (and life!), I have booked a few important things during this journey.

So, of course, the rollercoster certainly taught me (sometimes the hard truth), in addition to keeping it tightly. From being an entrepreneur and CEO for 20 years to go through the top seven lessons Lead From GrowthThe

---

---

CEO Lesson #1. Create a family that is made around the values ​​that are shared but shared around the values ​​that are shared

My one Entrepreneur’s first lesson This was. The main privacy of successful business-based business is among people who share your emotions and become your family.

Here is how you can create one with these leadership lessons from my 20 years as a CEO:

• Hire the right guyRecruit for only values, not just skills: Never read to resume with incredible skills sets, but no culture fit. (Note: 70% of the job applicant lying)






• Ship It was as if it was a “Welcome Home” party.






• Give your employees to expand their mental muscles and work them through job-training (because families grow together).






• Encourage exposed conversation and develop a Reaction: Don’t judge, don’t say, “I am adult in this house; I know what’s the best for you!“






• Make traditions and treats (also, do not stay away from internal jokes).






• Live your value together.

Twenty years ago, I made this company with only one employee on the board. By this time, etc., it has become 30+ members. We call it the ETC family. And in addition to our work schedule, we also syncs our values ​​as a team Etc. Care programsThe

CEO Lesson #2. Go to mobile-faster and mobile-fast

Your business mobile is not yet? Submersion Mockery And accelerate your mobile pages as soon as possible.

I hope someone told me this before business.

A quick and convenient mobile experience is the new default customer experience. Not to mention Google’s Mobile-First AlgorithmThe Accordingly, Google Declaration They will no longer do index websites that are not accessible on the mobile device (July 5, 2024).

It was in 2016 that accelerated the speed of the mobile site. Then, our team turned around Amp For accelerated mobile pages and viewed the following results:

• Ticket sales increase by 20%






• 13% long time on the site






• 10% less bounce rates

However, it wasn’t before 2023 That we release a Mobile appEvent’s Ticket Center App. Nevertheless, it was a huge jump ahead (I can’t deny it).

At this point, I would like to draw your attention to Stanislav Khilobochenko, Customer Services to draw your attention to the VP of VP McCipperWho highlights the importance of customer division by technographic (technology equipment and device). “Segment by device and OS provides versions for both Android and IOS users. In addition, it is also important to deal with privacy and protection anxiety, which is very higher among both groups nowadays and protects your application from cyber-value.”

I agree to the total contract here (and we actually made the ETC app intuitive and safe for Apple and Android users).

Talking about innovative jumps as a whole.

---

This month’s free skill training: from price to prices to official agreement

---

CEO Lesson #3. Do not hesitate to innovate and pioneer

Do not listen to “couch critics” or “Armchair expert”. They are not in business but there are front row seats and megaphone to mention what you are doing wrong. For example, the highest individuals could tell you: “You don’t have to play with this I. Ball–It’s dangerous!“

Also, it is best not to wait until the last moment to get out of your competitors because they are equipped with more advanced equipment. They can easily thank higher automation, conversion speed and business skills, which are imminent in modern, groundbreaking technology.

They are:

This is another significant lesson that I have learned from being a CEO for 20 years and pushing the development of business → become a forerunner.

Etc. Performances are the highest pay-click (one of the early beta testers for genius (PPC) Google advertisements with advertisements. As a result, our team saw a 5x higher Advertising production speed, saving a lot of time in advertising.

For the tip: If you are in a budget budget (who is not!), Consider investing in White-Lelly innovative technology. Pre-based technology is much cheaper. Also, this is extremely customized (you can brand it you wish).

For example:

Let’s say you want to convert a customer service without breaking the bank. This may be a White Label Support DeskAI Chattbot, or Voice Assistant.

