Get your house in order before inviting guests over

My twin brother, Sam Zises, who runs a marketing agency called [L]earned Media, once gave me a great piece of business advice: “You want to get your house in order and looking great before you invite guests over.”

The basic idea is that presentation matters…

When you want to raise capital, your pitch should be well-rehearsed and your deck should be professionally built.

When you want to hire an employee, the interview process should be clear, organized, and efficient.

When you want to make a sale, your shopping and checkout processes should be as enjoyable and frictionless as possible.

About a month ago, I made the last few investments from SuperAngel.Fund I. It was a huge accomplishment, 4 years in the making.

But, I’m nowhere close to finished. Now, I’m facing my next battle: A new fund.

But first, to prepare, I need to get my house in order.

I’m working on launching a brand new website that will highlight all of the work I’ve done up to this point.

On its own, a new website isn’t necessarily worth celebrating. But, since I don’t like to do anything half-ass, this new website is going to be special. It will showcase all my portfolio companies in an organized and beautifully presented fashion. It will showcase my investment strategy, performance track record, portfolio highlights, and various references and resources. It will be the single destination to learn everything about me professionally, my past experiences, current focus, and future vision.

I cannot wait to share it with you.

Also, I’m re-evaluating my investor outreach process and upgrading everything: The introductions; the supporting documentation; even the email communication.

I want my fundraising process to be world-class, and I need every single touchpoint to reflect that. After all, this is what I expect from my own founders, so I have to hold myself to the same standard.

So, tell me, how are you getting YOUR own house in order?