---

7 lessons from my first year as an entrepreneur

---

CEO Lesson #4. Maradise with wisely in the way of your success

Let’s not live on La-la land-your budget is not elastic, and you cannot reach the corner of each campaign as if they are doing the divisions. Even if the CMO team is on your side, it is most important to remember it CEO and CMO are not on the same page In the priority of marketing.

You should agree on three or five key promotional strategies, ideally fill in to get your business requirements to begin with:

The best to establish authority over time and Optimization of search engine (SEO)

→ Best for rapid conversion (Be careful not to spend extra money on it!)

→ Passive is the best for sale

Social media is best to target users and to raise brand awareness about social

→ Interested to make the best surprise and fascinated for the creative and brave brand

Day-to-day communication and relationships are the best for the-matching

For example:

If you prefer to play longer games, your traveling solutions will marketing email and content through one BlogThe Fast results needed? Then, try advertising and influential cooperation.

For the tip: Authorized Partners are the easiest way to enter sales with the expense of zero marketing practically zero. (I hope we had a start Approved program Before)

CEO Lesson #5. Tap on SEO from the first day

Severely, CEOs often ignore that neon sign, SEO (And Local SEO Specifically!), To illuminate their companies online in front of search engines.

So, one more valuable lesson here must know every CEO: Take care of on- and off-the-page-apoption (or on this work in your CMO, like the majority of the CEO).

Focus on the on-page SEO → keywords.

Look for the correct keywords And these are your services pages, product details, meta titles/details and even in the alt text of the image. But it goes out-and no one will be happy to read your keyword-cramped web page. Mind Google keywords are also corrupted on overstafing.

For the tip: Nutrition to your SEO blog content Including keywords like “evergreen” “The best way“Or”HowThe “They will still draw visitors on your website, also remember the seasonality.

For example:

This year, our content marketing team has published a blog post, “How to get a Super Bowl ticket in 2025.”

Focus on off-page SEO → backlinks.

When it comes to off-pages SEO, you can create the popularity of the websites in the world of websites Backlinks of keywordsThe They will get you high trust from Google, Bing or other search engines.

For the tip: Mainly use social channels RedditFor the pages off SEO. Google recently confirmed a “expanded partnership with a Reddit” and the answers from the platform often started featuring.

CEO Lesson #6. Connect with network and industrial leaders

The more the network you are – you will learn more from others. And here, I will say, never turn off the building Business connection And learning from the visionary and masters of craft.

This is probably one of the highly personal growth lessons for the CEO that I have taken up in 20 years of executive position.

Your mind should always be curious, with a big hunger, more and more food for thoughts. You have been collecting knowledge from the time Book (Each CEO does as it is, I’m sure), you should “feed” with new insights from it:

• Niche Conference






• Executive Roundtables






• CEO leadership summit






• Trade Show/Expo






• Innovation and Technology Forums






• Industrial-specific webiner and podcast






• Social media Groups for CEO (eg, C-Suit Network on LinkedIn or CEO Movement on Facebook)

For example:

The World Ticket Conference and the Ticket Fairness for the Alliance in 2021 are the recent networking event on my list.

CEO Lesson #7. Press Continuously but avoid too much stress (look for balance)

We all know the truth, isn’t it?

Entrepreneur is hard workThe It is not a permanent earning machine to produce income and monitor it.

There is nothing easy in executive management.

However it should not be the art of laughter Burnout (This is real in favor of the CEOs: 82% Report sensitive and physical fatigue in the workplace). It is tampering the chaos and the balance of all things, such as the acrobat of a title: more about work, family and self-care.

My healthy balance formula “eating” three PS:

Privilege

(Master’s time And the priority of the task Work management software)

+

Man

(Power your people and lead and take care of your family and yourself)

+

Presence

(Be present at each moment)

In the line below

Dive more stories and learn more lessons of such nationals LaunchThe

After reading, don’t forget Sign up for the newsletter Never miss a new content drop every Wednesday to grow as a better business leader.

Entrepreneur or executive (or both) role is either strict, not strong.